Marxism through Vedic lense: Can it sustain civilisations
Karl Marx was the propounder of Communism. As an ideology or philosophical school, Marxism got established in many global societies and became the professedly egalitarian model of governance in several countries of the world. Communist regimes ran in these countries in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries for several decades until these regimes began to gradually lose popularity and were supplanted by democratic regimes. This happened due to an ideological shift among the masses at large.
Is Marxism in line with the immanent principles that have sustained human civilisations through centuries, millennia and eons? Is it consistent with the natural characteristics and attributes of the human being? Is it conducive to all-round or multifaceted human progress?
The above questions can be best answered by a reference to Vedic literature because the Vedas are almost universally believed to be primeval, divinely revealed scriptures coming straight from the omniscient Creator and regulator of the universe and the repositories of all core knowledge that is both true and eternally relevant.
Marxism talks of economic disparity, exploitation, resulting classes, unrest, conflict and violent revolution followed by the establishment of an egalitarian order and communist regime. This philosophy presumes, and quite illogically so, that humans are naturally stricken with greed and that those in positions of authority and power will necessarily exploit the underprivileged. This philosophy also erroneously believes that violence is a natural trait of humans. This again is quite contrary to the widely accepted notion that not all humans are violent by nature. Humans are so very different like the five fingers of the hand. In fact, the eight billion humans presently inhabiting the globe are all different from one another. No two humans will be found similar to each other. Even identical twins are not completely similar. The natures, predilections, propensities and temperaments of all humans have shades of difference. Humans have dissimilar fingerprints too. Marxism, with the above underlying presumptions, is based on an incomplete and incorrect understanding of the human being itself, besides being atheistic. Theism, or belief in the existence of a universal power who creates, regulates and dissolves the universe, is not an option to choose but a stark truth for everyone to accept and embrace. One will not accept and embrace this eternal truth only to his own great peril.
Marxism has no concept of spirituality and Dharma, which we call righteousness. But Dharma has to be understood in core terms by comprehending its ten divine principles which include universally accepted virtues like patience, honesty, forgiveness and self-control. The concept of Dharma is logical and hence scientific, whereas Marxism is not exactly borne out by logic. The most important feature of Marxism that militates against Vedic ideology is that it talks of “from each according to his capacity, to each according to his needs”. This philosophy strikes at the core of meritocracy and justice. This also, accordingly, clashes with the principle of divine retribution of karmas which a large majority of the global population even today subscribes to.
Marxism and its political offshoot Communism are failing and crumbling all over the world for precisely the reasons aforesaid. They are not in sync with the divine code of Dharma. They are out of tune with the law of karmic retribution that subtly and seamlessly works in the universe to maintain order in this world and other similar worlds existing in the vast universe. Marxism and Communism, as stated above, are contrary to natural justice. It is no wonder, therefore, that they are slowly but surely fizzling out. In a few countries of the world where Communism exists today like Russia, China, Cuba and Vietnam, it has witnessed dilution over the past years. There are sporadic, popular cries for freedom and switchover to democracy. This is because Communism throttles freedom and undermines justice.
In the domain of economics and economic institutions, Vedic ideology speaks of rules based on divinely ordained true knowledge which support universal justice, equitable distribution of wealth and meritocracy. Therefore, in accordance with these timeless, divine principles, Marxism as a politico-economic philosophy is actually unsustainable.
There are bound to arise situations in Communist regimes when capitalistic elements will be introduced in governance. We have seen this happening in China under the presidentship of Deng Xiaoping. The world is also witness to the dramatic, meteoric economic rise of China as a result in the first two decades of the twenty-first century. But the economic rise of China could not sustain the pace that was seen between 2000 and 2020. China’s economy is beset with problems galore and many of these problems are the direct result of a totalitarian model of governance in which the Chinese Communist Party holds centre stage. In contrast, the pace of economic growth of India is slow but there is palpable stability and sustainability in it.
Without an acceptance of the concept of the Vedic metaphysical trinity comprising the creator Ishwar, material nature and souls, we cannot devise proper systems of governance that deliver and are long-term effective. The Vedic ideology provides the core understanding that man is a spiritual entity who seeks perfection and that this long and arduous terrestrial journey of multiple births ends in salvation. Therefore, satisfaction of human needs and desires is a process subject to timeless, universal divine laws and all manmade laws of political or economic governance must be consistent with the former, not opposed to them.
Only then can lasting peace and harmony prevail. Since economic progress and spiritual progress can happen only in a peaceful environment, the purist Marxist model can deliver neither lasting peace nor sustainable economic progress. This is the understanding that should drive the governance of nations for peace, progress and prosperity of all.
Conclusion
In the end, the debate is less about Marx or the Vedas and more about how we understand the human being. Any system that ignores human diversity, moral agency, spirituality and the deep human longing for justice and meaning is bound to strain and fracture over time. Civilisations endure when governance aligns with ethical conduct, personal responsibility and inner growth. Without that balance, material equality alone cannot deliver harmony, dignity or lasting progress.
The author is a management consultant based in New Delhi; views are personal
