,..,,.
""''"'',, a Nath Roy
Manavendra N at h Roy
Ma nav end ran ath Roy pop
ep1•tome of Ind ia's rev olu tion ary his tor y . He wa
to lea d the Int ern atio nal
hon our to par tici pat e in
and Ch ina . He wa s one
equations with Lenin, Stalin
genius in con trib utin g imm
Roy's urg e for hum an free
and he ma de a jou rne y fro
finally to his ow n radical
the pro phe t of the new ord
militant nationalist in the
Ind ian to theorise com mu
recorded in golden letters
LIFE AN D CO NT RIB UT
M.N. Roy wa s bor n dur ing
India's ind epe nde nce had
?f change had ushered ~ due
m the form of refo rma tion
al~~ady establish~d its foo
rruhtant revolt against the
them~
elv~s to overthrow the Bri
contnbuhon is given below
333
c11
O'll 1oodRoY, wh ose chi ldh ood
t-4.N · name was Na ren dra nat h
wa s bor n on Feb rua ry 6,
ei,a ttacnar 188 6 at Arbella a villa
d'15ya,
tric t of 2 4 p arg ana s. H' f h
't\ the 1s at er, Din'aba ndhgeu
ya wa s the hea d pri est
~i, att ach a~w ari at the of the temple of Goddess
vill age Ksh epu t in the Mid
13 J(s hep ut; :ng al. So eve ry
0 £W es: led ) wo uld inh eri
bod y tho ugh t that Naren
t the pro feu ion of his father.
napur district
(as M.N. Roy
-was ca oth erw ise . Co mi But history
ng out of the cocoon of an
pro ved ss Hin du fam ily, M.N. Roy proved
tni ddl e c1:ut ion ary . Na ren
orthodox
to be an iconoclast
we nt to 9Chool in his own
and ~e t pto class-VI. Lat village and
(1886-1954) stu d 1e_ ':n er on, hll father shifted to
24_pargana wh ere he pur
l(odalia_ t cho ol. Th is
the villa
sued his study in a Angge l~
vil lag e has giv en bir th
san skr ~ s ries like Raj nar to many
ain Bose and Sivanath Sastri
rev olu tio n; st atte mp t of who had
fou ndi ng a secret revolution
ula rly ~o wn as M. N.
Ro y wa s the rna de the ~rCe ntu ry and ary society
iJl lat~ 1~
had inspired Nabagopal Mitra's
Jatiya
. t s the first lnd i .... 1 the oth er han d it wa s the
._, yea
Co mm um ~ mo vem ent
an~ had the Me la : ins t the par titi on of Bengal. r 1905, the year of
the rev olu tio nar y str ugg agitattor:' ::a to rel igi ous This agitation not only
les m Mexico
am ong the few Ind ian
s wh o had gav e bir d bu t also trignat ion alis m adv oca ted by Swami
ger
and Tro tsk y. He p_~ ved
his original Vi vek an ~ \an ktm cha nd ed off the revolutionary activities
ra Chhaterji through his nati
ens ely to the poh tic~ l tni ti.a ted ,v! nde Ma tar am onalist
phi l05 0ph y. '. Na ren was a product of his
dom, no dou bt ma de him coinage tiOl\aty per son alit y of bud own time.
paradoxical ding Nar
m nat ion alis m to com mu Th e rev o1u rev oke d him to join the en, a boy of only
hum ani sm or new hum ani
er. Mo reo ver his con trib
nis m and
sm . He was
fou rte ~n
vio lat ion
ye° ;;~! ord er of the sch ool hea
m the Sch ool . He join
agitation for the
dmaster. He was
uti on as a rus tic ~te ~ fro all ed An ed a revolutionary
nat ion alis t mo vem ent and nus hil an Samiti. However,
nis m and rad ica l hum ani
u the first org ani sat ion cd later o!'
in the pag es of his tor y.
sm wil l be rus tic ati on or er_ wti~s wit hdr aw n and he completed his
· lati exa nun a on. HethenJ'oinedintheBengalNational
ma trtc u B on t he sub seq uen tly switch~
ION col leg e. u d too k inte res d over to Bengal Technical
Institu te an t in Chem1&try.
a per iod wh en the firs t
wa r of Ro y as a Radical Na tio nal
alre ady tak en pla ce in 185 ist
7. An era b th cwnate
to new thi nki ng and new
tho ugh t As me nti one d ~bov~,. Rod being influenced Y e
and reg ene rat ion . Ren ais of m ilit ant nat ion alis m, 101 the rad ical nationalist mo
san ne . . the cadre of a top ve~ t
tho ld. Be nga l wa s pre par ce had aga inst Bri tish ~u t bef ore ranking
ing for a
British rule. Ter ror ists we mil itan t nat ion alts t, left the rid ~ for a broader role. He s~art:
re org ani sin g coun . f country's freedom m_ e
his car eer as a fighter for
.
tish . A bri ef ske tch of his life
and An nus hil an Sam ity, a rev ti;e ~~ :~ ; organisation for physic~;
me nta l and mo ral regene o ':1 of Bengali youths- Later on,
ration
 -
334 I" 'ilfll1 r olilical Tradition : From Manu 1o 1\11 I Nath Roy .,.,,5
''Pdk erl dra >
Nfariav
. l ' l,o'-h the founder of Bengali daily, '1/ie Ju Q~
as made that Germany would give arm d~h·,
me t 13arin , · , . 8<1111 ,-,
. d . •a th Mukherjee a fervent revo 1ullonary nation . 4 11" ... flt w d' l N "T/ ,Jt
Ja tm 1111, . . f . d 1
. il 1st "' reeffl e J v a ) . A cc or mg Y aren wag selected to ~I') f
M GI 1 ._h a nd JatmdranaU, became 111s ncn , philoso · 1l011 ~~tari.a ( t~e arms but went in the guise of a name 'Charle,;
r_.d ~\ the war of freedom. "Che village Kodalia bn P1'er 111,]
g u1 c u . . . Tl . -.ccan, "' ,ecei~~g Making necessharyh~rratngCem ents at Bataria (Java, f,-,r
centre of revolutionary activ1lles. ,e_revo 1uhonaries Were c lhl! rv1artlfl .elivery throug s i~ o a 1cutt~, E~!!t Benga l and
tra ined in shooting and marksma_n sh1p at the same time ~o bl! rf11S d h came back to India. But the !!hip did not arrive !I()
6
to be made and arms to be acquired. .
But there was pa . 111bs
1 d .
funds to meet the expenditure mvo ve m such activir J of
\Jc1t" ;a1asore, :nt to Bataria but was disappointed to see the ;on-
agairl he_~ attitude of Germara. So he went to China and Jap~
Na ren committed political dacoity at the Chingripota Ri~s. So , 0 operatiV In Japan, again he talked to German officers who
Station on 6th December, 1907. The Station master was as ail\vay
. f 1 .
and money was confiscated to give or revo uhonary activi/"'
sau1t ... st
d
for arJl\S him to go to Germany to get the sanction for money
sugge ~ arms, But then came the s~ocking ~s of the killing
Naren was arrested. But he was released on bail. An •es. to sUJ'Pr~volutionary mentor, Jahn Mukheriee in a police
0
political dacoity was committed by him near Diamond Ii ~her of hlS at Balasore. Roy was crestfallen. After the death of
in the district of 24 Paragana on 25th April, 1909. While 1:r ~Ur enc_ou~:kherjee (popul_arly known as Bagha Jatin), othe r
the place of dacoity, he told the owner of the house "Wear avlr\g Jatlil of the revolutionary movement were also arrested.
borrow ing money to drive the British away". 2 Naren was:
0
:!Y colleagudes. ded to change the course of his life.
a rrested and released on bail. But after the declaratio g ll1 N ren ec1
Aurobindo Ghosh to retire from politics and long
imprisonment for Barin Ghosh, the revolutionary activities
t;rni
of a
Leader o
£ Communist International
, journey for the next phase of life started. He reached
through rough weather. Naren took the initiative to organise : t Nar:i!co (U.S.A.) in June, 1916. Though he arrived in the
different revolutionary groups into one banner known e San Fra C.A- Martin, but as reported by~ local news pa~r
Jugantar and planned guerilla type warfare. His view Was ~s name of ected to be a Hindu, high-caste Brahmsn
he wa~ s:spleadel' or an emmissary of the British government.
remo ve the British from India and establish a people°
government instead of a government by few. In the Howrah~
Sibpur Conspiracy case, he was again arrested along with
revolution i oblem for his free movement in US.A. Hence as
This create P~ n of an Indian friend in the campus of Stanford
46 per the ~ugges oan ed his name to Manavendranath Roy. A new
accused including Jatin Mukherjee on 29th January, 1910. He was
charged with the conspiracy of raging war against His Majesty University, he ch g me started in the life of Naren. From
the King-Emperor and deprive him of Sovereignty of British era with a ~e;h nt~acharya be became Manavendranath Roy
India. However after nine months of solitary imprisonment, he Narendranat a larl known as M.N. Roy. Here he was
was released due to lack of sufficient ev idence against him. and came to be po~u yin Au st 1916 ht went to New York
attracted to Marxt~d_east Rai 8~ w'tth the American entty into
After he came out of the jail, he worked as a bill collector of where he met La a a1~• . 1 ~ase known as the Hindu-German
a rice mill and a timber w orks in Beliaghat. But later on he war in June, 1917, a c~~rtuted Roy was arrested and WU
resigned and started a restaurant, which became the centre for conspiracy case wasym~ C rt. But this time also, due to Jack
revolutionary activities . But again on 12th February, 1915 he very rosecuted in a New or ou · t fear of arrest haunted
successfully conducted the political dacoity by looting the cash pf idence he was released. The_constan 'th his wire, E\·el~-n
oh _ev He therefore went to Mexico alongw1
of Bird and Company during the day time. It proved Naren's im . ' h d t at Stanford
courage and quality of leadership . Trent whom he a me .' d f stride for a t,igger
In August, 1914, the war between Eng la nd and Germany . His stay in Mexico was a p~no o ght 1aurels for him as
started . The revolutionaries decided to ta ke a d vantage of this . t His activities in Mexico b~u al t,ilil\' 1,ecarne the
ach1evemen . h h's organisation a : December,
situation and looked towards Germa n y for n ecessary help . a communist . Roy lhrougM i . an Socialist PartY in
German Counsel General was con v inced in Calcutta . An general secretary of the ex1c

