Economic Dimension of Hindutva, Part 11; Savarkar’s Economic Principles (7/13)
Introduction: Economic Development as a Pillar of National Progress
Economic development has always stood at the heart of national progress, shaping the strength and sovereignty of a nation. Among the many debates surrounding economic strategy, one of the most enduring concerns the role of the state in managing key industries. Vinayak Damodar (Veer) Savarkar offered a distinctive view on this question, emphasizing that economic policy must ultimately serve the nation’s collective welfare rather than individual or corporate gain.
Nationalization as a Tool of Economic Advancement
Savarkar regarded nationalization as a legitimate and, at times, necessary instrument for advancing the national interest. He maintained that the government should retain the authority to nationalize essential industries whenever circumstances demand it. His rationale was grounded in the conviction that the state possesses both the moral legitimacy and the organizational capacity to manage critical sectors of the economy more efficiently and equitably than private enterprises.
As Savarkar observed, “The State must assume control whenever private interest threatens the collective welfare” (cf. Savarkar 2007: 321). For him, nationalization was not merely an economic policy but a moral and political act — ensuring that the nation’s key resources remain under collective stewardship.
State Control and the Prevention of Economic Monopolies
This perspective aligns with a broader economic philosophy that prioritizes public control over strategic industries — such as energy, transportation, and defense — to prevent monopolization and ensure equitable distribution of national resources. For Savarkar, the essence of economic nationalism lay in subordinating profit motives to national welfare.
By maintaining state oversight where necessary, he believed the government could channel economic growth toward the realization of a stronger, self-reliant nation — one where the benefits of progress are shared rather than concentrated in the hands of a few.
A Balanced Approach: Between Capitalism and Socialism
However, Savarkar’s approach was far from doctrinaire. He did not advocate for complete state control or the eradication of private enterprise. Instead, he envisioned a balanced and adaptive system, in which both the public and private sectors contribute to national prosperity.
Government intervention, in his view, should be strategic and situational — guided by the needs of the nation rather than rigid ideological adherence to either capitalism or socialism. This flexibility reflects Savarkar’s broader belief that political and economic principles must evolve alongside national realities.
Relevance in Contemporary Economic Debates
In this sense, Savarkar’s economic thought reflects a pragmatic nationalism — one that seeks equilibrium between efficiency, equity, and sovereignty. His emphasis on flexibility and public accountability continues to resonate in modern policy debates.
As contemporary nations confront global economic volatility, rising inequality, and the question of ownership over natural and technological resources, Savarkar’s reflections gain renewed relevance. His ideas offer a framework for rethinking how strategic state intervention can promote self-reliance without stifling innovation.
Final Thought: Economics as a Reflection of National Ethics
Ultimately, Savarkar reminds us that economic policy is not merely a matter of market mechanics, but an expression of national will and ethical responsibility. For him, the measure of any economic system lay in its capacity to safeguard the nation’s independence and uplift its people.
His vision of state-led yet balanced economic management remains a powerful reminder that true national progress depends not only on growth, but on the just and purposeful distribution of its fruits — a principle as vital today as it was in his time.
💭 What do you think? What are your thoughts on nationalization within the economic sector? Should governments have the authority to take control of key industries when necessary? How do you interpret Savarkar’s argument that the state should control essential industries “whenever private interest threatens collective welfare”? In your view, what might Savarkar consider as “essential industries” in today’s world — energy, defense, or perhaps technology? Do you agree with Savarkar’s belief that the state can manage large industries more efficiently than private enterprises? Can a government truly strike a balance between public control and private innovation, or does one inevitably dominate the other? How relevant is Savarkar’s “balanced approach” between capitalism and socialism in the age of globalization and privatization? What lessons could policymakers today learn from Savarkar’s pragmatic view of economic flexibility? Could Savarkar’s notion of economic self-reliance be seen as a precursor to India’s modern “Atmanirbhar Bharat” vision?
👉 Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Sources:
DESHPANDE, Sudhakar. 1999. Savarkar. The Prophetic Voice. Dastane Ramchandra & Co.: Pune.
KRÜGER, Horst. 1985. Anfänge sozialistischen Denkens in Indien. Der Beginn der Rezeption sozialistischer Ideen vor 1914. Band II. Akademie-Verlag: Berlin.
PATWARDHAN, V. S. 1989. „Savarkar’s Economic Thinking“, in PHAKE, Sudhir/PURANDARE, B. M. and Bindumadhav JOSHI. (Eds.). 1989. Savarkar. Savarkar Darshan Pratishtnah (Trust): Bombai (Mumbai), 118-122.
PHADTARE, T. C. 1975. Social and Political Thought of Shri V.D. Savarkar. A Thesis submitted to the Marathwada University for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Unpublished: Aurangabad.
ROTHERMUND, Dietmar. 1985. Indiens wirtschaftliche Entwicklung. Von der Kolonialherrschaft bis zur Gegenwart. Schöningh (UTB): Paderborn.
ROTHERMUND, Dietmar. 1983. The Indian Economy under British Rule and other Essays. Manohar: New Delhi.
SAVARKAR, Vinayak Damodar .2007. Hindu Rashtra Darshan. Bharat Bhushan. Abhishek Publications: New Delhi.
SAVARKAR, Vinayak Damodar. 1945. Hindu Rashtravad. Being an Exposition of the Ideology & Immediate Programme of Hindu Rashtra as outlined by Swatantrayaveer V.D. Savarkar. Rohtas Printing Press: Rohtak. (Collected & Edited by Satya Parkash).
WOLF, Siegfried O. 2009. Vinayak Damodar Savarkar und sein Hindutva-Konzept. Die Konstruktion einer kollektiven Identität in Indien [“Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and his concept of Hindutva: The construction of a collective identity in India.”]. Online Dissertation: Heidelberg University: Heidelberg.
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