Dr. Ratan Lal Basu is a Ph. D. in Economics – on Price Control Mechanism of Kautilya’s Arthasastra. He did his Bachelors and Masters Degrees from Presidency College, Calcutta (now Presidency University, Kolkata), the most prestigious college in India. Till his retirement from service in December 2008, he was the Teacher-in-Charge of a Government-Sponsored College at Kolkata. He has published around hundred articles on Arthasastra and other branches of Economics in Indian and foreign journals. He has edited a volume of articles on Arthasastra and written a book on modern relevance of Arthasastra and Manusmriti (the Hindu Law Book). He has published several e-books on all branches of Yoga & Tantra-cult, Economics in Arthasastra, Manusmriti & Mahabharata, Lord Krishna Mystery and Western Economic Concepts (ancient & modern). He is also a fiction writer in Bengali and English and he has keen interest in Music (Indian & Western Classical) and modern sciences. He is member of different economic associations and at present the Treasurer of the Bengal Economic Association. Address: Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Extract: Recent rapid advances in communication technology have changed global structural pattern... more Extract: Recent rapid advances in communication technology have changed global structural patterns and produced new concepts and poles of dynamism in international relations. One such technology, which is increasingly causing a mixed reaction across international boundaries, is that of the Internet. For the first time in history the emergence of the Internet has produced an anarchic power that is capable of influencing individuals, societies and governments on a scale previously unimaginable.
Revista Cientifica Arbitrada de la Fundacion MenteClara, 2024
The wonderful story book Panchatantra is the most widely travelled text of Indian origin. The aut... more The wonderful story book Panchatantra is the most widely travelled text of Indian origin. The authorship of the treatise has been ascribed to some unidentifiable Vishnu Sharma. It is said in the preamble that the octogenarian author composed the stories in order to educate three refractory sons of an ancient Indian king named Amara Shakti. The book contains all the essential knowledge as embedded in all the ancient Indian sastras of ethics, morality, practical economics and politics, ideas necessary for all conceivable professions including that of the ruler, ministers and high government officials. This story book, in five Tantras (parts), has been popular among readers of all ages, occupations, countries, races, and religious communities. Thousands of books and articles have been written on Panchatantra and various aspects of the text, its origin, history etc. have been closely scrutinized by erudite scholars to the best conceivable depths. But here our approach is going to be quite novel. Eschewing all theoretical queries we adopt the story telling mode right from the beginning, as in case of the text of Panchatantra. The story telling mode of presenting any topic has its origin in unknown past and it has been again and again verified that this mode of presenting any topic is the most attractive, effective and the least time consuming mode of instilling any concept into the comprehensive faculty of the target audience or readers. Our work contains seven sections:
Revista Científica Arbitrada de la Fundación MenteClara, 2020
Este artículo se realizó para explorar las relaciones entre el peronismo como filosofía y práctic... more Este artículo se realizó para explorar las relaciones entre el peronismo como filosofía y práctica política relacionado con otras filosofías. Se busca establecer las diferencias entre las ideologías imperantes en el mundo –si aún existen- y las acciones concretas tomadas de estas ideologías para identificar las propias del peronismo y su relación con el neoliberalismo. Se entrevistó a un dirigente del peronismo histórico seleccionado por su trayectoria para luego realizar un análisis crítico de su discurso. Se encontró que pese a los intentos del capitalismo para destruir conceptos ideológicos que establezcan vínculos intelectuales entre las personas y convertirlos en individuos consumidores todavía persisten actores sociales que intentan lograr equidad y armonía entre los ciudadanos. Este hallazgo tiende a rescatar valores humanos de fraternidad y realización colectiva destruidos por los medios hegemónicos de manipulación global que aíslan a los integrantes de una sociedad para pod...
Revista Científica Arbitrada de la Fundación MenteClara
Publicamos el siguiente documento del Dr. Ratan Basu como una joya digna de preservarse para tene... more Publicamos el siguiente documento del Dr. Ratan Basu como una joya digna de preservarse para tener una visión más clara de la historia de la India y cómo fueron desarrollándose las formas sociales, políticas y económicas. Basado en las tradiciones indias antiguas de las fuentes autóctonas de la historia que se encuentran dispersas en los Vedas, Puranas, las epopeyas -Rāmāyana y Mahābhārata-, textos budistas, jainistas y las excavaciones e inscripciones rupestres como fuentes de información, amplía el foco de su investigación ya que en lo que respecta a la historia cronológica -como generalmente entendemos por el término "historia"-, los textos indios antiguos apenas brindan una idea coherente. Es por eso que incluye en este documento autores extranjeros desde Escílax de Carianda pasando por autores griegos, chinos, cristianos hasta principios del siglo XX. Es fundamental esta investigación sistemática y profunda, para comprender los orígenes y las fuentes del primer manusc...
