Mr.Nathaniel Knowles, Deputy Director of Foreign Commerce
of the U.S. Department of Commerce said that he knows
of 110 American business firms which have expressed
a desire to establish contacts with Indian businessmen
or which have shown an interest in trade with India.
And the ‘American Reporter,’ gleefully remarks:
‘India’s advancing private sector has created a mounting
awareness of the necessity for private investment.”
But Pandit Nehru becomes feverishly eloquent in saying
that he is leading the country along the path of Socialism!
We, like a host of others, are naturally bewildered.
If American businessmen, after their study tours and
fact-finding Commission, trade delegations and the like,
are willing to become ‘partners’ with Indian firm-owners,
then it goes without saying, that the ‘private sector’
is assured of an undisturbed future. Pandit Nehru himself
has stoutly opposed the idea of fixing a ceiling on
incomes!
So assured of the right to get and send fat profits,
American businessmen, are willing to place their ‘capital’
in the hands of their counterparts here.
Why then should Pandit Nehru place before the people,
an illusion—the Socialist path?
If Pandit Nehru believes in building up this kind of
economic structure, he has got every right to plead
for such a scheme and get the consent of the people;
but why should he vend it affixing the label of Socialism?
Therein peeps out the politician in him! He knows that
talks about Socialism, get votes, and there are parties
which are championing the cause of Socialism. He will
not allow these parties to steal a march over his party—hence
he paints his plans with that colour and pattern that
is most pleasing to the eyes of the people. “The Master
Artist”—Congressmen are bound to exclaim in a tone of
appreciation. But none could dispute the fact, that
that is bad politics.
It is argued and it may be true also to a great extent,
that however extensive these business connections become,
there are no strings at all attached to them. They are
purely business connections, and they would exert no
bearing at all on the political arena.
That argument may be sound or otherwise; but the towering
personality of Pandit Nehru, would act as a check against
any such desire on the part of foreign magnates to exert
their influence over the political situation—but only
upto a point.
Already loud protests were raised against the evil of
getting fat donations from big firms for election fund.
No Congress leader could come forward with a denial—they
but attempted to justify in a weak and meek tone.
American businessmen, know the art of controlling politics
through the purse. They have perfected that art. And
when they ‘colonise’ the business world here, one could
very well imagine, how much more liberal, vigorous and
effective, would be those ‘donations’ for election funds.
And what party other than the Congress could become
dear to them—a party, it should be conceded, that is
able to get the ‘notes from the rich and the votes from
the poor,’ and which is bold enough to permit the private
sector to become strong and stronger at the same time
parading Socialism. The Americans have spent billions
over uncertain soil; here is a sure and fertile soil,
so they sow to reap and are assured of a good crop.
Pandit Nehru has got strength enough to thwart any open
attempt on the part of foreign magnates to influence
politics here, but are there amongst his colleagues,
men of such strength and calibre?
What would be the position, if men endowed with less
vision and vigor, come to hold the reins here? Could
they withstand the bewitching smile, and the benign
look? None could give a categorical assurance. To plant
here American Money on such an extensive scale, might
become a nightmare in the future.
Pandit Nehru should consider the shape of things to
come — should build up a machinery here, that could
be handled, easily and effectively by the average man.
“None of the prime minister’s colleagues is of All-India
stature. There have been significantly enough no replacement
for Sardar Patel, Rafi Ahmed Kidwai, Moulana Azad, within
the party. This in a democratic set-up is a distinct
weakness. More over men like Krishna Menon, Morarji
Desai, and Lal Bahadur Shastri who at times might have
seemed to be points of strength to the Nehru government,
have had recently to be helped out by Mr. Nehru.”
—Writes Mr. Natarajan in the ‘Times of India’.
In spite of the vigorous vigilance of Pandit Nehru,
we find to our dismay, muddles, and corruption of a
stinking sort. We shudder to think, what ugly dimensions
this would grow, when men with lesser stature come to
occupy the gadi. And to welcome with glee, foreign capital
and foreign money, without the least thought about the
future amounts to, we are afraid sowing the ‘dragon’s
teeth.’
(Editorial - 08-02-1959)