I happened to read Economy of Permanence by Dr. J. C. Kumarappa,
[Mahatma Gandhi’s economist], who is credited with coining the term ‘Gandhian
economics’, a remarkable school of thought based on Gandhism. This book was a sweet grab at the Chennai Book Fair this year, as I was simultaneously working on an ecocritical
reading of an author close to my heart.
I was attracted more by the
subtitle of this book which reads: “A quest for a social order based on
non-violence”. Ecoenthusiasts, ecocritics and nature lovers alike have constantly emphasised the need for the creation
of an ecocentric social order/world view that would be an alternative paradigm
for the environmental problems of today. In the same vein, an alternative economic-social order based on non-violence merits a serious reading in itself, and more so, because, in today's world scenario, no economist would dare talk or write on such a topic, which, for him would be tabooo to the core!
The highlight of the book, is that, the
great M. K. Gandhi himself has written the foreword for his close friend, with his signature affixed below it, and the words “On the train to Bombay, 20-8-1945” beside it.
Now, a few thoughts started disrupting my reading process. And, it so happened that, I discussed my thoughts on this book, at length with a few of my good colleagues, who augmented my 'apprehensions' in this regard. Hence this blogpost!
First of all, the plethora of
knowledge emanated by these two great
visionaries and captured in these books, reflect, the sincerity and commitment of
two great minds of the past, towards the cause of nation-building. In days when
telephones and other communication facilities were quite a rarity, here are two great
