Collin's Dictionary defines socialism as "a politics ideology which seeks for societies in which poverty is eradicated, market forces are not the sole method of the syndication of economic prosperity and where the human being ideals of assistance and altruistic behaviour develop". Nehru also presumed in the socialism and he known as the 'socialist modern culture' as 'good modern culture'. He presumed in the elimination of poverty and development as a socialist believed in these. His role in constituent set up and his role as Perfect Minister of India show that he believed in socialism. But Nehru's procedure towards socialism is slightly deferred from the other socialist. And his way was predicated on the practical aspect of socialism, rather than theoretical. This is why that his notion of socialism can be viewed as among the variants of socialism which is named as Nehru's Notion of Socialism. He was the first who introduced his knowledge of socialism in the insurance policies of the independent India. But there are other areas where his plans are up against the theories socialism. To comprehend his contribution to Indian Socialism, it is necessary to analyse his qualifications, contribution in Constituent Assembly and in Administration.
Impact of other Socialist in the Building of Nehru's Notion of Socialism
The root base of Nehru's view on socialism can be traced back again to time of his studies in Europe, especially in Cambridge. When he was learning in Cambridge, he was affected by the Fabian Socialism and Fabian Socialists. For example, Mrs. Besant, who was the main one of the initial Fabians, was one the closest good friend of his family. Through the trip to Soviet Russia in 1926-27, Nehru was also influenced with the achievements of the Soviet Russia in the region of economical development. The influence of socialism can also within his books, especially 'Glimpses of World Background' where he analyse the historical happenings with Marxian principles.
Nehru's Idea of Socialism
Nehru develops his own idea of socialism through the freedom movement and applied it after the self-reliance. But he never identified the socialism and his notion of socialism is less doctrinal and more of empirical in aspect, reason behind it is the fact that Nehru was more worried about the real problems of individual and interpersonal life, and he didn't spend enough time to improve his idea with the fine tips of doctrines of socialism. His notion of socialism was essentially based on the democracy, economical factor and economical betterment of the masses, better equality of opportunity, cultural justice, more equitable of higher incomes generated through the application of modern technology and technology to the process of creation, the closing of the acute social and financial disparities generated by feudalism and capitalism, the use of the scientific approach to the problem of society, finishing of the acquisitive mentality, category distinction and school domination, supremacy of the profit purpose and [Chandra, 2002:177]. He also believed that democracy and civil liberties had to be basic constituents of socialism and were inseparable from it.
But the essential difference between him and the other socialist is the fact he did not want the socialist culture through violent means, he desired the gradual, peaceful and step by step introduction of components of socialism, with the non-violent means to achieve socialist contemporary society. He also did not want that the perfect solution is of differences through violent and ground-breaking means or category have difficulties, but he wanted to solve all the dissimilarities through conciliation and adjustments [Chandra, 1999:177, also see Bhambhri, 1994:36]. And in this point he deferred from the Marxist methodology. He also deferred from Marx on the idea that Nehru did not specify man as a producing being [Parekh, 1991:38].
He applied his ideas in the making of constitution and in his economical policies following the 1955 through the financial planning.
Nehru as a Socialist before Independence
He also openly called himself a socialist in mid 1920s and 1930s. In 1936 Congress Program in Lucknow, he also said that he's a socialist not in a obscure humanitarian way however in a scientific economic sense; and he also wished to build a new interpersonal order on co-operative, classless and democratic sense. His assertion led to controversies and several customers resigned from Congress Working Committee. He realised the rick; and after 1936, he was reluctant to make such assertions. But his socialism was alive with his commitment towards democracy; since it is considered that the democracy and socialism are inescapable constraints of every other.
Socialism and the Making of Constitution
During the constituent assembly debate, socialism acquired the impact on assemblage and Nehru was one of the influential members who backed the thought of socialism. Although Patel, Prasad and Azad were determined and then effective federal, but Nehru was more worried about the Indian sociable problem and development. He has especial attachment with his notion of socialism, which influenced the constituent set up to be more bias towards socialism. However there are other member in constituent assembly, who experienced the socialist view, for example K. T. Shah; however they are not as influential as Nehru, who was simply also in the oligarchy of the constituent assemblage.
