E-Book - Mahatma Gandhi

247 Contextualising Gandhian Thoughtyou will form the least idea of the resources of the Westernpeople, then you will understand what a tremendously difficultproblem we have to face in the economic filed."Thus Gokhale and Ranade diagnosed the reasons for theindustrial domination and consequent impoverishment of Indiaas : (1) the use of political power to destroy indigenousindustry; (2) the policy of opening our markets to the productsof the Western countries, enforcing an unequal competitionbetween the "giant and the dwarf”, leading to the furtherdestruction of whatever had survived of Indian industry orwhatever was set up by Indian industrial interests; and, (3) theconsequent unfavourable balance of trade resulting in the"bleeding" of the Indian economy.Since then, the days of naked Imperialism and directwielding of political power have ended. Political power hasbeen transferred to the people of India, and Britain haswithdrawn. But has the picture changed radically after theliquidation of political Imperialism, and the nation's accessionto power? We have not preserved or upgraded indigenoustechnology, nor even succeeded in copying or adapting thetechnology that the West used. No one has been willing totransfer modern technology to us, inspite of all promises of aidand collaboration in the field of production. The technologicallag continues. We have been compelled to open our markets tothe consumer goods manufactured in the developed countries orby multi-national corporations functioning from where they getcheap labour, and can produce to maximise profits. Their goodsare good, offered in flashy and attractive presentations. Theyare backed up by a blitzkrig of propaganda on the Televisionand other media. How can Indian manufactures compete? Theyare compelled to salvage whatever they can through becomingsubsidiaries or holders of franchise. The Indian consumer istold that these are days of globalisation, that globalisation is theonly way in which the consumer can have access to goods of