Delivering the Paul M Sweezy Memorial Lecture on the inaugural day of the five day international conference on “Karl Marx — Life, Ideas, Influence: a Critical Examination on the Bicentenary” in Patna, Professor Dipankar Gupta while highlighting the irony of the formation of political parties by communists said, Karl Marx in his Communist Manifesto did not favour the formation of political parties by communists, neither did he approve the formation of their own sectarian principles.
“Marx in his communist manifesto had not favoured the formation of political parties by communists, neither did he approve the formation of their own sectarian principles and this would disqualify all communist parties”, said Professor Dipankar Gupta while addressing an international conference organised by Asian Development Research Institute (ADRI) in Patna. It’s a first of its kind international conference on Karl Marx organised at such a large scale in the country.
While answering a pointed question Professor Gupta further said that neither Marx nor Friedrich Engels ever propounded the concept of violence for social change. “Marx, in fact, particularly propounded the vanguard role of women in social revolution”, he said. He also lamented the misinterpretation of Marx’s ideas over time.
Delivering the keynote address Lord Meghnad Desai said Marx’s theories hold great lessons for the contemporary world, mainly the role of capitalism in the context of globalisation. He said Marxism has gained a new lease of life since the financial crisis of 2008.
“Interestingly, analysts have pointed out that greater economic freedom and the rise of a dominant middle class would ultimately lead to situation where greater political freedom would be demanded, culminating in the flowering of democracy in China… such an outcome had already been visualized by Marx in his writings.”, said Lord Desai.
Delivering the Karl Marx Memorial Lecture, Deepak Nayyar, Professor Emeritus (JNU) and former VC, Delhi University, spoke about the historical evolution of globalization. He pointed out that globalization was a multidimensional phenomenon which was not only limited to the flow of trade in goods and services and capital but also about the exchange of ideas, technology and information. Historically, globalization has been a fragile process that has witnessed periodic ups and downs.
“Globalization requires a hegemon who can ensure the security and stability of the world order. Currently, this role is being played by the United States of America. Since the global financial crisis of 2008, globalization has seen a major backlash in European countries and also America which has seen the rise of Donald Trump”, he said.
In the inaugural session, Dr Shaibal Gupta, Member-Secretary, ADRI, said in his welcome address that in the conference “we are not only remembering Marx, but have dedicated 38 memorial lectures to philosophers, economists, academics and political figures who had either influenced him or were influenced by him”. Prof P P Ghosh, Director ADRI, said the reason why Marx’s ideas still draw scholars from diverse fields is that there are several elements in Marxian methodology that lend it an analytical strength that was not there prior to Marx. The inaugural session was presided over by Prof Anjan Mukherji, Chairman, ADRI.
Among the other prominent speakers on the first day of the five-day international conference, Professor Seongjin Jeong from Gyeongsang National University, Republic of Korea, presented the Marxian view over the capitalist development in South Korea from 1970 - 2014 . He delivered the Rajani Palme Dutt Memorial Lecture. Professor Satish Jain, former JNU professor, delivered the Adam Smith Memorial Lecture. He spoke on the ‘Normative Elements of Marxism’ and Dr. Shannon Brincat, Senior Lecturer, University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia, highlighted aspects of ‘Ancient Indian Dialectics and Marx’ while delivering the Shapurji Saklatvala Memorial Lecture.