In the background of the withering of communism and the imminent collapse of capitalism, time is ripe for exploring a more universally acceptable 'Third Way'. Several leading thinkers like Peter Drucker and Paul Samuelson have though guardedly predicted that capitalism in its present form may not survive beyond the first quarter of the next century. However, the collapse of these systems cannot automatically usher in a superior world-order. Evolving a 'Third Way' desiderates a vast amount of preparatory work at both the intellectual and organisational levels. To pave the way for such exploration is the purpose of the essays and lectures compiled in this volume.
Shri DATTATREYA BAPURAO (alias DATTOPANT) THENGADI (b. 20-11-1920 at Arvi, Wardha District of Maharashtra) is well known as a scholar and organiser. For over half a century he has been a Pracharak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. The Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh founded by him four decades ago is presently the foremost labour organisation in the country. He is also the founder of Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, Samajik Samarasata Manch and Swadeshi Jagaran Manch.
Shri Thengadi was a Member of the Rajya Sabha for 12 years. He is widely travelled. In addition to continuous organisational work to strengthen nationalist feelings in the masses, Shri Thengadi has been a prolific writer in English, Hindi and Marathi and the books and occasional booklets authored by him number over a hundred. These include 'Nationalist Pursuit' (1992) and 'Our National Renaissance: Its Directions and Destination' (reprinted, 1993), both published by Sahitya Sindhu Prakashana.
I take this opportunity to express my deep sense of gratitude to all the readers who have welcomed Third Way enthusiastically.
There was churning of thought on the subject in a number of seminars organised at different places in the country. We wanted to initiate a public debate on 'Third Way', without claiming that it was the last word of wisdom. I am happy to state that this purpose has been served within a short time to a satisfactory extent.
But during this intervening period it came to our notice that the book suffered from pardonable as well as unpardonable printing mistakes and also that it was necessary to restructure the contents in view of the current requirements. On account of my preoccupations, it was impossible for me to undertake this much-needed revision. Fortunately at such a juncture Prof. M.P. alias Bapu Kendurkar came to my rescue and accomplished this Herculean task in a very satisfactory manner. I am thankful to him as well as to M/s. Sahitya Sindhu Prakashana, Bangalore, for bringing out the second edition of the book, the first edition of which was published by M/s. Janaki Prakashan, New Delhi.
I have requested Prof. Kendurkar to state in brief the idea behind this restructuring.
I feel confident that patriotic readers will receive this edition with the same enthusiasm.
It is a great pleasure for me to associate myself with the publication of this collection of articles and speeches by Shri Dattopant Thengadi on various aspects of national reconstruction.
It is now obvious that the existing institutional framework is inadequate to deal effectively with the current complex problems which could not be comprehended by the learned members of the Constituent Assembly. It is generally felt that the constitution of a new Constituent Assembly is the need of the hour. This is not to devalue the competence or brilliance of those stalwarts who framed the Constitution. But, as Jefferson said, "Each generation has a right to choose for itself the form of government it believes most promotive to its own happiness." Evidently, by 'the form of government' he meant the entire social order.
Shri Thengadi is of the view that it is neither advisable nor practicable to think in terms of a blueprint. Practical thinkers like M.N. Roy, Pt. Deendayal Upadhyaya, Swatantryaveer Savarkar, Marx or Lenin refused to present any utopia, because, according to them, it was an exercise in futility. A blueprint may be evolved in course of actual implementation in the light of the broad guiding principles of the basic ideologies, and that too by a trial-and-error method. Before reaching the stage of implementation, what can and should be offered is a general guideline of the new socio-economic order, and such guidelines have already been furnished by every ideology.
Since communism has failed and capitalism is on the way out, the search for a 'Third Way' is already on in the western countries including the United States. Peter Drucker, Samuelson and others have foreseen the inevitability of the collapse of capitalism, though their public expressions are sufficiently guarded. This should not give rise, Shri Thengadi cautions, to any euphoria in the minds of those who had condemned both these thought-systems all these years. Any attempt to evolve a new model must be preceded by adequate home- work on the subject, he thinks.
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