LetterfromIndia

The State of Kerala

w z a ~ the Communists
so successful
W I~in YKerala?
Howwas it that, out of the xoo

moreclosely identified in the public mindwith

the cause of a United Kerala.
seats contested by them, they won6o, while the
The old princely states of Travancore and
Congress got only 43 out of xz4 and the Praja
Cochin, the principal constitutional elements of
Socialistslust 9 out of 62? A story, perhaapss
present-day Kerala, were the most literate in
india. More than half of their people could
apocryphal, has it that whenthe report of the
States Reorganisation Commission--recommend- read and write, one million five hundred
ing the removalfrom the newly-proposedKerala
thousand children went to school, and the number of students at the universities was over
State of the Tamil-speakingarea of what used
to be Travancore,and the addition to it of the
twenty-five thousand. Economically, however,
Malabar area of Madras--wasbeing considered
this was one of the most depressed areas in the
in Delhi, it was pointed out that this wouldin
country. Lack of industrial development made
effect meangiving the Communistscontrol over
for chronic unemploymentamongthe agriculthe state; by taking awaythe Tamil area from
turists. In
pre-Independencetimes, clashes
between the people and the Maharajas GovernKerala the Congress would lose an important
menthad not be~ninfrequent. All these circumstronghold, and-by adding Malabar to it the
Communistswouldgain one. That, in any case,
stances made Kerala a fitting area for Communist exploitation. The Communisttask was
is precisely what happened. The Central Government which, by refusing in BombayState to
madeeasier by the ineptitude and disunity of the
follow the linguistic principle and-separate
Congress governmentsthat held powerfor some
Maharashtra from Gujerat, strengthened the
time, and by the failure of the CongressParty
Communiststhere, by following the linguistic
later to su, pport the minoritySocialist Partygovprinciple in Kerala State strengthened the Com- eminent that took office. So infirm of purpose
munists there to an extent that enabled themto
and lacking in political sense was the Congress
Party in the state, that the Central Government
cometo power.
One of the most prominent advocates of this
--dominated by its ownparty--had no alternalinguistic state had been the present Communist tive but to suspend parhamentary government
Chief Minister, Namboodripad. He wrote a
within the state and rule directly ihrough its
bookon the subject, following up his previous
representative, the Governor.
"History of Malabar,"and the acceptance of the
Considering everything, then, it is by no
idea of a United Kerala was regarded by many means surprising that the Communistsdid so
well in the election. Not all, or perhaps even
as a special triumph for him. There has been
muchdiscussion in India during the last few
the majority of those whovoted for them, agreed
years on the question of language as the basis
with either their political or economicbeliefs.
But they weretired of the other parties, noneof
for the formationof states within the union. It
which had proved itself worthwhile in their
has seemedclear to most thought/ul observers
opinion, and they did not want Governorsrule.
that a real state of internal stability will not be
attained.,until the r geoaphicallimitseverywhere Andso, hopingfor the best, they voted for the
comcadebroadly wi~ the language limits---in
Communists, many of whomthey knew personally or by reputation to be devotedmen,leading
other words, until India becomesa true ~ederaaustere and simple lives. The Communist~,too,
tion of peoples. The most obvious prescription
for action was:
madeit easy for them. The emphasis in their
election
speeches was on good governmentand
Whatthou must needs do, do betimes
honest administration, rather than on Communist
Steep thy necessaryacts in graciousness.
doctrine, their attacks on the Congressbecause
The Governmentof India waited manyyears.
of its dishonestyand insincerity rather than any
Meanwhile the Communists became more and
ideological shortcomings. Their slogans were
67

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68

A.D.

mostlyreformist and practical: not disputing the

ideas or policies of the Congress,but insisting
rather that it could not be trusted to carry them
out. The Communistsuccess should not, however, makeone overlook the fact that the Congress actually got more votes than the Communistsdid--38.a per cent of the total as against
their 36.5 per cent.

