E-Book - Mahatma Gandhi

223 Contextualising Gandhian ThoughtAnother criticism that has been levelled against thetheory is that it leaves unchecked power and wealth in thehands of an individual. "Is it reasonable to believe in the theoryof trusteeship, to give unchecked power and wealth to oneindividual and to expect him to use it entirely for the publicgood? Are the best of us so perfect as to be trusted this way." 90This criticism comes from a person who was closely associatedwith Gandhi, and who could therefore have looked into the realcontent of Gandhi theory of trusteeship a little more closely.Earlier paragraphs have elaborately described the criteria andconditions that a trustee had to fulfill to be considered aTrustee. They make it clear that the Trustee will not be left withunchecked power or unchecked wealth. His personal wealthcannot be inordinately high or disproportionate to the incomesof others who work with him. His emoluments will bedetermined by the State. He will be subject to severe taxation ifhis income goes high, inspite of these checks; and he will notbe able to bequeath his wealth. This cannot be described as aState of unchecked wealth. He is answerable and removable,either by the State or by the workers, through Satyagraha. Thisdoes not leave him with unchecked power. In fact, it isGandhi's desire to prevent the concentration of power andwealth, not only in any individual, but even in the State thatmay turn totalitarian in the name of ideology, that made Gandhievolve the concept of trusteeship with its checks, social controland accountability for the individual as well as the State.A third criticism is that it will lead to "larger and largeraccumulations of capital on the one hand and pauperization ofthe masses on the other." 91 The earlier paragraphs explain howthere can be no pauperization of the worker since he will beregarded as an equal partner, and his remuneration will fallwithin the same range as that prescribed for the trustee. Anincrease in the income of an undertaking will not be credited to