l
 336 Indian Political Trad 337
ition: From M ~,ath RoY
anu to Arnbedk ,idra I"
1918. He re at M ex ,Aariave was tried for treason an
ico , Ro y ca m e in th July, 19 d
rested on 26ears' trans 31. H~ The sentenee was later
Qr
a re pr es en tat iv e co nt ac t wi th M" JV'
of co m m un ist in po rta
m uc h in flu en ce d ter na tio n ic~ael BorOdin t1e 111as :; to tw e~ ~J tion.. orous impnson
by Ro y's wr iti ng
s Th e. ~ 1·..8or od co ur t to six ye ~~ io ment.
Roy be ca m e a 'C on m Was very e11te1'c d. bY we m jail ill [)ehradun.
vi nc ed Co m m un ist 20
o f succes_s o f co rn . ' T1hr _1mtimacy deve s itte l ased on th Novemb~r, t the jail gate an
m u~ t re vo lu tio n · is wa s also the loped ref1lwas re e ess lea greeted hiJI\ a . d NehrU
co m m ur us m wa s in Soviet R . . · ders d the provincial political conference
wh isp er in g in th e period }-le Coflgr
ea rs of ev us~1a. 5ortle . a fl\ess~g to atten
e .
th e pe rio d. So Ro h plunged Jl'ltO the palitical
M ex ica n So cia lis t
be e
y to ok in te re st in
pa rty as Co m m un co n try The Word
~e lle ct ua l of t hi fll 11' spite Of his ill-health e I wa
conference. t s here at BarewY
_: 11

~me
th f ist p tyverfmMg t_ e
fore1gn coeun rrs t ~d ia n wh o fo un de d thear o ex1co Thu hof
try lik e Mexico.
na me
co mm un ist p.arty ~
e
se;13ar~illY ~ d at te nd
:cti~it1e;ce he was ~
de re ~
ed ~: : as a member of
ele cted as a mcem
dia1l
the:
Na tional
the Execu ti'l e
Be was a h eongress o ~ttee- He attended
M.N. Ro y wa s su
to th e se co nd co ng bs eq ue nt ly in vi ted by Borodin an d
M os co w. H e w en
re ss of co mm un ist
international to be
Le .
ma
~ 0 f\gr~::;e of
c o ~ ur session o
L"'e f aiZP
lJttar ~:~~dial'N at i~ c :~ :t e d
d by NehrU ~ Gw
. l)ecetnbet,
to take
t to M os co w in M
ay, 1920. He parti
he ld ~ u• 6 ROY w as welcome ess man II\ dhian unifortn but
an
th e se co nd _c on
193 diaS• RoY ~~ ne a congr . · the congress pr ograr·runthe
gr es s of Co m m un cipated : - no t ,e-
pr es en te d _his pa ist in te rn at io na l d to rev olutioni:e meeting
wh er e he ttie d" cal dete111 ....
an d co lo ru al qu es
p: r ~n 'Su pp lem en
tio n to co mp lem
tar y Thesis on the
Na a ra ~o m et Gan
dhi'i l,u t the)' w th to dep;rt ;'g an
ght of deve op ""inS
an d coloni~l ques_ en t Lenin's thesis on tional }-{e a el~£ action. RoY
~e cti ve strUggleda1,: t
ch an ~e s. _D isp as sio
tions. Both th e pa pe
rs were ad op ted wi
national tti ou gh t an d co urs
dershiP who can sta rt an ,~
na th minor 1 tionar 1 Roy's i ea
ssess a revo uof theY idea . So when he
ha s vi nd ic at ed Ro te sc ho lars are no alternati~e lea d po
y on th e question. 3 w of the view th at history unperiali 5: a;;ght-w Congress. partY irl
Ro y be in g re co gn ing le:!~~:ntship o~
ise d by th e Co mm op Po :~ :d f~r the P0 the ~ :~ ea te d-
en ga ge d in Co m un ist international conte th issue O:~ ~ ti ve leadershiP• ~;.,_ war Br
m un ist activities. got ita
co m m un is t in te Soon he ro de the 1940 on e 1939 1n u= in ~ a.s
rn at io na l an d be cadre of -U broke out i n
de pa rtm en t of co ca m e th e he ad of rf"l...e World W~pow ~ the idea of SUdh pp<>rtll'g
mm Easte iji and
Un iv er sit y . He al un ist international an d of Moscow Or rn i1• _;..,,t a,o5 ers . Royn ""ins }-l
so be ca me a me mb ien art
a P Y. .ag ~- _...,,ent in their war ar ,-: - t 'd itler-~ .,. . e,andhi
er of th e official po tal be ca
ess opp osed thiSSol ea the league of
m ak in g bo di es na ,--
m el y the pr es id iu the 13nt1sh gove u..-·
ex ec ut iv e co m m itt m, political secretar licy- . the
other leade_rs ~ the Congr G eJ1llllent. whennstration, the
ee an d th e wo rld iat,
be sto we d up on an co ng re ss -a rare ho the Br
na d lost faith n or itish o;ti-fascist de m ~ act- So t:ttar
y In di an ev er . nour ganised :u t it was
C on gr es s mehi"bited them- -.rn of no fro : the co n
Th e Co m m un ist rev
olution ha d also oc ro -..nittee e,-r--ellethd Ro y
~
w as se le ct ed as curred in China. Ro co ng re ss Pon ess Cou.. conr,"1'P S5
a -:- ed •-- .
Co m m un ist Inter le ad er of th e de leg ati on to China y pradesh C fc,y wa
s delink
from e
national. Ro y ad vis sent by rty 'fhUS
an 'ag ra ria n re vo ed the Chinese lea pa . . t artY
lu ders for ical t{ut1\anis
To e Ch inese co mm tio n' wh ich was n~t _acceptable t~ RoY' a Rad essmen for1l' ed a cax neW F
e new F~al- 1)et1\ocra ~
un ist s were also d1 Ch~~se . f Radical congr 'fh rte to
failed. He came ba v1ded. So Ro ys rn1 gue o M N Ro
of co rn mi nt em in ck to Moscow. His failure led to the ss10n 'fhe Lefeadersh iP of ;atic paY•rtJ· 'fh tadic es
t1c
China, for which
Roy was held respo fa~ure under the Radical ea!\d moral val~entiTo fic
1)e
He de cid ed to come
back to India . nsible. known as to giVe etn t1\0Cis on indivi~":~al order in_ a ~t y wa
ph a;nuc a!\d po ~p s
party was eW socio-
Ro y in the In di an
Na tio na l Congre create a nl way be c~ econ.ts avowed p f \e . But thiSi, al new
M.N . Roy ar riv ss a ph ilo ~ on hutJla!l
' and rnora ·n 1948 e l onsequence ~d order b
wa s un de r appreh ed at Bombay in the year 193~. Al
en wa
the arrest, he mo ve sion of arrest by the British pohce. To ys ~e
d as Dr . Mahmud . av
But he could not esc oid
t dissolv~d ~ }-le worke
orientanon-
in c r a new wor
d fo
ape.

