PROUTIST ECONOMICS Discourses on Economic Liberation SHRII PRABHAT RANJAN SARKAR The pratiika (Ananda Marga emblem) represents in a visual way the essence of Ananda Marga ideology. The six-pointed star is composed of two equilateral triangles. The triangle pointing upward represents action, or the outward flow of energy through selfless service to humanity. The triangle pointing downward represents knowledge, the inward search for spiritual realization through meditation. The sun in the centre represents advancement, all-round progress. The goal of the aspirant’s march through life is represented by the swastika, a several-thousand-year-old symbol of spiritual victory. PROUTIST ECONOMICS Discourses on Economic Liberation Second Edition SHRII PRABHAT RANJAN SARKAR Proutist Economics – Discourses on Economic Liberation was originally published in 1992, © by Ánanda Márga Pracáraka Saîgha (Central). A second printing was published in 2017. The same material, reorganized and revised, and with the addition of a new chapter, is now being published as the second edition. This book is Proutist Economics – Discourses on Economic Liberation, Second Edition, 2020, © by Ánanda Márga Pracáraka Saîgha (Central). Registered office: Ananda Nagar, P.O. Baglata, District Purulia, West Bengal, India All rights reserved by the publisher. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher. First Edition edited by: Ácárya Vijayánanda Avadhúta and Párthasárathi Second Edition edited by: Ácárya Vijayánanda Avadhúta, Párthasárathi and Ácárya Vimalánanda Avadhúta ISBN Electronic Edition: 978-81-941215-5-8 Published by: Ácárya Hariishánanda Avadhúta Publications Secretary (Central) Ananda Marga Publications Ánanda Márga Pracáraka Saîgha (Central) CONTENTS Roman Saîskrta vii Publisher’s Note xi Part 1: KEY PRINCIPLES 1. The Structure of the Economy 27 2. The Principles of Prout 45 3. Some Specialities of Prout’s Economic System 56 4. Socio-Economic Groupifications 66 5. Keep Money Circulating 75 6. Principles of Balanced Economy 78 7. Quadri-Dimensional Economy 84 8. Dynamic Equilibrium and Equipoise 90 9. Minimum Requirements and Maximum Amenities 102 Part 2: ECONOMIC PROGRESS – BEYOND MATERIALISM 10. Capitalism in Three Spheres 119 11. Economic Dynamics 124 12. Economic Depressions 135 13. Defects of Communism 137 Part 3: RURAL DEVELOPMENT FOR COLLECTIVE WELFARE 14. Agrarian Revolution 147 15. Farmers’ Cooperatives 165 16. Cooperatives 171 17. Integrated Farming 189 18. Cooperative Production 208 19. Feudalism and the Zamindary System 216 20. Water Conservation 221 Part 4: ECONOMIC DECENTRALIZATION – ELEVATING THE LIVING STANDARD OF LOCAL PEOPLE 21. Development Planning 237 22. Block-Level Planning 248 23. Decentralized Economy – 1 256 24. Economic Democracy 268 25. Decentralized Economy – 2 277 Part 5: MULTI-PURPOSE DEVELOPMENT 26. Elevating Backward Classes 285 27. Population Growth and Control 289 28. East-Wet Theory 295 29. Questions and Answers on Economics 299 30. Development Programmes 307 31. Multi-Purpose Development Schemes 311 Part 6: CASE STUDIES – BENGAL AND ADJOINING AREAS 32. Economic Exploitation of Bengal 321 33. Economic Self-Sufficiency for Bengal 336 34. Tripura 386 35. Trade and Barter in Ancient Bengal 391 36. Contai Basin Planning 396 37. Some Development Programmes for Bengal 405 38. Bangladesh 411 39. South Bengal 419 40. Bihar 424 Glossary 445 ROMAN SAÎSKRTA Realizing the necessity of writing swiftly and of pronouncing the words of different languages correctly, the undernoted Roman Saîskrta (Sanskrit) alphabet has been adopted. Those not familiar with either the Devanágrii alphabet or the Bengali alphabet below, please see the pronunciation key on page viii. viii a á b c ì d e g h i j k l m î n ò ô o p r s ï t í u ú v y It is possible to pronounce the Saîskrta, or Sanskrit, language with the help of only twenty-nine letters of Roman script. The letters “f”, “q”, “qh”, “z”, etc., are required in the Arabic, Persian, and various other languages, but not in Saîskrta. “ìa” and “ìha”, occurring in the middle of a word or at the end of a word, are pronounced “óa” and “óha”, respectively. Like “ya”, they are not independent letters. When the need arises in writing non-Saîskrta words, “óa” and “óha” may be written. Letters newly added to the Bengali alphabet in order to render certain words of foreign languages: qua qhua za óa óha fa ya lra t aô SANSKRIT PRONUNCIATION KEY This key is a guide to the pronunciation of the Sanskrit words in this book. In the cases of those words of other languages (such as Bengali and Hindi) romanized in this book, the pronunciations will be similar but not exactly the same. a = “a” in “mica” á = “a” in “father” i = “i” in “folio” ii = somewhat prolonged i u = “u” in “lute” ú = somewhat prolonged u r (alone or followed by consonant) = ri