Gorwala

w t ~,. the Communistsdo with

W nthisA ~rpower
they have won? Before
attempting to answer, one must consider the
nature of the,power. It is not of the kind the
governmentota sovereign state enjoys. It is a
limited power, limited by the fact that Kerala
is not an independent. . countrybut onlyoneunit
of a federation with manyunits, and its government can only exercise such functions and
authority as are allotted to the units by the Constitution. Lawand order, police, internal
administration, agriculture, irrigation, smallscale industry, and all local matters comewithin
the scope of this power.It is by no meansinsignificant or unimportant. A governmentintent
on makingthe best use of it could add considerably to the welfare of the people. If it ensured
complete honesty at every level of administration, that in itself would make a very great
difference. Muchimprovement could also be
brought about in the productivity and life of
the agriculturists by proper credit and marketing arrangements. Thep,rovision of large-scale
employment for the educated would present
difficulties in the absence of capital, but by
co-operation with the Central Governmentsome
progress here wouldalso not be out of the question. In fact, the Kerala governmentwould-find
no lack of workif it settled downto be a regular
reformist government.
Nothingin the origin or previous history of
its membersprevents it from adopting this rSle.
All eleven, except perhaps one, comefrom the
middle-classes, several very definitely from the
upper middle-class. They are all comparatively
well-educated.Lawyers,writers, professors, trade
unionofficials, it is difficult to find a workeror
a peasant amongthem. Several have graduated
to the Communistparty through the Congress,
and retain effective traces of their past association in the appealingattitudes they can with ease
adopt. On the whole, the Cabinet compares
f~vourably in capacity and knowledge with
that of most other States in India. Simplicity
has been an important key-word in the pronouncements of this Government. And the
simplicity they emphasise is the traditional
Indian value, the same which Gandhi attempted
to enshrine into a habit of life for himself and
his followers. The Ministers have reduced their
salari~, avoid ostentation in every shape, live

austerely, and give up the outward symbols of

their dignity such as flags on cars, and police
There are some signs that this Government
may,at least temporarily, limit its ambitionsto
reform. Thus, someof its emissaries, members
of the Central Communist Party, have been
visiting capitalists in Bombayand elsewhere,
urging them to consider the setting up of new
industries in Kerala and offering to discuss
terms. But there are also indications that activity
of a merely useful nature will not content it,
and it must makean attempt to fulfil purely
CommunistParty aims. Thus, there was the
very early proposal that all foreign-ownedplantations should be nationalised, which evokedfrom
a Central GovernmentMinister the reply that
there could be no nationalisation without payment of proper compensation, that he doubted
whether the Kerala Governmenthad the funds
to pay it, and that the Central Government,not
being satisfied about the wisdomof the action,
was not prepared to assist. Thus, too, the more
recent suggestion that the wagesof workers in
industry andgovernment -throughout the
country should be raised by twenty-five per cent,
a suggestion which may be examined by the
Central Government, but obviously cannot be
accepted in any general form.
s E, of course,are still early days,and it
T r~may~seem
not only inappropriate but wrong
to cometo any definite conclusions about the
course of action the Communistgovernmentof
Kerala will pursue. It can, however, be said
with somedegree of certitude that one of its
aimswill be so to arrange affairs while in office
that it will remainin office as long as possible.
It is likely, therefore, that it will avoidany open
clash with the Central Government,at least any
clash of a sufficiendy serious nature to makeit
probable that the Central Governmentwill be
compelled to supersede it. It will press many
[proposals, sometimesquite hard, but will not
resist uponthemto the point of forcing a crisis.
Andit will naturally ~xy and derive all the
popularity it can amongthe voters b_~ giving
such proposals the widest publicity. lt~ere can
be little doubt that by the ~ime the Communist
Party has been in office a couple of years, every
strategically important position will be held by
a sympathiser. The police, especially, will be
looked after most carefully, anyonegiving the
least trouble being combedout oh one groundor
another. The Judiciary may manageto retain
some independence, since the High Court does
not comeunder the State Government,but it is
doubtful if the universities or education can
remain free. Gradually, moreand more pressure
will be applied, more and more inducement

