Machinism

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FIGHT AGAINST MACHINISM

IF we blindly follow the Western machine age neither sarvodaya nor socialism will be able to protect our culture, nor will we I able to solve the problems before us. We will have to fight this machinism on all fronts-political, economic, social and ideological. Our ideals will have to be Dharmarajya (Moral Rule), democracy, social equality and economic decentralization. A synthesis of all these could alone give us such a philosophy of life as would preserve us in the midst of all storms of today. You may call it Hinduism, Humanism or any other ism; this is the only way that accords with the soul of Bharat and can instil a new vitality in the people of his country. It can possibly guide even the whole world, which is at present standing at the cross-roads of confusion.

PURPOSE OF MACHINE

THE machine was developed to increase man’s productivity and decrease his labour. The machine is an aid of man, not a competitor. But when human labour became a commodity with a price on it, the machine became man’s competitor. This is the defect of the capitalist’s point of view. If machine replaces man and men dies of starvation, the purpose for which the machine was developed would be defeated. But the inanimate machine is not responsible for this. This defect belongs to a thoughtless economy. We must take into account the limitation of the machine when we decide upon its use.

SELECTION OF MACHINE

THE machine should be selected with great care, for it affects the selection of all other implements. If we choose the right machine the labourer can become a producer, otherwise he may remain only a consumer. By and large we can say that we should use such machines as are in consonance with implements of production available in this country. Labour, Capital, Management, Material, Demand-all these should determine the machine to be used. It is said that necessity is the mother of invention. But today we consider the machine the focal point and think of changing everything else according to it. The entire system of production is centred round the machine. It is the inventions that are creating the necessities.

(Excerpts from the book – “Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya
A Profile” edited by Sudhakar Raje)