Maia Ramnath - Decolonizing Anarchism.pdf - Libcom

Echoes and Intersections I 181
Hindu genius evolved out of a conception of the present
Soviet system existing in Russia or not, but to stimulate
a desire among those who may, through close and careful
study, find that India's soul is very fertile for transplantation
of the ideas which have already shaken the very foundations
of the political, economic and social theories." Even
so, he compared the Russian proverb "What the Mir has
settled is God's own judgment" with the Indian one "1here
is God in the Panch" (that is, the traditional five-person local
decision-making council). Just as the "mir is the mother
of the Soviet;' Karr predicted, "the Panchayat is going to be
the parent of the future Indian polity."
These were the village councils wherein the reclaimed
traditions of the republic, "repository of rights and liberty
of the peoples;' could provide the political foundations for
their future. "Industrial socialism may not be known to the
people;' he argued, "but agrarian communism is a natural
system in which the people have been accustomed to live;'
although with "the advent of the British capitalistic system,
the communistic principles have been shattered to pieces."
In this indigenous utopia of village republics, Karr
claimed, there was no caste divide: intermarriage prevailed,
along with free choice of occupation based in trade and
craft guilds. Industry was "controlled by the public;' with
the means of production such as common looms and utilities
such as wells and channels collectively owned. "Dignity
oflabor was duly recognized;' and there was no conflict
between work of brain and brawn. A village assembly held
sessions in a sort of town hall, with legislation made by
directly elected representatives. Six standing committees