The Third Way - Representing India – Rajendra Koppikar

IWOTY-2020, article by Shri. Gopinath Mavinkrve in Jan 2021 issue of the KS magazine, intending to
represent we Indians through ‘Indian words’ has appeared well in time.

India is already emerging as a leader in various aspects. Culture being one of them. Hence, it will be apt to
introduce Indian words to the world which fit more as ‘Concepts’. These concepts will help the world
succeed in enjoying a blissful way to live.

Some of the concepts to focus upon would be: Aajeevikaa, Aachaarya, Krishi, Adhikar, Adhyaatma, Akhand
Mandalaakar, Antyodaya, Aashram, Aatmaa, Bandhutaa, Charitryaa (Vyakti, Samaj, Rashtriya), Chiti, Desh,
Dharm (sanatan, Swadharm, Yugdharm), Ekatmataa, Ektaa-Anektaa, Gantavyasthaan, Jeevan drishti,
Jeevan moolya, Kalyaan, Karmashakti, Maanavataa, Neeti, Nyaay, Parivaar, Parmeshthi, Pragati, Prakruti
(Swabhaav, Srushti), Preranaa, Purushaarth (Dharm, Arth, Kaam, Moksh), Raashtra, Raashtriyataa, Sahayog,
Samaaj, Samaajdharanaa, Samanvay, Samarasataa, Saamarthya, Samashti, Samataa, Sampatti, Samskruti,
Sanyamit-Upabhoga, Samskaar, Sansthaajeevan, Santulan, Shaashvat Siddhaant, Shikshaa (Education),
Shraddhaa, Shrama-Nidhi, Shreni (Guild), Sukh, Swa, Swadeshi, Swaraajy, Swaatantrataa, Swatva,
Swayambhu, Swayatta, Tatvadynaan, Trupti, Tyaag, Upasanaa, Varn, Vichaarpravaah, Vikaas, Vishv-Ektaa,
Vishw-Shaanti, Vyakti-Swaatantrya, Vyashti, Vyavasthaa, Yugaanukul.

Such concepts can further be elaborated one by one. Such concepts will prove to be worth giving serious
thought to promote use of the same and practice for a better social set-up in years to come.

The third way, a book by Anthony Giddens, enjoyed a dramatic success when it first appeared in the late
1990s. The book helped to provide inspiration to different countries around the world. Its influence was
particularly strong in the formulation of social and economic policies. However, as usual, societies had their
own priorities based on respective culture and philosophy they followed. They interpreted and adapted the
ideas of The Third Way to suit to their own purposes resulting in endorsement of a market-driven approach
and consumerism.

'The third way' was always a label for the renewal of social democracy in the face of far-reaching social and
economic change, especially transformations by the intensifying globalization. Giddens argued that the
world needed to go beyond the two main traditions which dominated post-war thinking in the industrial
countries - the 'Old Left', on the one hand, and market fundamentalism, on the other.1

Since communism has failed and capitalism is on the way out, the search for a 'Third Way' is already ‘ON’ in
the western countries including the United States. Peter Drucker2, Samuelson3 and others have foreseen
the inevitability of the collapse of capitalism, though their public expressions are sufficiently guarded.

Practical thinkers like Manabendra Nath Roy, Pt. Deendayaal Upadhyaaya, Swaatantryaveer Savarkar, Marx
or Lenin refused to present any social regulation, because according to them, it was an exercise in futility.

Shri. Dattopant Thengadi, propagated the ‘Third way’ in light of Indian ideology and philosophy 4. What he
sought to bring about is a national debate on this issue with a view to building up some sort of national and
social consensus.

A blueprint may be evolved in course of actual implementation in the light of the broad guiding principles
of the basic Indian ideologies and that too by a trial-and-error method. Before reaching the stage of
implementation, in the form of a general guideline of the new socio-economic order. Such guidelines have
already been furnished by Indian ideology through the concepts mentioned above.

Acknowledgements:
1) https://books.google.co.in/books/about/The_Third_way.html?id=ZmMvRwAACAAJ&source=kp_book_description&redir_esc=y
2) https://hbr.org/1993/05/the-post-capitalist-executive-an-interview-with-peter-f-drucker
3) https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/206649/1/1681430401.pdf
4) https://cdn.dbthengadi.in/scan/third_way.pdf

Rajendra Koppikar is a management consultant for Household enterprises & MSME. He is also a social activist. He can
be reached at raj.koppikar15@gmail.com