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The State of Kerala

held out, and the result will be conformity,not
only in these but in almost all other spheres.
It will havebeen noticed that nothing is said
about its being beaten in the Legislative
Assembly, though with the five independents
supporting it, its numberscometo only 65 in a
houseof zz6. Its discipline is likely to be so good
that there is little probability of any defection,
and even for all the other membersto vote
together against it would be remarkable. What
is probableis that in one wayor another several
of them Will have been induced in the next few
months,if not td ioin it, at least to enter into
an arrangementfor supporting it.
If, however,the President decides to supersede
the CommunistGovernmentfor good andsound
reason, after, say, a coupleof years, the running
of the administration will become
extremelY
.
difficult, in view of the expedients adoptedand
precautions taken by it while in power. The
Telenganatactics of violence on a muchbigger
scale maycome into operation and extensive
military measures may becomenecessary. Fdr
whatever the professions, to expect the underground to remain idle and. not to make very
gooduse of so favourable a umeas the next two
years, wouldbe the hei.g, ht of folly. Fewthings
amusethe Communistelite more than the halfhopeful, half-anxious belief voiced by Congress
and Socialist dignitaries that by accepting power
under a democratic constitution and by taking
the prescribed oaths of office, they have now
becomea genuine constitutional party, social
reformists in fact, determinedto play the constitutional gameaccordin~to its rules and to pay
serious attention to parliamentary work and
ways. Asone of the leaders of the Party declared
at a public meetingin,, Bombay
after the Kerala
results were known: Let there be no mistake.
Marxism-Leninismis our creed. Weare, and
will continue to be, Communists.Wehave not
changed." The Communist Party has always
two sides, the open and the underground. Its
position,
as the governmentof the State will
~
enable it to use both to the utmost.
Someof the membersof the Governmenthave
themselvesnot a little experienceof the undergroundside. K. G. George,for instance, a salon of
what The Hinduof Madrasdescribes as an aristocratic Christian,
Syrianfamily;,spentsix years, from
x946 to x95z, underground. AchutaMenon,too,
was engagedout of sight in secret workfrom x948
to ~952.

69

x s, T rI ~ s, is the dilemma
of Kerala,nay,
T r~rather,
the dilemmaof India. The people of
Kerala having given the Communistsof Kerala
a majority, the Communistshad to be permitted
to form a government. At the same time there
is considerable danger involved in permitting
them to be the government. The democratic
choice has been made. They are the Government. The quesuon remains, Must democr cy
be so democraticthat it has to ~illowits existence
to be seriously jeopardised?" The democratic
answer,,is difficult. Perhapsm"thts" case tt" can
be Yes. Take the risk, but remember the
maximthat the price of liberty is eternal vigilance." It becomes then the Government of
Indias duty to watchclosely, carefully, continuously, all the actions of the Kerala Government
and of the Communist
Party in the Kerala State,
open and underground, and not to hesitate to
take in good dine any steps the situation may
demand.It also becomesits duty to see that the
ople of Kerala havefull access to the nature,
story, and operations of Communism
in its
original homeand elsewhere. One can hope that
neither of these duties will be neglected.
Somequestions, remain. Whatis likely to be
the effect of a Communist Government in
Kerala on other state governmentsand administrations and on the peopleof other states? Tothe
extent that the Kerala Governmentundertakes
real reformsand makesits Ministers live according to a code of austerity and avoid all conspicuous consumption,the effect is boundto be
good. The gove-rnments of other states may
well be shamed into emulation. But the Communist Governmentin Kerala at the same time
adds to the stature of the Communistsin other
t~arts
the country.
Especially
ininstates
where
ey areofalready
in a small
minority
the legislature, the administration maybecomecautious
in dealing with them, thus giving them an
opportunity of whichthey can be relied uponto
take the fullest advantage. "Whoknows," might
be the feeling, "the Communists
are in powerin
Kerala, they might comeinto power here next
time. Better be careful, after all, it maybe wiser
to turn a blind eye sometimes."
The Kerala victory is undoubtedlya disaster.
To the growing democracyof India its consequences can be very serious. Yet there is no
reason to despair so long as foresight and
courage animate Indian governmental thinking
and acdon.