- -~~L
·'. ______ ....,.._iiiii
I 338
.
Indian p o1,t,
.
e th ics an d sc1en t' fi
..
"
at tit ud e H
I c
· From A1
ca/ Trad ,·1ton : ,v,anu I o ,1

ex ten siv ely o n na ti al an d .· e ev ot ed hi s ti

-
"1bed'l{q,
d
. 1,Aariavendra
~ ~ R ey

6 Su di pt
. .
a Ka vt ra J w nt es
.
, ev en th e Ch ar
ar , wa s se en
ak ha , a
to have
m

ris io n in lat er ye
.
.
Jo ur na l call
an d go t a 1:~,if Ra dic
on
al Hu m an ;;t em
of fe r to talk oi ~~
at io na l pr ob Je ,:e
[,also w~ote in for ej
_in lvtit,
tn ~is o:8
Jo ul ll, /
1
of 1n d an ~u
parti ctJ 1~ar sy
tt
m
of
bo
ui
Ro
lic
na s,
y's

Sa
de
va lu e. Ro y ev en
vo na
co mp ar ed Ga
vo la an d Fr an cis
of As
nd
sis
hij
s1
j with
in his
ur
de ter io ra tin g
. er en t iss ue s ab ro !:; a pr1nac tic a s Aq kn ow led ge d fo
lt h di ve rte d the ur ~e y of hi s life t . But h·s ort1 a . !n de pe nd en c~ . He ac for
on _25 th Ja n. t; th e lJo o ete . is St- k- O ne Ye ar _of
(1) Use of mass ac tio n
na tio na lis t , a co nu nu n·
54 . It W as
as t Jo ur ne ut 10 ns of Ga nd hi ~ a tfo na l
a rad ica l hu m a~ s~ f a firebrl'flity v00 uc tiv e co nt nb e (2 ) Co ns ol id at io n of th e In di an
mental
. M .N . Ro y as _is t an d . and co~~ ~cal pu rp os rces from govern
me nt io ne d earl'ier wa s a ve rsa til e . 0 1 (3) Li be ra tio n of th e na tio na l fo the ad op tion
p h Ilo so ph er P ~e ss len ce an d (4)
e en tir e hu m ge niu s and slo ga n of no n- vio es and
grati tu de h . . Th rib ut io n t th an ge ne ra tio n Will Co ~e ss io n by th e
op er ati on , no n- ~a
~e nt of tax
Wr iti ng s is co nt e. r;c or d lvith ue s of no n- co
pr ec iat ion s ma de an exit
pol~ti~al lit era tur O.llle of h ~t th e tec hn i~ Bu t so on su .ch. .ap
~r e(3 )(1 ) Re as on , ~ o; an m an d R di en ce . 7
!"fate ria lis
w O . nt ati on (4) N tic 1s ev ol ut ·1On (2)is •vii di so be JSm.
. Ne H Cl nt em pt uo us cntic
m T
~ans1tion (6) F ure of In d·
ne n;~
ew unv:i'u.:slll (5) In . gi vi ng bi rth to co
POl.iticaI p . (8)UtSc f-:
Ian Politics (7) Po Ihcs, Po we r d1a hi sm
ar tie s ie
e an d Su pe rst iti on Cr iti qu e on Ga nd se d on difference
in
Ro y O N
ne
<lnd Cr iti cis m of Ga nd hi sm wa s ba mo st im po rta nt
A~ N Ro y's ou t th at the
-I IS M AN D Tl-IE IN DI wo rk . Roy po in ted on om ic
CO NG RE ;tN DI
A TION At th eo re tic al fra me nd hi sm wa s its lac k of an ec
de fe ct of Ga s ro ote d in fu tile
po lit ic al condly it wa
W hi le ct· n ma ss su pp or t. Se pe asan ts,
hil co ns tru
ne m g the co nt
ou rs of
M:N. Ro y's .. pr og ra m m e to wi e In di an pe op le,
lan dl or ds an d
p os op hy , it is ce ssa ry to hi hli ca I de sir e to un ite all th tio na ry ins igh t an d
of po lit ica l lit e !;: .tw o _Im po rta nt cil !h
d pr ole tar iat . It lacked a rev olu dlo rd s and
-?1 m
_ un ism . ~: tu re _e~isting af th b im e i.e., Ga nd h· l"Izons ca pi tal ist s an e against the lan
lea d the pr ole tar iat Ch ara kh a wa s br an de d
Co _Y d1 sm ter es ted of MN1slll ctnd an or ga ni sa tio n to of
po lit ica l th eo . ati on Will rev ea l h' o se rv at io n · · Roy' nd hij i's economics l.ism an d
We ll as co nt ns is sy mp ath th e ca pit ali sts . Ga Ga nd his m wa s ma:-ked by mediave
fo r bo th . Sin ce tio n. Hence
htI em pt ~f ;:~ i~ tio ~ a: as rea cti on ary for social revolu
rig J~ Ph ie( s~
y's as se s:1 1m ee :;~. an dh z sh ow s av1raj er va tis m, it ha d no pr og ram me tio nis m bu t 'weak an d
:ts Ro I co ns olu
e_v oJ u~ 0~b :::
e co mp lex a PPrec1ation to on . a Peculiar hi sm wa s no t rev to af' ply
d a .n: ior he sa id th at Ga nd 8 He also rejected Gandhiji's effort

I
SIInpiis tic an wo uld
cnncaJ.5 e mcreasingIy wa ter y' ref or mi sm .
lit ica l ac tio n fo r it
Ro y Wa s a c nt. ic . op os iti on s in to po litics. Ga nd hia n Ahimsa
h •.. ,
nd IJI s lea d m eta ph ys ica l pr po
., of th C of Ga .
ershzp, ph ilo ence of a dynamic pi ta lis t
pr og ra m.... e gr es s. Ro , pr ev en t the emerg lec tu al de \·ice fo r hi di ng th e ca no n-
t
. ee na ge ter
m t:r na tio na
na tio na lis . m
ro
l :t
r·
o
fd
e
hII
_
on
su
n
bs eq ue nt I: s pr of ile ran
aw ay f masGa a lea
nd
de
h" :
of
d m e: tP ~y anda
th o s as
e commun....i st
1J! an d th congress
wa s a su bt le in tel
co un try . Hence,
af ter the
ex pl oi tat io n of the nt, Roy said, the collapse of Ga nd du e to
me
co op era tio n move terror of colonial go ve rn me nt it wa n ha d
fai lur e of
his m was
s
I
ro
e the era tio
Ap ec1• ation of G no t be ca us e of ote , no n- co op
lar revolt. He wr its we U-
pr
B an dh i ris ing tid e of po pu Ch ara kh a ha s be en rel eg ate d to can not
led ; the pe op le
ut as m en f alr ea dy fai
the museum; the sp
irit of the
o;, ed ~arlier, M ,N R m de se rv ed place in im po ten t tac tic s no r is th e go of 'N ew
ve rn me nt
;P Pr eciated Gan~ rsm m on e of . . oy as a sy in P~ et ic critic ch t
hr ou gh the
-co op era tio n hrs fir st art icl es
PRECOR. be ra ise d 9by su en M.N. Roy theorised his concep an bo at-
mo ve me nt t~ on ement he sa id th e agrarian ter ro ris ed . Bu t wh ng in a Ga nd hi
ol eta ria n mmovem ha d sta rte d sa ili der.
mo ve me nt 'ar e pr
e mo vi ng
ov en t a
na lis t Hu m an ism ' he moral man for a humanist social or
to war~~ th e na tio

!
national . on a s
e. C~~ncertedJy emph as isi ng po&'ies, programme
n;: :;~ ep e~ de nc ;ie Jb je ct , i.e . very critical of the iting
of the
hs t mo ve me ~:
o°
s,s GWas the 'ackn . e ,ge d he ad ' M.N . Roy was also Indian National Congress. While wrof the
Congress tru 1;a ~n dh iji ha d t the sion
representative of national as p . . ne d to ma ke an d functi~ning ofa manifesto to the Ahmedabad ses
irations of all classe
s on nationalism in
 340
Indian Political Trad·f' 341
' ion: From Manu t ath Roy .
~ongress in 192 l h o i\111bedkq dra N t t of economic liberation
1s n t ' e Warned th ~ ,itlveri without the con en foundation of Mar,cist
o a mere political a e Congressmen and s . tvf II edotn rung-a true . st
had graduated Politi~ rne. It is a great soeial stru le "d •a.,~ . . al fre s no mea th t a social revoluhon mu
debatmg soeiety for la al consc,ousness, it had c!!s~dC°"gr,,,,
an organ of rnerchants wyers but it should not convert;~" be•
~•
1
~::ti~! 1
~~ :;,e~;!i:rxHeawas i'"='.~is•~:i~
,nd, Is. 1-Jet' oIi tic aI rt'Marxism. According o endental in this
consequences
f of th. f ~Id manufacturers. If it did them· l_f lllto ;deecede1· s~' stancel?ty There is nothing tr~ and individual
rom the nation" 10is I-Ia1 Ure Wt·11 be the divorce
. of' the Cev1tab1e pr ria t rea 1 . of humams Ma ,,
Congress session. e condernned the proeeedings
bourgeois leader has ai!'etrayal of the revolutionary fore ~l
:1~ 'f1late b.ective a doctrine
.

. an o J andstn as N Roy most. He . . f man. The anh-

also appreciated . rx .

