Ranade- The Prophet of Indian Nationalism

 Ranade- The Prophet of Indian Nationalism

 Ranade was the prophet of Indian nationalism. He was the first Indian thinker to insist that national development must be based on the principles of democracy, secularism and liberalism. He emphasised the importance of religious tolerance and Hindu-Muslim unity because he believed that the Indian people were the chosen people of God and India was the true land of promise. It was their historic duty to show the patch to the world.

Ranade made it clear that Hindu or Muslim culture could not become the foundation of Indian nationalism. According to Ranade, the chief quality of the Indian people was their ability to absorb the best from other cultures and to give a new shape and form to their culture.

Ranade maintained that all the major communities in India should come together to attain common objectives and fight against poverty and backwardness. Freedom and prosperity were not possible without unity. He made it clear that it was the common tenet of Indian nationalism that progress for India meant progress of all its parts and communities.

Ranade on the Nature and Functions of the State

 Ranade on the Nature and Functions of the State

 Ranade differed from the British individualists regarding the role of the state in the field of political economy. He maintained that the state represented the power, wisdom, mercy and charity of its best citizens; therefore, it had to play a more positive role in human life. It was the duty of the state to protect the lives of the people and to make it nobler, happier and richer. The purpose of the state was essentially moral. It was a means to attain higher grades of civilized life.

Ranade's Ideas of Liberalism

 Ranade's Ideas of Liberalism

Ranade's concept of liberalism was based upon his overall theory of morality which drew up on the belief that the purpose of all human activity was the development of man and his capacities in all spheres of life. The purpose of our life according to Ranade was essentially moral.

Ranade was a moderate. He did not believe in revolutionary methods. His political method was essentially constitutional.

While defining liberalism, he said that moderation would be its watchword. Belief in the dignity of human beings and individual liberties, duty to obey the laws of the state and striving ceaselessly for reforms were the goals he set for the Liberals. The liberals must aim for change in a gradual manner.

POLITICAL IDEAS OF RANADE

 POLITICAL IDEAS OF RANADE

 Ranade is considered a prophet of modern India because he visualized the future course of development in India. Ranade sought to enlighten the Indian masses about the benefits of material progress which could be used as a means to ethical and desirable lives. Therefore, he expounded a political philosophy that aimed at spiritualization of politics but oppossed the use of religion or spiritual authority in politics.

Ranade on Industrialization

 Ranade on Industrialization

India was a land of poor people. Excessive reliance upon agriculture was the cause of this poverty. Therefore Ranade argued that the poverty of the Indian masses could not be eradicated except through industrialization. However, India was a backward country and in an underdeveloped economy like India, industrialization could not take place on the basis of individual initiative. The state had to play a positive role by setting up state owned industries in key areas. The state had to initiate the change because agriculture in India was getting "ruralized" and "depressed". It was only through industrialization that this depression could be overcome.

Ranade was in favour of an integrated scheme of national economic development. Agriculture, trade and industry were the three organs of economy and Ranade held that they should be properly and harmoniously developed. The key to modernization of economy was industrialization

 Ranade on Indian Agriculture

Ranade realized that agriculture was the basis of Indian economy. But during the British period agriculture suffered from many defects and it had to be re-organized on a scientific basis. He was of the opinion that Indian agriculture suffered indebtedness, lack of enterprise, excessive revenue demands by the government, backward methods of cultivation, lack of agricultural credit and overdependence of large sections of the population on agriculture