The Prime Minister of India recently honoured the birth anniversary (23rd March) of Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia, a significant figure in Indian politics and independence. Born on 23rd March 1910 in Akbarpur, Uttar Pradesh, Lohia dedicated his career to fighting injustice with a unique Indian interpretation of socialism meant to address the inequalities bred by industrial capitalism.
Lohia’s Interpretation of Socialism
Lohia envisaged a multi-faceted battle against inequalities. He identified five key types of inequality: gender inequality, racial discrimination, caste marginalisation, colonial rule, and economic disparity. For Lohia, working against these five inequalities constituted five revolutions.
Moreover, he appended two more revolutions to this list. The first was a revolution for civil liberties, opposing undue encroachments on private life. The second highlighted non-violence, advocating for disarmament and the adoption of ‘Satyagraha’, a form of passive resistance. Collectively, these formed the seven revolutions or ‘Sapta Kranti’, embodying Lohia’s ideal vision of socialism.
Academic Background
Showing promise from an early age, Lohia earned his Bachelor’s degree in 1929 from the University of Calcutta before achieving a doctorate in 1932 from the University of Berlin. His doctorate studies focused on economics and politics, disciplines that would significantly influence his later political career.
Role Before Independence
In 1934, Lohia joined the Congress Socialist Party (CSP), a left-leaning faction within the Indian National Congress. A staunch opponent of India siding with Great Britain during World War II, he was imprisoned twice for anti-British sentiments in 1939 and 1940.
When the Quit India movement emerged in 1942, demanding the expulsion of British authorities from India, Lohia, along with other CSP leaders like Jaya Prakash Narayan, rallied support from clandestine networks. He was imprisoned once again for these resistance efforts from 1944 to 1946.
Role After Independence
Post-independence, Lohia and his CSP colleagues split from the Congress in 1948. He joined the Praja Socialist Party upon its inception in 1952, serving as general secretary briefly. However, internal discord led to his departure in 1955.
Subsequently, he created a new Socialist Party (1955) where he served as chairman and edited its journal, Mankind. As party leader, he championed various socio-political reforms, including the abolition of the caste system, stronger protection of civil liberties, among others.
In 1963, Lohia was elected to the Lok Sabha, where he gained a reputation for his incisive criticism of governmental policies. Some of his works include ‘Wheel of History’, ‘Marx, Gandhi and Socialism’, ‘Guilty Men of India’s Partition’.
Lohia passed away on 12th October 1967, leaving behind a legacy of struggle against inequalities and a commitment to social justice.