~orid :appealed, ~~d- faith in the :J::'Za~enced MS Roy

Congress Was b ~ ip. e al~eged, under Gandhiji's leader:h.Y
Roy viewed th ~mg turned mto a spinners' association " l,f t
.;,d
freedo for 'man f the conunurust . . the outcome of ttie
cone ern . list por1cy o hilosop hy, Marx1Smf 15history. Thewor -1 e it
'
the r<ivolutiona: ongress in the light of a soeial revolution
Indian Nation ~ mass move?1ent. Hence, even after joining the
ill'P~;~. said "~~~I from the_ daw;' i~eological equipm~
r1en rnent of f h manity, it is th Id" Accordingly f
Congress leade: ~ongress m 1936, he revolte~ against the
for radical ship and gav~ a call for an alternative leadershi
develoheritage o
is the . g to every
:Ody for a bettanalerw~r of.the problems o
ch to his ys1S
w::
th 11.1 programmes. Dunng the World War-II, he supporte~
e_d powers (Britain) against axis powers like Gennany.
belong~Marxist approa
rna~e .
.. rthodox and
to the tradi~on of o communist
.. a fight
cntic,sed
war
th between democracy and Fascism of Hitler. So he11
e Congress opposition to India's participation in the
as Fascistic.
,oeielYt Roy never bel~f,experience ::ng;r,al ~ ~
Bu . Marxism. freedotn an . ards radic
rnatic for h ~ Mafx!Sm tow M~m.
~ogrnational, urgehiln to travel ~otn 'tical analysis of
Bu~ Roy's_ observation of Gandhian technique was one sided U\te . him made . through his en
and blind. History proved that Roy's study was the reflection withlll This he did
of his biased leftisw . He failed to realise that Gandhiji was the maJUS1ll• · t existence
hu "th Marxism · theory th a mic
only leader who successfully applied the Indian culture as a o·fferences wt 'th the Marxist d' ted the ec~.~
political technique. Gandhiji's political style and discourse was t . reeing w1 he repu ia Marx's ar5....::-:--:
While ag sciousness, Roy rejected b the conflict
completely Indian, which every Indian could understand and
accept more easily than they understood others. determin~s c;r
history by M~ess gove~ed !f production
. terpretatto~ dialectical p d the relattons an not be the
ROY ON MARXISM: A RELUCTANT MARXIST :at history is a f production an Roy ar~ed, c and ideoloSY
een forces o onomic forces, creative ide~ the course
Roy's rebirth at Stanford University drew him closer to betw r worker). Ee Intelligence,l in deterIJUIUl'S c,nception
(own~a~tor in historyiJnportant_ roe the ~te~t ~elligence.
only 1 an equ~Y,, hilosophically, . e role of ~ .. ,2 The
Marxist ideals. So quickly he could ride the ladders of
communist leadership that he became the first Indian to be a also p ay said p . the creatlV ality of ide~-al urge
communist leader of international repute. He was also the first of history. Ro~st recognis~e objecti~e~\y the biologic ()dlic
Indian to organise a communist party~ a foreign_country like f history m not deny deteJ1ll.lll bed under ec"' es
Mexico under the influence of Borodm and Lemn. He led a
delegation of communist international ~o Chi~a to guide the
~aterialisJ!\ : ' -was ,norecan not be dublbe early ,nidd'::
early h1sto)t biological urz.c conditions~ t,etween thei,ase of
of

communist revolutionaries . Thus his attitude . to~a~ds of man-sucstudY of econo casual connecnaisSaJlCe as ~fenectual
communism may be divided into two p~~ts-one pa_rt md1catmg factor. T~eat there was n:naissance. ~tural and t~ientific and
his faith in Marxism-second part a cnhc of Marxism. reflects lass and the . ed by the c on rationa '
business c rnore dete~~t was t,ased
Influence of Marxian Principles history wa~ rnan's ml!l ·
revolution lJl
He accepted communism mainly because he was convinced
 343
342 Indian Pol ,.1te .
a/ Trad · . Nath Roy
1/1011: Fr o~ ,,, M u lo of th
se cu la r id ea s of an • t G re ek . . . an IA"""vendra nder the dictatorship e
· o . . c1 en '1.117ber11r
ta to rs hi p of an y cl as s. Uh" ch ensIa ves the individual
m te re st or iti o CJ Vi JJ.Za tio
b
q,- . Ii · l e w
th e d ic
,b ru l
~hcaJ an
be lie ve d th pat id ea s of
th an
n of Ill ed · n1 tr ad it / the eco is to ta ta na n e was between.
h _1eva tJiafl . t th er e , the co nf lic t of the present ag llective
socio ro lllen cr ea te is to ry an d ona1 cla llo~o lllic
pr oJ et ~: g to
hi m n al l devouring co .16
-econornic en vi nr ne nt . tr an slorlll ss. :}' d de m oc ra cy , be"dtwee freed om
m an 1 g fo r
M.N . Ro ar gu ed th t the;r Acc~r .an is d th em . d"1v1 ua st ru gg lin
bu t in hi s ecyon o . a th ou h . M ar x w . ario
htat i n or cl as s an
t of revolution.
ta
an al ys is .g co nc e to ~n M ar xi an co nc ep
' ~ c as om
pa rt of 'c la ss or gr ou , , llld1vidu ed fo r Ill di ff er ed fr
eg La st ly , he al re vo lu ti on pa ve s th e way fo als the cult
so r totalitarian
sy st em . Ee vi du a1 tl Was View:~
rn ic de t! r~ !n ~i
s identit uOn y Jdy as ~ sa id M ar xi an n of M ar x ve re
po ss ib ili ty it o 1;:,~~, R oy ~:ge Ued n er '-•i L se th e vi ol en t re vo lu tio al is lost. On the
w hi ch individu
bec~ J-{e te rn . B ec au
rn ea n
ne ed s, no t._on1y co no m · ee-·=
ev er 1g f e as an . , Pr ec lu ed tl} s d in ing
n through educat
ir ra tio na Ji sm
fr on , cu1h ic fr do an d re lil di v·1 d 3 JL.. e ~s co lle ct iv e peaceful revolutio on voluntaristic
th at .nc•~ al an d lll .
teUe ctuaJ reIll . se cu rit y, b Ut al UaJ.1 •v1an ot he r ha nd he
pr ef er re ~ a
d
st in ou ld be ba se
si e. Il la n is th
i .... : no n
org;:~u sa
?e Ii be rt an w
hi ch de
e er
n; e ea to r
ra t b
of th e s. '-: 1
e clearl s~
~!
ei ~ ; ~O rl ~,
fre
pa:inted
edo
o: th e pe op le .
ro m an tic is m .
R ev ol ut io n sh