in Spanish carido rr = rri in Spanish corrida lr = l +ri ix lrr = l + rri e = “e” in “cachet” ae = “ai” in “kaiser” o = “o” in “open” ao = “au” in “sauerkraut” î = a nasalization of the preceding vowel, sometimes similar to “ng” in “sung” h (following vowel, but not followed by a vowel) = aspirated version of the vowel, or ha sound appended to the vowel. E.g., vah = either va with aspiration (expelling breath), or vaha sound. kh, gh, ch, jh, íh, ìh, th, dh, ph = aspirated versions of consonants (expelling breath) uôa = nasalized “wa” (“a” in “mica”). Combining form uô before k, kh, g, gh = “n” pronounced naturally for that location. iôa = nasalized “ya” (“a” in “mica”). Combining form iô before c, ch, j, jh = “n” pronounced naturally for that location. í = cerebral “t” (tip of tongue touches centre of palate) ì = cerebral “d” (tip of tongue touches centre of palate) ò = cerebral “n” (tip of tongue touches centre of palate) t = dental “t” (tip of tongue touches upper teeth) d = dental “d” (tip of tongue touches upper teeth) y at beginning of word =“j” in “jump”. In middle of word = “y” in “you”. v at beginning of word =“v” in “victory”. In middle of word = “w” in “awaken”. sh = palatal “s” (tip of tongue touches back of palate), “sh” in “shall” or “ss” in “issue” ï = cerebral “s” (tip of tongue touches centre of palate), “sh” in “shun” or “bush” kï = either aspirated version of “k” (expelling breath), or “k” + “sh” ô (preceded by vowel other than i or u) = nasalization of vowel jiôa = “gya” (“a” in “mica”) jiôá = “gya” (“a” in “father”) PUBLISHER’S NOTE Shrii Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar (21 May 1921 to 21 October 1990), also known by his spiritual name, Shrii Shrii Ánandamúrti, was a philosopher, linguist, yogi, spiritual preceptor, poet, composer and author. He composed 5018 songs and wrote over 200 books during his lifetime. All the chapters in this book, the second edition of Proutist Economics – Discourses on Economic Liberation, are taken from Prout in a Nutshell, Second Edition, 2020, which was published in four volumes. The Publisher’s Notes in that series included a brief description of Prout, which is worth reproducing here: Prout, an acronym for Progressive Utilisation Theory, is a comprehensive socio-economic philosophy developed by the author from the beginning of 1955 until his death in October 1990. The author defined Progressive Utilization Theory as the “progressive utilization of all factors” and those who support this principle as “Proutists”. Prout, however, is more than just a theory or philosophy. It is also a social movement based on spiritual culture, a model of a socio-economic system, a vision of the good society and a practice. And, as the author himself once indicated, Prout is also a universal resource, capable of finding a just and rational solution whenever it is properly applied to a socio-economic problem. The Publisher’s Notes also state that in essence Prout aims to establish a new social system. As the author explains, the social system that will come into being will maintain adjustment and harmony with time, space and person. It will move step by step towards establishment in spirituality, without regard to any ism. (See “Dialectical Materialism and Democracy”, which is contained in Volume Two of the Prout in a Nutshell series.) xii For a discussion on the reasons why the author propounded Prout, the history of the term “Prout”, the origins of the Prout in a Nutshell series, and how best to study Prout, see the Publisher’s Note in Volume One of that series. Regarding economics, as various chapters in this volume make clear, the author was deeply concerned with the plight of the downtrodden. To alleviate their suffering and elevate their standard of living, he set out a number of principles and policies. He also spent a substantial amount of time guiding Proutists from various parts of India and around the world on how to raise the living standard of local people through the implementation of social, economic and cultural development programmes. In one of his messages to a group who were working to elevate the standard of living of the poor, he commented, “For every noble deed I always extend my support. In your attempt for the economic emancipation of humanity, my full support is there.” Towards the end of his life the author also stated, “Economics today is a theoretical extravaganza. It should be made more practical.” A number of chapters in this volume illustrate the author’s unique, practical approach to economics, and include “Socio-Economic Groupifications”, “Principles of Balanced Economy”, “Quadri-Dimensional Economy” and “Block-Level Planning”. The author also maintained that increasing purchasing capacity is main driver of economic development and the best measure of economic progress.