21. Socialism : A Point of View

SOCIALISM IS BASICALLY an economic doctrine evolved and pro­pagated to ensure that the ills of a capitalistic society — concen­tration of economic power in the hands of a few and exploitation of labour by capital — are avoided. Broadly speaking, the basic faith of socialism lies in an order aimed at making the interests of the individual subservient to the welfare of the largest number. Its exact form and content, as also the mode of bringing it about, vary from country to country, often dictated by the context of historical events obtaining in a country. Thus, while it is true that the socialist order was brought about by revolution in certain countries of Eastern Europe, we in India have adopted it as our goal by deliberate choice. This is as it should be, because a poli­tical democracy with adult franchise would have little meaning unless it is translated into an economic democracy aimed at achieving the welfare of the masses, and making individual wel­fare or individual interests subservient to the social welfare.

We seek to achieve socialism through evolution rather than a revolution, through use of social compulsions reflected in the policy of the State rather than through the use of force. In seek­ing to achieve a socialist order, we would be guided by the direc­tive principles of State policy laid down by our Constitution which enjoins us to secure a social order for the promotion of welfare of the people, and to ensure that the ownership and control of the material resources of the community are so distri­buted as to subserve the common good, that operation of the economic system does not result in the concentration of wealth and means of production to common detriment. It also speaks of citizens' right to work and to education and provision of just and humane conditions of work, enforcement of a living wage for the workers, etc. The Constitution also guarantees some basic fundamental rights to every citizen of the country, and these are something precious which we do not want to trample upon. It is within the four corners of the constitutional framework that we have to strive to build an economic order in which the primacy of social welfare is recognised.