in the M ar xi an
do ct rin e of

IS no ho pe
~ ~~ ~e _r a ti t: t; s? v er 1ik li ld iv id ua / social
an cu lt :lJlnot Th us , R oy , th ou gh ha d faith
of its fallacies.
H e wa s a reluctant
iv1dua1 fr an . e commlln.is , Cc e sc ar de d so m e
li e d .d pt th ee do m .rn , th er hu m an is m di
by M ar x ~ no
t ac ce
~ th eo ry of M ar xi st . CR AC Y
au se ac e sfr ug gle a DI CA L DE M O
tw o cl a . ec to Marx clas~- DOM AND RA
ut hi st ir di ng is divid:~ll_Unc OnJ
iated C O N C EP T O F FR EE
vidual freedom_
co nt er n; se s. B
~O cie ty is
gr ?U ps a~ r: ry lS ag ed b no t been di V1. de
sp ea ks of :n ::c 1e tyan tw o
e th
d into,-.uv__ o cl
in to
asses 7'L y M .N . Roy w as
a gr ea t cr us ad er for the indi the freedom
en-age terrorist
in
. nv ar x N o do b . then
"'" ti- · .,ne hi s role as a te in the eleventh
eXISt in s oc1e ty bu t y M ~•
u t tensi an d st ru g; a1 Be gi nn in g fr om eorisation of radical humanism ay s been hi s
all th es e r a st r0 ng so·ci 1 st ru gg le till hi
s th
re ed om ' ha ve
al w
Ma.na cleaas s so ns R .1co sfon als on
he inues Fore e, 'm an ' an d 'F vidual has aoo
Sh-u o{ Was doub::U ab ou t th o_ cont if: · ho ur of hi s lif N o do ub t freedom of the indi an d political
an gg e. e sc 1e nt nc er n. r so ci al
lc basis of pr im ar y co ad e by othe r
M ar x m ad ar y objective m om on ly bu t fo
d · ctical Pr0ce a pr op he tic nounce.rn be en th e pr im .Roy's search is no t fo r freed ee do m ne ed s
.N Fr
Iale es s cl as s- st
an
b . en t th at th r ough th th in ke rs bu t M di vi du al ac tu al ly en jo ys . e re al
Pr ol et ar ia t t·in aU y le ad . grutgg le Will ri ng th e th e fr ee do m
in
de m oc ra tic se t up is no t th the
so ci et y · Roy v· In e success of n. t th e pr es en t oy dis ca rds
d th at dia l;°cti~he es tathbl is h~ ••• en t of ass-leu1 ss
e de m oc ra cy . Bu
vi du al fre ed
.N .R
om. Hence M es ts fo r ra di ca l
1 ;: ~e .rn
cal e odology in tr cl di
e er ne nt of id e~ in M xi sm . A duced an gu ar an to r of in tio n of de m oc ra cy an d su gg ht into his vie ws
like a pr op he t~lern av in ar t th
e sam1is e t· te MarO x b h ed pr es en t in st itu alternative. However an in sig ition and na tu re
he s.1 g m an y .
t ln
democracy as andemocracy will in clu de his defing in sti tu tio ns of
~L
. u11n gs to f. . e av
m p1 y gl or if ie d th a a . .rn. That because
at te nt io n to th e W or e cl as s st ru gg le Without is on freedom an d freedom, critique of the existin ~o cr ac y and
th an d sio0 -n :c· . . pa yi n al
of the individu rty system an d ~arliamentaJy a di re ct locally
B en de
·=1cance of
.
in th
ce Roy cl am ou re d l
e 0
1 ::~~~~
:1 ~ ag fi ns t I4 M s.rn lntplicit
in df vT d~ i de m oc ra cy lik e pa
radical democra
cy m th e fo rm of
~ :~ so ci ~~ o~ ;e
ar Marx_ d_arx ha s also suggestion for
~ ;~ ed ~ : g;e:tcl e pr op he t. 1-i d de m ocracy.
e m id dl pr ed ic te d th ce organise
h ass. Bu t it ha be th e Isappearan at's why he
as be en an .Increase in the s . ecome ju st ~f . Th er e Definition of Fr
eedom
l philosophy. Th ~m as
cu ltu ra l an d o; ;o si te re of his politica ~
~! ~l e class. R da s/ _rather the Man is the cent Congress nationalism and ~lo:ioenast he
~
fact of Post- I~ World history is Ip of .mid
Po lit ic al le ad
dle
ha d rejec ted bo th th e om . As a ~ ia
IS a pa te nt the individual
freed a ~ ty of man
.
B e re · e M ar x. . . the antedote to the real potentiality and the r cr ea tiv e faculty to
;te d th ry of ov er ed an d
pr ol et ar ia /e or him the . i_an th eof di ct at or sh_ip .
of the has disc m m an has in t.
ll ig ~
. In di vi du al reedo.rn is According to hi
more unportarit
 34 4
Indian Political Tr 345
adition : From M f']ath ROY
anu t
m ak e an d un m o ArnbedkQf
veridra . te ch ni qu es ar e te d to negate the
.
h is ak e. H e cr ea te s Niaria ad o~ ra cy suffers
ow n so ci.e ty an d . hi s ow n de sti ny to ta lit an at_, from
en vi ro nm en an d . s ' pa rli am en ta ry
fr ee do m . Be ca Ev~•· dbemetween election
us e he de fi ne t. Bu t fo r al l th a1so h ereates if'st~t~~~~ fr ee er le ss s: ln
di sa pp ea ra nc e s fr ee do m as !~ ~~ op le ~; eo · 1• In
of al l re st ri ct io .~se, e needs if'd1"1 s defeC f ~a':, af fo rd sf tli
po te nt ia lit ie s of ns on th e un fo en th e ru tt/ ;~ ~! :,' Th ei r
in di vi du al s as l~ ~-og re ss iv e seri_o~\ tifCles e: owerless a er
hu m an be in g an ·od to vote
th e w he el s of m
w he re th er e is fr
ec ha ni se d so ci al
or
d
ga ni sa tio n, , Inno
ting of the critic w or ds , p
op le be co rn e
if\S a le ga l th
f{ction excepting th ee ~r
ty having
ee do m th er e sh tha s cogs in .t-.er e ot he r ha nd th
to th ro tt1e the ou ld be absenc~ ov • re ig J\'w' re1Yla On Thp . abuse of
gr ow th of th e of ano er ~o rd s, f 1Y \as ter s. . 1 we
so "e w se t ? a p0 r.J
15
nd
co uc iv e so ci
o- po
in di vi du al pe rs
on al ityy reH ~n
~ \le f\e .ty as su m es di ct.atthon in the lega framework o
f
re a lis a ti.o~ o f m. d" . lit ic al at m os ph er e is ne ce t o\ \lt e 1Y\ aJOt fl nt ed w i ch cannot
1v1dual fre ed om ss a; y fence, a abS er ca nt '\~ be pr e" ~ • · m as su
ne ve r be 1!' th e . Bu t fre ed om fo or the 0w s he sa id , pa rl ia m en ta n~ ties un de r a_11
fo rm of 'li ce nc e'. r hi m sh ould p f!\ocrac,'1. 11cr ,u nt ee civtl hb_erf
as ~ a~c1dent d
orrn ally and JS
It sh ou ld no t als gu ar a .
no r a pa ss in g ph
as e in in di vi du
o be considered de fe f\d de tn o is acY an 1 lity tS deillOCf anccra
en d~ its el f, th 'fh a ~~ . and bUreau ts at the top -
e su pr em e vi rtu al 's life. It is an de utf\stances- e ho er
a ra tio na l hu m
an en de av ou r,
e. He nc e he sa id
"t he pu rp os e of circ co nt ro lle b few politicianS
sh ou ld b~ th e at co lle d y
ta in m en t of fre ed cti ve as we ll as in di vi du al reallY organi
sed oemocra id ea
cy
mocraC'Y by
fr ee do m is re al
on ly as in di vi du om in ev er la rg e m ea su re , and 1.,occ1llY of re pl ac in fe tfo
qu es t ha s be en al fre ed om ". M.N re je ct ed any 1and r a 1ocallY
of th e pr es en t to de ve lo p a ne w m od el of de m . Roy's primary M,.N• ~o y 01 ' th
. to rs hl P. e ot he r_ atsd he sugges dical
detl\c,aacy
de m oc ra cy . oc ra cy in the pla
nus tS . knthowst:nrUascturare f the state. lJ\
I
ce

I
Cr iti c of Pa rty d1 ct ~e d de:tI\oc
ra&~al chang~ ~
; will not bo th be i.s()Iated
Sy st em O
or ~ visa s a r~
M .N . Ro y w as as it en d ge :tI\ocratlC polity, we indivi u But in the, ne polity ,
VI
di ff er en t co un cr iti ca l of th e po
lit ic al sy ste m I th e ne-W ed lea rlessness- f peop ·ttee·
tri
ce nt ra lis ai io n. Bu es . Ev er yw he re th er e ha s be s existing in or sc at te re ..:11 ding to ~~...A if\ the f?rJl\ ~ pa le s c~ t: ie al
en a tre nd of · · be o rg ~ - t:raJis wer. 1h e,~ 1 es'
w as op po se d
t like Ba ku ni n an il"\d1v1 du al s w J.lJ.
ill be co:tI\Plet; de
abOI\ o It is th e r- • wi
to ce nt ra lis at io d Kr op ot ki n (Anarchists), he 'fh er e -w ill have tel
cen
y t plaY ·
no role ~ spiritua 'w ho
ll
ce nt ra lis at io n n of po w er . Be ca us e abS O l a\£1'\
pa u pa
au to no m ou s ch ra ly se s th e fre e in di vi du al su ch P art ie~ -w d a 'group o
_,, ttee , at thefroot en II\ other ~o rds; in the ~w s of an
liti cal
in iti at iv e an d
po lit ic al pa rti es oi ce . Fr om hi s ow n ex pe rie nc co nu.tt•- agents o challge. t is the bUS~_esd __ , "l1
wi th th eir organi e,
zational setup, m he ar gu ed , -work as of the sta e d no . diV u- - \e
th e po w er s an d
ac syste:tI\, th \ebu siness ~ pl e al\ of evdu ery in 1el cti
pa rti es st an d in t as agents of centralisation. Se onopolise all rie bu t of al:lgn ril
th eo re ti ca ll Y 'S e ·tal reality
on bu t
be co
ele cto ra l politics tw ee n the go ve rn m en t an d the ndly political exclusive ~o. s no
t ~ a~
Th e ai m of ea ch , po lit ica l pa rti es limit the_choic people. In the in di vi ~u a; prac sovere1 le' soverei~ty r legal fictio trUely
tic n,
e
co rru pt m ea ns . Evpo lit ic al pa rty is to ca pt ur e poof the people. 5overe1gt' to be e, Pe<>fol\Stitutiona o
d ceases d 11'm e~ 19
wa its for an op po ery political pa rty ho we ve r purif we r ev en by an \diVlSible-
H en ce he di ss ol rtu ni ty to grab po we r an d behaveied it may be, 11'\alienable al\ • d O en ,.. --.aC'J ,

I
f
str uc tu re o organise
-- base o f .... oo
r- ~leS
su gg es te d for a neve d hi s ow n Ra di ca l de m oc ra dictatorially. tore ll stat' iJ\
d al\ a fir1I\ sta
te str U c~ -;•..e
tic pa rty an d NeW state stf\1.C liewi
political pa rti es w political or de r in ,which there
the rvtW . wi ll sta
Tl:'_e new\Jnlil'e the r systent._
no
men" as th e agen r any organisation bu t only "spi ll be neither
wi ea rec isi on -~ alo l'S or p ~ g il l n,.ove to

