Economics of Non-Violence

by J.C. Kumarappa

40 pages, Board book

First published January 1, 1945

About the author

J. C. Kumarappa (born Joseph Chelladurai Cornelius) (4 January 1892 – 30 January 1960) was an Indian economist and a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi. A pioneer of rural economic development theories, Kumarappa is credited for developing economic theories based on Gandhism – a school of economic thought he coined “Gandhian economics”.

Reviews

[Robert Fischer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is two essays, one by J.C. Kumarappa and another by V.L. Mehta. The Kumarappa essay speaks to the parasitic colonialism of the British and the economic situation of India at the brink of independence, and advocates for a return to a more structured society built on traditional trades. The Mehta essay specifically looks at the role of machinery and industrialization, and challenges the presumption that industrialization will solve India's problems. Both of them cast their argument in terms of India's unique contributions to civilization, especially Gandhian nonviolence.

It is extremely interesting to read these essays. They challenge the ideas of progress as necessarily being expressed in bigger machinery and more industrialization on the promise of free time. In a lot of ways, the arguments sound very much like the locaphile/agrarian movement that America is encountering these days.