Marx and British India
Critical in understanding the
writing of Marx in India is somewhat preference to the British rule in India.
At one point, he even attributed the event as a positive way to reinforce the
advancement of progress in Hindustan. Here, the aspect of colonialism remains
to be essential because the British rule introduces a new system that India can
seek to pursue. Contrary to the ascetic economy that India has continued to
practice before British occupancy, Marx sees further in the potential to expand
from this point moving forward. Using the arguments of Iqbal, “Marx writing
shows the distinctive problems of Asiatic economy, especially in India and
China, the effects of the impact of European capitalism upon it, and the
conclusion to be drawn for the future development as well as for the
emancipation of the Indian people” (1). From this context it can be argued that
Marx advances the context of colonialism if it would create a drastic change, a
revolution where traditional ideals can transition and undergo changes.
Equally important is how Marx
criticizes the English village system. He particularly challenges the current
system and how such feature were exploited by the British in its efforts to
acquire resources in its colony. It remains to be primitive and lack the
necessary central control that would effectively manage and allocate resources.
The entry of the British and introduction of a new economic system shattered
the village system of India as it became a force of control on how process of
production and economic means are met. Arguably, Marx sees this as instrumental
because it opened up ways for radical change to happen.
However, this does not mean that
Marx continues to support the British rule in India. Included in his essays
about India are the atrocities and destructive role of colonialism.
Specifically, emphasis related to the East India Company alongside its monopoly
and continued exploitation of resources is clearly highlighted in his accounts.
Here, he also targets the development of British capitalism as destructive as
it misplaced old towns as the bourgeois took most out of India (Iqbal, 1).
Equally, Marx also laments to the destruction and suffering of the people
affected by the British rule. The village system that was embedded in the
identity and culture of India underwent significant change. All these bring
have been influenced by the entry and colonization of the British.
Based on the viewpoints above, Marx
then delineates the orientalist construction of Indian history. From his
vantage point, the idea of preserving identity and culture of a country like
India remains to be essential. The context of oriental construction must focus
on creating an identity as a whole where specific cultural norms are patterned
according to development and continued pursuit towards growth. India should use
its history, including that of the British rule to overcome the struggles of
colonialism and develop a system of practices that achieves liberation from the
ideologies brought forward by capitalism (Rawat, 15).
At the same time, Marx also believes
that it is also the people of India that would provide the tool for their
emancipation. “He made clear that imperialism was laying down the material
conditions for new advance. But that new advance could only be realized by the
Indian people themselves on conditions that they won liberation from
imperialist rule, either by their own successful revolt, or by the victory of
the industrial working class in Britain, carrying with it the liberation of the
Indian people” (Iqbal, 1). It is through this context that Marx sees how change
would become manifested and overcome the impact of colonialism to India.
Works Cited
Iqbal, Jamil. ‘Indian Independence (Part 1) – Marx and Indian history’ In Defence of Marxism.
2007 Web Available from < http://www.marxist.com/indian-independence-marx-history270607.htm>
Rawat, Rajiv. ‘Marx on British Rule in India Historical and Contemporary Perspectives’
Department of Geography York University. 2005 Web Available from <http://prayaga.org/documents/paper-marx.pdf>
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