Critic of Pa rli am
ts of change. ritually free c0Jl\11Uttee~velo
power, d grass r~ !
pntent, ~ p le
t leV C()11'p\e
·tteel an d wthfO'lgn
s - ~ oi pawe
r
out
en ta ry Sy !,t em tro rn t}le '{here te _difthe pe op le·
Fr ee do m , ac th e top- trY an w il l~ ve ste d II\ d co ns tit u•
democracy is morco rd in g to hi m , ca n be re ali se the co\ll\ , cornr
d re ·u be 1oca\ repyil
ub\iCS ~t y will
lag ha ve
political an d econe participatory in nature and therd ~o st wh~re nitteef ; e an d ct
pe op les state• Each
omic control. Bu e
t in the existing is less soc1<:>"" 1 units o
democratic uona\\Y the 1oca
 34ti lndia" r1,:i11(al Tr ;-.1at h R0Y
aJitwn : FrC'm Man
u lo A11tb , e,, ,1ra
,~,~t' 347
~ , cl'lm m ittee elected fo CdkQ t wi\l ha ve the pow
I kxa \ re<'r 1
~ er
- f different progra to plan and supervise the
. r one ye
un1,·er91 aJult franchi..(;e. r eClp les com 'tt arillon U,e b te• lt
"'e ~ta t" tiofl o m mes for the peop
N' t~r e,·e n· hf Th m1 ee w com asis le.
md_e ~ ~al'" anJ Ji5t tv ,·Clters . ere w1·11 be the struct tse o or o( t•·\cf1'c n '' eo
pr'
tr al isah ·on
I' ~1 (', , ri~t peop les' Com ur e f tie •t1'r .
(un(tion of the m ittee. They .w 1
ofl'' C pe e fr ee fr .
h h ~ authoritv
\oc~ -self Go, ·e ~
en
20 A tl ill p~ f5llb.
"r o r-1 ~, 0"
om hi.s Mam.s t conv . .
will ~ a pro, m oa t. t ,,e stat~ ~eve v,1as not cono iction. Appropri.Jtel
t! ~ ,-emor . Toe GoY l pe oples council m
l, t•1
clud·he
p.oY ht for the eThe roic freedom through decentralisation iny
Liberal capitalism
derutie5 for four
year
em or will be elec
ted for ~ive year
centre . Supreme Pe s by uru~·ers_al adult fr_anch1se . B
oples Council will
s
ut at
;gth: \1e fotlg iC sphere.
0
ecofl ~itY a~d ~tra
ng ul ates democracy .
are no less instrum
creates SOCi<H!cono
The state socia lism
mic
ar:d
lt y.·ill consist of be the highest or it'eqtla te cap1t~hs ents of repression.
two houses nam ganisation 7 r economic de So the
Council of States
. Toe G
ely federal Ass
oYemor General embly an d
we sta
1ternauve 0 tiv
e economy where
centralisation is to
cre ate i
of t"le joint sessio of'1", a of co-.opera
n of both the ho
us es
will ~e the pres
ident th sole purpose f in production is to be
· th h
and he will be el 5yst~fl'd of\ with o
the ,·oters of the
entire country. ected by rr1 e e rvant relations servmg e uman nee ds.
ca is no master-se hi p in co-operative sy
The OrE;anizatio ste .
n of Roy's radica 111ere preferre d b cause it is base d on hum ·ta . libe m
of Rousseau's dire
ct democracy. Th
l democracy has
a reflection 15 0 ek Above all, ec aru nan, ral,
will ha\"e controlli e Local Peoples' It is a ational outl~ onomic decentralis
ation
ng authority and Committee o s ·will help solv
t~e apex bodies. will assume grea and rgn co-opera ing the economic pro
Fo ter ro tiv e an d lo ca l initiatives. ble ms
continuously pass r example local peoples' comm le than U'ro\l
ith 1ocal r esources
resolutions to gu ittee Will
federal assembl y
and the provinci
ide its representa
tives in the w t for the succes of his radical democracy a number f
opinion on propos al council. It w sfulfilled. There o
ed legislation. It ill give its B~ ions are should be a co~p let
initiati,·es, refere
ndum and recall. w ill also have the cot1~1~ of the to be tem Because they
cannot bnng the
e
It can propose ne power of aboht1on lution pa rt y sy s . .. fo
The go\'e mor w ill
dissolve the prov w legislation. a pre-reqU1S1te b r litical democracy . Hence
its expiry on a de incial peoples' co social :ev~sence, ~uca

numbe r of voters
m
local peoples' co and by the local peoples' comm cil before
mmittee represen
tin
can demand refe g one-third of the total
un
ittees. The in thel1r
peop e
:m people are toch~g ted. Education of _the
make inrouladdsbeto!
·ttee sho !iven re
es in the existing po
sponsibili~ to eddu
c
lity .
~
legislation. It will re peoples' c o ~ e O
also ha ve the right ndum for any provincial train the pe o~ p.
But for the succes • his radical eff\Ul-l'"": '
s :onal scientific and
if ap prov ed by
a to recall an elected ublic opinion'' the moral
cons tituency. Th referendum of the entire electo member an enlight.en e ~a
ble Above a ' it sh~uld be based upan
us the radical de rate of that nd is pe ns a
structure gives rn en ar·etalrian ph l phY·
a hand to the pe mocracy, paramidical. in i oso .
M.N .Roy's view is ople in the gove human1
prior to all organi based on the argument that the in rnment. F RADICAL OR
NEW H
lJMANISM
sations including di
. B~t who will ac the family and th vidual is coNCEYf O
. th de fe ct iv et
d}uslll, 1 \ ~
e society.
with its power craz t as the agents of change? No po Having rejected en et so f~ ~d ic al h- -
freem~" with thei e can do it. It is only a group of ical party
usher m a new w r 'determination' who can bring "spiritually
lit and liberalism, _'
R:.
:d e his last journe
or new humanise ~i s conce~ _for !~r1eedo~ m~de~
for the ind1v1du
rd~tity o f~ ~1:
task ._The establisorld order. But again that will nochanges and 01\ h~ ta Ji al l, the
possi_ble over ni hment of people's committee t be an easy
constit ght. Hen a co
. uted during the transce ·t·
w
uncil of states ill not be
should be
pass ionate u ~
consu:uct a ne . political rn~el b: w hi ch ~
scientific and U\
d1
. id ua lis t1 c or of society
· ty of manv- Man is the cenU:n if it ~ ~~~ad,all'-
~~111: real

pr
t
consiS .of th e _r
ep re sent
i iona per1•0 d. This
J
atives of the be
' c ounc:il·
w ol·.ld
sovereig
be free frnom a11 sorts of chau,s- ev l or new
. of . essionals hke ,d\ ideas 111 ·te
Junsts etc. All of th eng·meers, econom . st .intellec tua! and nity to e ibi.t hiS Ne"'
•tings li ...,..,Je
mus t have the o JI'
em w ld b
ou e nomm
ist
. ateds' scientists doctors p to :: refl~c~ed ;d his wr•. nie nv "'
by the chief'execut ' hum anism h~s Re"oiutiOI'·
ive . Rornanucisll'
Humanism , Reason,
 348 Indian Politic
al Tradition: 349
dftl i,.a th ROY
~l
From Manu
to Amb d
of Freedom (ltttlveft . .
, ~ e n ti fi c P
radical h u m o liti
e kar
~ e ti o d oi cns1 which the humanit. y 1s .
amsin or new cs etc: T h e n e w o rd er •d \ the ? . \ v / s \he- s ur is no\ the issue . He
• 9'\
M .N . Roy' s ~umai:-1sm. is 1

H o w ev er , a k n o w n as s it . , on\Y, can1ta . \abo det wh' h nation be also

•

about the o
in te rp re ta ti
humanism .
Radical h u m
rigin an d so
o n of h u m
am sm will
urce of the
a n is m a n d
~entre ro u n
id ea of h u m
highlight
d the discuss 0
an is m , his
io~
io1et1,0~e
\)1'_ ected \
Cot\V,teSS \h
t the cost o
g\
r
r ationa\is

\ sco ?e
tn un
e mdividua\.
fo
lC

G a n ~alists and
the
comes
ism lacked a so .
fe
oal
udal
th e b a si c fe t~ ~ e ti ~ o ;· \t
evo\\l ds to a'le :~~ tbe ?oot. U b e
a tu re s o0f t the c a r in
;: g the fortn of
Genesis of
the Idea of e~ ;;
Humanism \at\~\ot entat'f ? can not guar :d iv id u a l freedom
The origin
th e w ri ti n g
theorisation
of the id ea
s of M .N .
of N ew H u
of "H u m an
R o y . lt e x
is m " canno
is te d m u c
t b e traced
to
?at\ta~ -po\iti
1ceca1Jse e~-p
~:N V-- ~ t'i oi
0
~
c1
er
at
n
\S
JC
'Nr
taibuteaucta~
eW
~ o n ~ ~
\ise the power . So
out\de, N.RHumanism w } anism haS ore the
oy'S radical hum
would rest
different
product of m a n is m ' . In h p ri o r to
the p er io d m o d e m tim h is 'so"ere1gt\1-1hi mat\ · ~ - ssed below•
ancient Greec of renaissan e, it w as th ch are diSCU
e. The elem ce represen
ting the idea e e\er(\et\ts
w riti n g s of
W
ents of h u m
E ra sm u s, M e st e rn p o li ti ca l p h il o
an is m w er e s of \I £tl\'Pnas is on Man
evident in th
e Rr uroanistn· 1he1
' is \he centre oi M.N. -",, s raHdiecahal h lli ence an'ed
o re , B u c h a so p h er s li k
in sp ir e d b
y th e p h il
nn and He e
rd o r. B u t M p ro ta g o ra s, . wit v, s mte g .
ti o n ~ \' J e crhm man- .
Shaftesbury o so
, B en th am an p h ic a l ra d ic a ls li k e
.N . Roy w a
s
~,::::1acu\~-;:::~ :~p
'Mat\ at\d ra
eator of soc1e:,1 in5titub0t\S .
and

toP:~ '
the ethical p d Marx. The H u tc h e so n has n o ~
roblems m ad individualis ,
M.N. Roy d e t approach
eeply. But R b y the radical philosop to ?o\itiCS· M ~
to un?ose \ seu\f as a 1,ev1a:i only thJO
\
rationality. S oy w as never hers influen
o h e differe do ced
th e F re n ch d n o t only fr mgatic. H e h a d his o w nrocrt'ess sho \d be measut that it alloUgh the its lI\diV1duals-
a n d th e G om the artist n ws to
Century. Hen e rm
ce, in Augu a n sc h o o ls of h u m a n also from
but I r i:, -
\h ..,•ent of \ibertf
\I U\en an0 e e,-~ .
his own po
litical philo
st, 1947 he
p
is m of 1 9 th . d }lationa\iSll\ t
Humanism sophy, whic ublished the manifesto · \nu.\-vidua\1st1\ an
.i:
. Man is so ·gn no
or integral sc h came to b of h ev vere~ . But

