Art and Culture Class 12: Mahatma Gandhi and Self-Sufficiency

According to the Gandhian ideology, per the lesson of Art and Culture Class 12: Mahatma Gandhi and Self-Sufficiency, Mahatma Gandhi believed in making Indian villages and cities self-sufficient and reviving the age-old tradition of handicraft by establishing the concept of the spinning wheel. He accepted and reciprocated the message of self-sufficiency and the development of handicrafts amongst the residents of the Indian sub-continent. 

The ideology of Indian villages- Craft with economy and political freedom

Gandhiji believed that the Indian villages were not under the influence of industrialisation. They were pure, in terms of violence, and hence, free from war and greed. The people were involved in activities such as handicraft and farming, and they followed simple ideologies.

Definition of Swaraj- Freedom of individuals

The term ‘Swaraj’ defined freedom in politics and all aspects of life. The idea of Hind Swaraj was introduced in 1909 as a self-sufficient village republic.

• Freedom of decision: The idea of Swaraj was not only significant of political freedom; rather, it also signified the freedom of individuals from British governance and ideologies
• Abandonment of the Western ideology: He was against the idea of our nation adopting the ideas and rules of the western government. He believed that would only lead to “English rule without the Englishman’’. He noted that such a process “would make India English”. 

Spinning wheel- Development of handicraft

The notion of self-sufficiency led to the development of the handicraft industry in India. The artisans and craftsmen were introduced to the spinning wheel (charkha); this raised the prospects of income and promised the path of a self-sufficient India

• Growth of the handicraft industry: The growth and development of the handicraft industry provided self-sustaining methods to the local artisans and craftsmen who had earlier incurred huge losses due to the collapse of the Indian textile industry
• Connecting craft with economic and political freedom: By introducing the concept of self-sufficiency, Gandhiji had successfully converged the paths of the development of handicraft industry with political and economic freedom
• Weapon of self-reliance- The spinning wheel: The spinning wheel was now not only the source of economic stability, but it had also become a symbol of self-reliance. 

Attitude towards foreign investment 

Foreign investments are permitted in India on a case-by-case basis under the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act (FERA). Only the list of industries in which foreign investment is not permitted will be announced on a regular basis from now on.

In all other fields, they would be welcomed on a case-by-case basis, particularly in the export and high-technology sectors. Foreign-owned multinational and transnational corporations have been assured that they will not be forced to curtail their operations in areas reserved for small-scale industries, though they will not be permitted to expand unless the small-scale industries fail to deliver the goods.

All approved foreign investments will have complete freedom of remittances of profits, royalties, dividends, and so on, but only if majority interests in ownership and effective control are Indian, though the government may make exceptions in the case of highly export-oriented or sophisticated technology. Thus, portfolio ownership by foreign capital in non-core and non-export sectors is limited to 40% of total equity.

Technology Misalignment

The strategy of self-sufficiency will be a risky endeavour. There is no ultimate goal, only the participation of people in a development process based on economic and social rationality. Finally, it is a self-determining and self-sustaining growth process that is internally motivated and oriented toward non-alignment in the techno-economic realm. This strategy exposes the Indian economy to foreign competition from the East or the West.

It must allow the economy to become more efficient in order to compete with foreign competitors. However, safeguards will be put in place to protect the economy from excessive foreign proliferation in the economic, social, and technological spheres. The light at the end of the tunnel appears to be quite a distance away. In the end, it will all come down to Third World governments’ ability to reduce their reliance on aid, capital, and technology while also mutually and collectively assisting one another.

Liberalization of import and export policies 

The Indian government’s revised import and export policy reflects the government’s determined efforts to revitalise the sluggish industrial sector, on the one hand, and to encourage local technology, on the other. Imports of machinery, spare parts, and raw materials should aid in utilising the idle capacity of existing industries that are lagging due to a lack of these items. Importation of all consumer goods other than those specifically identified has been prohibited.

A variety of items, such as fibres, edible oils, watch parts, dry fruits, cloves, and so on, have been broadly licenced.

A similar scheme for free licensing has been introduced for other items such as drugs, medicines, anti-cancer drugs, and other life-saving drugs. Free imports of the aforementioned consumer goods will help to keep prices low, thereby benefiting the poor masses. Better facilities for importing machinery and spare parts will aid in the development of labour-intensive industries in the village industries sector, such as leather goods, garments, food and fruit processing. Import allowances are generously provided for small entrepreneurs and units established in underserved areas. Export controls have been limited to a few commodities that are critical to the economy. In the Indian economy, a number of export assistance schemes are in place. These schemes include cash payments to exporters of engineering goods, chemicals and related products, sports goods, plastic goods, woollen synthetic fabrics and garments, coir products, jute goods, carpets, leather goods, handicrafts, and so on. The import replenishment scheme and advance import licences are two other notable schemes. In addition, freight subsidies are available to encourage exports.

Exports are continuing to rise, particularly in engineering goods and services, as well as some consumer goods such as jute products and garments, as well as some cottage industry products. It remains to be seen whether the volume of exports increases quickly enough to cover the increased import bills under the new policy. Import and import substitution would then be trade-based, and could emerge as a key to economic development.

Conclusion

Gandhi’s association of the Swadeshi Movement with village industry, particularly hand-spinning, was founded on a two-pronged argument: that India’s urban population owed a special moral duty to the villages, and that this duty would be best fulfilled by providing a market for village products, particularly hand-spun cloth. This argument is logically derived from the principles of proximity (in India, few towns or cities are not surrounded by villages) and patriotism (most Indians are villagers). Gandhi tried to strengthen it even more by introducing a new moral principle, historical justice.