~ii

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A. D. Gorwala

LETTERS
"ARNOLD TOYNBEE$
MILLF.NNIUM"
From the High Commissioner
Canada

for Australia in

WHEu-ma
Dr. Toynbees History is right or wrong,
whether Mr. Trevor-Ropers reaction to it is right
or wrong, and whether or not this age is an age
of decline, Mr. Trevor-Ropersarticle in your June
number leaves no doubt about a decline in standards. There is a need for a critical appraisal of
Toynbee and your readers might expect something
of relevance and weight from the Regius Professor
of History Designate in the University of Oxford.
Mr. Trevor-Ropers article runs to no less than
fifteen pages; its distinction is to combinethinness
of mind with ill-natured and ill-bred impertinence
on a scale that is so unusualas to be striking. This,
it can safely be hazarded, is the first time that a
Regius Professor of History has given such an
exhibition of the upstart. It cameas a surprise to
more than one that Mr. Trevor-Roper, on whom
Lame~mdfortune fell in the easy. years of war-time
inflation through the lucky asstgnment to report
on Hitlers end, should have been appointed to a
Chair hitherto reserved for scholars of authentic
achievement, like Powick and Galbraith. After
rea.ding this article the surprise is turned into uneasiness about the standards of post-war Oxford.
If Mr. Trevor-Roperis going to use his Chair for
pontificating journalistically on the world at large
instead of doing historical research, he ,c, ould do
worse than read Mr. Dwight Macdonald s article
in your June numberfor a lesson on one aspect of
the civilization we have reached today which dismaysmore than Dr. Toynbee,as well as for a lesson
in writing.
W. R. C~ocr~l~
Ottawa, Canada
B I~ T T !~ R men, and better scholars, than I will
doubtless deal effectively with Trevor-Ropers
crudely and offensively blasphemous parody of
Christianity with which he seeks to attack Arnold
Toynbee. In this attack, his attempt to nail the
crime recoils instead on the attacker. Perhaps, on
second thoughts, better menwill leave a blasphemer
alone.
In case they do, two points--and two points only
--need to be made to show up Trevor-Ropers
spleen for what it is. Firstly, .he says that Toynbee
is uninterested in arts and sciences.., in administration and finance. As regards the latter, volume
VII of the Study o[ History is almost entirely given
over to those subjects; as to the former, it is not
possible to turn many pages of the whole work
7

without finding references to artists of manysorts,

and their work (and indeed Trevor-Roper, with the
typical carelessness of the splenetic, himself quotes
one or two of these references in his article), while
Science has as many column-inches in the Index
to Volumes7-~o (it is not the index to the whole
work, as Trevor-Roper, again inaccurately, states)
as has History. It as clear, as to the first point,
that Trevor-Roper has never read the book whose
author he attacks.
The second point is that Trevor-Ropers hate,
which he admits, for Toynbee, is because Toynbee
is a short-term pessimist (short term as applied to
our Western.civilisation in the context. . of the history
of mankind). But any true Chrlstaan unsT be; for
Our Lord promised us entry to His Kingdom in
Heaven--He never promised a Kingdomof Heaven
on Earth. It can never be wrong for a Christian,
therefore, to fear, and indeed prophesy, doomfor
misting man-madeinstitutions.
Trevor-Roper thus
discloses himself as a post-Christian, and his hate
is the typical hate of the unbelieverfor the believer.
Row~m~
R/IF Wyton
Hunts
T o X HE Regina Prokssor of Modern History of
Oxford University, after reading a certain article

Abstemiouswere the Greeks, they never strove

to look so fierce; their museswere sedate
Never obstreperous
.... Apollo calmly smiled.
W. S. Landor

I hate your tedious trouncings, Trevor-Roper,

Lands spirit in reverse nowdwells in you.
Theirreligious inquisitor
Is just as ugly as his opposite.
Not everyone can view things as you wish.
Weshould be just to faiths that challenge ours,
If not proclaimd with violence. Whynot then
Just leave the gentle Toynbeeanwith his Mish Mash
Like other curious sects to dwell in peace ?
Let those who have a calmer frame of mind
Proclaim the prophets errors and yoursdf
Realise that truth is sometimes mixed with falsehood.
From your new eminenqe, now cultivate
TheErasmianspirit or the Platonists
You wrote so well about some time ago.
What manaffirms, his strength; what he denies,
His weakness often. Tedious grows abuse.
Thoughone without your gifts, I say to you
"Be not so critically negative."
Mensuch as you, sceptics whothrive on hate
Strengthen the superstitions they abuse.

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