\
ient e kno e throug oluo on -
came to b e b
as ed u p o n th ific humanism. His N w n as New M an n as co own sup e1'f"lhysical be gd hi
f the gra ce of aI\Y ~ o unders ·r nature an . S
D u e to m o d e n at u ra l reas ew Humanis m
e m science o m oecaus~ o at .th. hilt\ tand
h u m an pro , h u m an is m n and secular ·conscienc iona . reason and rationalit'fl
blems a n d can now go e. there is r en \ity w 1 :C,rds, the~e 15 pr . \og1ca
radical hum
the needs of
anism.21 H u
m
th at is why
m an is m refe
he called his
to the root
ra
rs to a system tionalism. as
of \ w itb i~ m a'fi
t.
environm n ln other tionalitY is ~e oduct oi ~ c ,n y ol
Man's r_a tn ct io t\
an is a re . ve ol the use ~ is
w as due to en an d n o t w it h religio dealing with evo\u\101' ·
\e rea7on 1l\u
tnani511' -~lietn s that beCa ratic,nalit'f
the fact th at us
panacea for rationalist h ideas. Roy's humanism the u n i' le rs Radical h ality withil' aI\ gows_as withil' ~
all the prob um
lems of m an anist ethics serves as rational, ~ ~ a
\ tnoral. Mo~
etstand othe;~ ~tiona\it'Y \ike t_k\e
M .N . Roy in the mater a t\ tries to ~ tnica\. So undt
\ because 18th d ev el o p ed h is conce
an pt
ascertain th d 19th Century humanis of Radical H u m an is m
e position of m could not
ial world.
de'1~:\~s hilt
-pt ditiona\ h\
\ ~a!~stn , th
tn an is ti c a;
rnanis~ n e :~
e ~ = ;a :t n o ri
\Y :; \ a rati;
t"ts the
g U\e 11\~
cr is is d u e m sc tra ds of an). tr a n sc e n d ~ \. Ro'/ ar :1tefote
to th e en cr an. Also individual fr ientifically hat\ '/ \ nd .nutl\ g'lte \S ra ti ~
~Y-
in d iv id u al o ac h m en t ee dom faced •ion tnor a a •11 an by n a~
was comple of
tely chained a u th o ri ta ri a n is m . T h ra• a\,ociety :., nosst ,\e asdetl\ u\ but "'o\Ul'
identity. The
political phil an d lost his fr e tnora\ s be " 'r ot uP: r cotn~ s1c,t\,
individual. tl\or a\ o
Because in osophy of Marx could eedom and tnan can ents a
n o t pay spec
ia
spite of its el
em
not protect
the da\\stl\ n hY ne vet te. \lt eS ol tl\e
cl as s o r g ro l attention to 'man' . Man ent of humanism, it did ~ a \e
y's
·\o
at\'l.st ~ \ \lcso \l
ta't.eS coceV'\1
an ce
. ~af1'iS11\•
proletariat in u p an d final w as submerg },I\.N · Rota\ sonutn ·t vetY tn . h oi fteteo wit1'
dividual lost ly u n d e r th e d ic ta to ed into the u:ansc~n!~:o
eietY~~ sl)'l.te
of hlS
his complete rs
freedom . Sec h ip of the tna\et\a
stt\o\og'/.
ondly, M.N.
r 35 0

h e re ta in ed hi
In di an Po lit ica
l Tr ad iti on : Fr

is ba se d on a fa ith ~ ~~ te ria lis m . N ew

s
m at en ah sh c
om M an u

H um an i
-
lo An tbc dk
a,-. .. Aa
t1ave11c.fr
a r-1ath RDY
rp et ua l wh fic
bl
es m an to ac qu
ire
351

ro m an tic gr ou d
n s o f se nt im •
m et ap hy si cs
a d
JV•
f1' ·
1· S pe
th e th rehe de vu
~ knoWledge an
d tru th
id ea is no t al en ta l ef fu sio n.2 n no t sm , th er ef or fre e do to re ah se trU . , th efore•,
be .,..
wa ys de te rm 2 Bu t on p ~. fo \,v 1\ ed g; ~t ed -R ys 'fr ee do tn er ca n not ,.;n ed
ex ist en ce . in ed by m at te
r, it ha s m ~n 8 oe tic or
, d ~ n be a liaau. a»•