Granville Austin rightly seen in his publication 'The India Constitution, Cornerstone of the Land' that, the term socialism was removed from the 'Goal Resolution', however the Constituent Assemblage with a socialist biasness framed such a democratic Constitution which allowed India to be as socialist in future if its resident desire [Austin, 1972:43].
After Independence and Nehru's Notion of Socialism
After Separate and before 1955, Nehru did not much react to socialism. Within the First Five Season Plan and in the Industrial Insurance plan Image resolution of 1948, the socialism had not been the principal thing, but emphasis was given on the growth of production. During this time period many business were remaining with private sector, and the public sector has given small ratio of sectors.
But at the reaching of Avadi in 1955, the image resolution of Indian National Congress recognized that the "planning should take place with a view to the establishment of any Socialistic structure of society, where in fact the principal means of creation are under communal possession or control, production is progressively speeded up and there is equitable distribution of the nationwide wealth". And after his quality Nehru slightly migrated toward his idea of socialism, which is democratic, liberal and then for financial betterment of the masses. The conditions 'socialistic structure of world' indicate that the Congress has officially accepted the socialism. And later in Second and Third Five Year Plans, Nehru included followed this socialistic way. He helped bring many sociable reforms, which is often regarded as welfare state activities. He also brought labour legislations and equitable distribution of duty and excise insurance plan. And with these developments in insurance policy Nehru move India towards blended economy and Nehru's own understanding of socialism, which was based on democracy, economic development and civil liberties.
Criticism of Nehru's Approaches
C. P. Bhambhri in his book 'Indian Plans Since Self-reliance' shows any doubt that if the Nehru's guidelines as socialist in character or not. It is right that there are few procedures of Nehru's plans, which is not in the range of socialism. Property Relationship, Mixed Economy, rejection of standard bank nationalization, rejection of ceiling on wealth was the a few of them. It was expected that Nehru bring radical changes in these areas and completely rejected those policies that are against socialism.
His plan of Mixed Market cannot fall in the range of socialism. Beneath the mixed market, capitalism is strengthened and urged in his authorities. Although he nationalized the Imperial Loan provider of India and life insurance coverage companies, he nationalized very few banks and he did not nationalized bankers in bulk, which was later done by his girl Indira Gandhi.
After Self-reliance and after First Five Calendar year Plan, he was criticised for not providing so much importance to socialism. Socialist beyond your Congress Get together were criticized Nehru for his strategy towards socialism plus they said that Nehru possessed betrayed the origins of socialism.
But one thing critics didn't notice that, Nehru had not been interested in applying the true doctrinal socialism, but he believe in empirical socialism, which he want to determine through democratic means rather than through violent revolution. Nehru also identified that Indian population of that days was not prepared to accept top features of socialist society, especially Congress Party itself is not completely socialist, that was the main one more reason that he did not only adhere to the doctrines of socialism but he applied the socialism in more useful way and he designed the policy of general population sector and cooperative system in town so that ultimately it could direct result as socialist society. And after 1955 he shifted his insurance policies towards his notion of socialism.
He also offers the fear of the go up of fascism under impact of strict request of socialism, when societal consensus is absent. Nehru also shown his dread in the notice which he wrote to Jayaprakash Narayan in 1948, in this notice he said "an effort at premature leftism may lead to reaction or disruption". Therefore the concern with fascism was yet another reason that he applied revised and empirical form of his socialism.
Conclusion
Although in the original calendar year of Nehru's administration he cannot support his idea of socialism, however in later year especially following the 1955 Avadi quality, he brought his understanding to socialism, which led India towards Mixed Economy and Welfare Condition.
It would be wrong to say that Nehru has not play much important role to develop the idea of Indian Socialism. Nehru was criticised for not encouraging socialism after freedom. But that had not been the right time to bring in such system to India. At that time India was facing many problems, India need strong and steady market and unity amongst Indians. Nehru rightly bring in socialism after 1955 Avadi image resolution, because from that point of time India was much stable than time of independence.
After 1955, his plans led India toward Mixed Economy, where federal government also play much importance in overall economy. And this also integrated the features of democracy, economical betterment of the public, better equality of opportunity, public justice and liberty, which will be the basic feature of Nehru's Idea of socialism. Indian Government still practices his understanding of socialism.
On the examination of Nehru's effort in the pre-independence period, in the making of constitution and post-independence period, it would be better to say that Nehru is the daddy of Indian Socialism.