cr ea tiv e \tJ' i!'t e1 're \ tr' ea oY s~ r ca n an en lig ht en e r'. Here

Sc ie nt ifi c an c1re i.11'11'or~ ns , n_ co rn es ne ar er the Ga nd hia n wa
d Se cu la r O ut an tn de pc nd en to y of
lo ok t 'o-Y 's ra di ca l hu rn an ist n
Ra di ca l hu m
an d se cu la r fo an is m in its ne w fo rm ~o~g-
sa1.d , "t he tra d . .
un da tio n. Ra
di ca l hu m an i is ba se d . w· de
ev l po lit ic al o r
f h r do m fo r th e in_ . . ea l
tra di tio n of re ih on o
vo lt of m an
th e fo un de rs of sm a d ta.on
m od er n . ke
a sc ien tif ic
n ov
J\. ~ n5 ur e re al fre d1v1dual a r_ Bederoocratic
ing critical
ag en ts on th
is ea rt h" _23
ag ai ns t th e t . . _er, Roy 'fo e nt ba se e rn or al va lu es
1S ne ce ss ~t
bl es sin gs of Th is ha s be e civ ih za tio n, the e~e . d ~n tar y ed for rad ical
m od er n sc ie ya nn y _obf Go sy ste m he su gg de cen tra lis
nc e N ew H d an d hi s go "w e e,c.istl.I pa rh am en ati .on-
su pr emac y of
m an on th e · n P? i le du
um an isss e to th e of cra cY in w
\g hi ch th er e
wo u ld ,be co mp let e
rn itt ee wo ul d b rea l
ha ~ re m ov ed au th or ity of m e t oc al Pe .e
al m od er n s ~ bl" h deft'.O \e th ro ug op le s c~ m hu a
Sc ien ce ha s al l m ys te ry re ga rd in g th e es is ed ~he h L s Se co nd ly, rnaniS
R a ~ pe op le m enV1.S3ges
. h so he lp ed in es ta bl ish se nc e or ci en ce , W hic h -p e~ \d er s of an d u,e
na tu re m t e . in g m , up po :'t o~ mo ra l senseh ref ore,
hu m an is m ng ht pe rs pe ct iv e. It ha s m an s re 1ah ~a n. ~o de rn en t ba
go "e rn rr' -a. n's m s- mu st be i~~&' 1-.1y de ve lop ed -
th er ef or e ca lls fo ad e m an s on sh ip . h or al se ns e ~ . l
SU_Per~ tit ·
. io ns , re_ligi.ou r a so ci al l
de cu far. Ra di ca
~i t ev etY rn
. a se ns e O f 1·u sti ce , fa ir pl ay lt mu st }la
an d so c ia
sc ien tif ic m an .s do gm as an d so er re e fro ml A. \o ng wi th it . their fu} nes S- ve
tr d· t· w ith se cu la r cia l evor ils t als o de ve lop hi.In to
f
a 1 10 n o re na · ou . It en
, tlo. ok . It tru el y es tab lis he s sa es
vi s~ on s1·bi lit y m us • ma
11\ d sh ou ld
no t as k
iss an ce re r h" gh es t co fid en ce in . . n an
fro ~-
po lit ical l so rts of sh . It s ul tim at e ob jec tiv e is to th g
e gr eaat th e l n
r ev en in se no . us cnsIS-
al . ac kl es - So ci lib er ate m an su rre nd e
al , cu ltu ra l, . 0 de r
ec on om ic ·talls1I'-
Fr ee do m d "N eW £c on otn lC r . .
an . ted . ~ an d sta te cap1 titv
M N - Ro y reJ t~e capita}isr!\, is red uc ed to ad1no n-e n :
Fr ee do m , se sy ste lll , Ill ~t the fe IS
hu m an is m . Ev th er ef or e, is th e pr im ar "B ec au se un. dether of all the itu tio ns - 5e co n s yp oll tic
cu ltu ra l pr og er yt hi ng th at m an do es i.e
y co nc er n in m ou g\ ' he 1s ic cre ato r f r th e pe op le Ju st a ~ ~l
re ., sc ien tif ic ac hi ra di ca l ~c
no ec on ~t n. onfre ed ol ll o so alSO ec on o f a recOOS lo(:3litv
is
ur ge fo r fre ed ss ., ar tis tic cr ea tio ns ha ve
en de av ou r,
"f re ed om in
om . Ro y sa ys be en sti m ul ate em en t,
in di vi du al as "t he pu rp os e of all ra tio na by his
we ll as co lle cti
ev
d
l hu m an
de ce ntr ah s.; ~e re ne ce ssa ry nu c pro ble tnS o
ne ce ssa ~\ Ve d
thr
is
in the eco;:'c,ca1
jJlitiativesb !te tn
:e artJC111U
1ocal ~ e
of co
-.
ev er in cr ea sin ve , is at ta in m en t ca n be s ou gh !i bl e thf O~ gh~ -O ~~ ua l-
di sa pp ea r'a nc g
e of al l re st m ea su re s. Fr ee do m is pr og of 'Th is sy ste in ca·u n be p tio n Wl th t n for the b\
po te nt ia lit ie s ric tio ns on th re ss iv e wh ere the re W1 be pr od uc
of in di vi du al e un fo ld in g of th
th e wh ee ls of s as hu m an be e ·taJUSII' an d
m ec ha ni se d so in gs o\i tan ist n
as a lib er al hu cia l or ga ni sa tio an d no t as co gs in co sin oP . cos
is ba se d on (in inopOli . ~ of
in te rfe re nc e in m an is t th in ke r Ro n." In ot he r wo rd s, . \ hu ma nis mrna lits the e,US teD
y hi gh lig Ro y's rad ;~~ na \is tio na li5 fl' aosed l of
to the !?'5~
re al ly fre e w he th e lif e of th e in di vi du al . Th ht s th e ab se nc e of m- Int ~ta niS tn is to
He nc e he sa ys n he ge ts op po rtu ni ty to ex
hi
e in di vi du al be co me s
no t on in t~ ~ Bu
na uo n- sta e t co sm o~ es rac ial a~ on
tlo na lis m cre athe
?P ~Y - It is
s-
r_e;,:ois asked
th e de gr ee of fre ed om of a so cie ty is to bi t ha s po ten tia lit ies . na tio ns - f',Ja tit soc ial ~e s tte ll'd iVl 1-1u.inarusu'
fre the ex ten t tha at ne g\e ets f the J:\8b0l'· or\ nc e N~ lla od · 11tere
su pr em e va lu ed om , in di vi du al ac tu all y be me as ur ed on ly by
In di vi du al 's stre fro m wh ic h al l hu m an en joy s. Fr ee do m is the
the att er ~on a\i stn by d t,r o~ ·tu
su rrender w ral at' d ~pu;_y al peo ple -
is a pa rt of th ug gl e fo r fre ed om is ete rn va lu es ar e de riv ed .
to est s for rep \ac \d
inS natl_ of the 1 1 ' ~ 1,0 sicallY at'd
su gg \d be a wo fed era bO I' \d t,e a~ th P
e un iv er se , he al.
ca n ne ve r co nq Th ou gh in di vi du al sh ou t" on a\ bor d rie 5 sh ou
"fhe na , un a
ue r it . Bu t his
ur ge
352 Indian Political Tradition: Fro
m Manu to " b
rint Cdk 35]
ll llr dra Nath Roy
Peo ple sho uld be edu cat riavert
ed in enh anc ing the ir h rvta
mfenf taedy.m and pro gre ss.
Th ey sho uld thi nk in ter . ·ntellectual to stu
0 re o
ma nki nd and not in the f . ms of oriz?n
entir 's fai lur e as a;.111 dat e, sce ptic dy the forces of ~d~an
for m o nat ion . ioY. aUsrn, So i . ism pre vai ls und erm mm g
e f\a uon ' ont rib utio n-
Emphasis on Revolution by
Masses ... .c N .RoY s c .
iv~· . 'AhimSa' as a subtle mte al
T0 bri ng into exi ste nce a ..,, s crit1. c15
• of
rn Ga ndh ian
llectu
new soc ial ord er new Hu
ma ni Ro , · tali st exp loitation o e cf th oun try
a con cea ling the cap1
.
req uire s rev olu tion in the mo ral , inte llec tua l, me nta l poli dev ice fol his tn as we ak ~d f musms proved that Roy
and social sph ere s. He reje . d .
cte d Ma rxi an . o~t nne of · t·Sl l'\
1ca1 watery .r:~ to subvert the infl
uence
and sai d it is bas cla ss. War and Gan atic cornmurust detenrun
ed on vio len ce and 1t wa s a do ~rn Rat her his t Gandhism became an
Rev olu tion mu st inv olv e 1s lea der _ ori ent ed. tory proved th~ ove me nt
the ma sse s. He nce r~v olu of Gandhi t ~f gal van izin against the
be bro ugh t thr oug h edu cat hon sho uld g the mass ts 'Gandhiji's
ing the pe_ople, ma kin g ins tru rn; n dip ta I<aviraj politics
and cre atin g pol itic al con the m literate rightly coJI\lI\~: mysticism
scio usn ess m the m. British- tuwfiolly my stic was oft ~
re no ~ rather fulleven ~ou ght out ...
Ro y's new hum ani sm ,
thu s env isa ges a new we libe rate , ~s UTationJ' - · alities care
Y Gan dhi
political ord er in wh ich ma soc ial and
de rtoire with great success. ,,
n wil l be rea lly free and dia n cul ture repe
enl igh ten ed. . . . to the currents of
M.N. RO Y- A CRITICA use d 1n due to lack of
L APPRAISAL his pr ~~ :.1 t:: on he faile
Th us . . and moorin d to_ be
1nd ia's pohtiCS His blind gs o1 ch un-acconu
A cri tic al ana lys is of
M. N. Ro y rev eal s the western appro: h'm to be nodating
contradiction of his phi los inn er a ma ss le: t:d ivi du ali st more an
oph y and sce ptic ism of his ll;r?e P ~ . ~owever, M
He sta rted his car eer as a character. irit an i . . than an ong .N ~~
mil itan t nat ion alis t but sub
seq uen tly sP las t a critic inal ot be und ern w-
con dem ned nationalism. iconOC 'a revolutionary and intellectual can n ailed in ntanY
He dec lare d him sel f to be
Marxist, but gra dua lly diff
ered from all pro pos itio
a convinced calibt~ as b the historians f India No doubt he f inaJUCind to
His rad ica l Hu ma rism cla
socialism and liberalism wit
imed to be an alte rna tive
ns of Marx.
mo del for
especially Jis o
failures gav~ a
ways. Bu t. st 'subordina~on
--~
17~~-:- nia l mes sage to ~
and get the su- -~- and
His
hou t realising the feasibility rev olt agamthe Vice-presi o ~te rna tio nal _hUJJlar;:; New
a system . of such den
I ele ctio n as . bro ugh t reco t o ·f on for his ideas He was
V.P. Varma observes, "Ro
y's wri ting s are cha rac teri eth ica l un1ond ..... ade every g~1 lto £eel proud of him~filitant
the combination of miscell zed by 1nd1and·fferent currents:
satires aga ins t the spokes
aneous eru diti on and ind
ulg enc es in Hu marusm anmb"' °
ination f thre e 1 ·
men of ideologies and vie tru ly th~ co CoJl\11\unisll\ an d }iberal hUJJlan,iS!l\·
from his ow n." M.N. Roy ws different
" ... politics can not be spi
writes in his boo k Scientif
ic Politics, \ natlonahsll\,
REFEREN
cES
ritualized. Spi ritu al or mo
is often the refuge for che ral politics . blishers, 9ombaY• 1970, p. 5.
ats and hum bug s." Suc h Braltrnin, Allied Pu
satire undermines the imp agg
ortance of the founder of mo res siv e 1.
The Restless National Bo<>k
rrust. 199:Z. P· 7. . Co
i.e., Cicero, Seneca, Jesus ral politics . 'k MN - RoY •-du pub lish ing .
Christ. 2. V.B. I(a1n1 , Rad · f ,.,_N .Roy, iu
ical .nu,-nnisin
\ o
t.J IY•
.. ~is satire was bas ed on ,-
3 R.L. Nig a~, 15.

'
cnt~c1s~s of Gandhism wer Marxist app roa ch to politics. His · New Delhi, P·
naho~a_h~t, equ ate d nation
e not pop ula r. Roy, once
a militant . op- cit. . of MJII.Roy ,, in
alism with thoughtless em 4. R.L- N1gatn us Ra dic •~~ ern India, 5ag
He cntic1sed Gandhi and otionalism. . "Th e heterono_~ o I ThOugld e
Inpian National Congress \ dipt a I(a-viraJ, 171
for launching Quit India as I s. h (eds) pol1t1ca
Movement against the Bri 'Fascist' \ Su
pan tha ~ an d New
oeutsC . p 226. o...:rcPL,
~ National Con gress,
0
th: :World War-~I. He becam tish dur ing oelh1, . .
Bntish suppression of the e so blind tha t he even praised the publications, 1 11

i
Manifesto to 361h 1nd a
mo
of the anti-Fascist struggl vement of 1942 as an 'integral par t 6. ROY• 346.
e waged inside India. 'Th
is ma rke d

~
l- - - -V
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· _ _ _ &MID>-•a.. _______:~-.--..