Arthaśāstra state, like many other ancient states, used to impose strict state-control over price... more Arthaśāstra state, like many other ancient states, used to impose strict state-control over prices of final commodities and factors of production. In fact, price policy was an integral part of of the Arthaśāstra economy. Perfect functioning of the Arthaśāstra economy depended on financial soundness of the government which again depended a good deal on revenue collected from commodity taxes. Uncertainty about prices of commodities would lead to uncertainty in the entire economic system as delineated in Arthaśāstra. So, a systematic and coherent price policy was a sine qua non for im The exact mechanism of price control, however, has not been spelt out in detail in Arthaśāstra. Nevertheless, by piecing together the guideline scattered in various chapters of the book, we can get a fairly good insight into the actual mechanism of price control inherent in Arthaśāstra. In this chapter we endeavour to piece together various aspects of price control mechanism implicit in Arthaśāstra. It should be mentioned in this connection that an integral part of price fixation in Arthaśāstra were the measures associated with its proper implementation. So we are to discuss these measures which made the price fixation policy in Arthaśāstra realistic and free from utopian degeneration. These measures included: i) Administrative measures; ii) Espionage mechanism; iii) Accounting and iv) Buffer stock. The short run and long run aspects of Arthaśāstra price policy are also of importance. All the above matters are discussed in detail in the following sections. The superintendent of commerce was entrusted with the task of enforcing the price policy. The prices of different commodities were to be fixed by him. He, however, did not fix prices arbitrarily. In fact, a uniform rule was followed throughout the country to determine the just prices of all the commodities. To quote from Arthaśāstra: 4/2/36: “In the case of commodities distant in place and time, however, the (Director of Trade), expert in fixing prices, shall fix the price after calculating the investment, the production of goods, duty, interest, rent and other expenses.” Thus, Just Price = Average cost of production + Tolls and Taxes + Transport and associated costs + Profit margin. Now, one may be tempted to compare this ‘just price’ with other similar concepts available in the jungle of modern economic literature. But a little reflection will make one realize that such comparisons do not make sense. There are innumerable normative approaches and value judgements as regards determination of ‘fair price’ or ‘just price’. But in Arthaśāstra, ‘just price’ was simply a guideline that automatically came up from the general set up. It was, in fact, an integral part of the politico-economic system inherent in Arthaśāstra implementation of all other state policies as delineated in Arthaśāstra.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2019
The Public Distribution System (PDS) of India plays a crucial role in reducing food insecurity by... more The Public Distribution System (PDS) of India plays a crucial role in reducing food insecurity by acting as a safety net by distributing essentials at a subsidised rate. While the PDS forms a cornerstone of government food and nutrition policy, India continues to be home to a large population of hungry and malnourished people. This review seeks to explore the functioning and efficiency of the PDS in achieving food and nutritional security in India. A comprehensive and systematic search using the key terms “food insecurity” OR “food security” AND “Public Distribution System” OR “PDS” OR “TPDS” AND “India” identified 23 articles which met the inclusion criteria. This review draws attention to the lack of published literature in areas of PDS and food security in India. The findings of the review emphasise the role of PDS in tackling hunger and malnutrition while highlighting its limited role in improving food security and childhood mortality due to operational inefficiencies. The PDS h...
Extract: One way of characterising the history of civilisation's progress since the emergence... more Extract: One way of characterising the history of civilisation's progress since the emergence of private property is as a history of conflict between unbridled self-interest and social ethics. So far as economic or material progress alone is concerned, self-interest (emanating from the animal instinct for self preservation) has been the dominant force. Given that material progress is meaningful for the human race as a whole only when it is subservient to social ethics, it is disconcerting to note that, in reality, what economic development has brought about seems quite the other way around.
The mystic love between the Indian Nobel Laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore and the great Argentin... more The mystic love between the Indian Nobel Laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore and the great Argentine intellectual Victoria Ocampo has been a matter of deep interest among erudite circles all over the world ever since they happened to meet in San Isidro, Argentina in 1924. This meeting was a chance incident – Tagore on way to Peru being held up at Buenos Aires on account of a bad Influenza attack. Although Ocampo had developed a deep spiritual interest in Tagore and his philosophy since she had read in 1914 Andre Gide's French translation of Gitanjali, the Nobel awarded book of poetry by Tagore, she could hardly imagine that she would ever have any opportunity to meet in real life Tagore, her idol of worship.As the Argentine physicians advised Tagore full rest till complete recovery, Ocampo prompted to host him along with his honourary secretary Leonard Elmhirst at Villa Miralrio at San Isidro. Here Tagore was held up for two months (November-December, 1924) in course of which the ...
Revista Científica Arbitrada de la Fundación MenteClara, 2020
The hitherto known history of human civilization has been checkered with glorious achievements an... more The hitherto known history of human civilization has been checkered with glorious achievements and abject injustice characterized by poverty, inequality and deprivation. The most coherent explanation of poverty and injustice is to be found in the works of Karl Marx and Frederick Engels. They associated poverty and injustice with private property, division of labour, exchange, competition, family and the State. Amartya Sen has considered pluralistic democracy as the most desirable form of government which could ensure growth with social justice along with human freedom. Although better than authoritarian forms of governing in many respects, political party based democracies are overburdened with widespread corruption based on criminal-trade union-politician alliance. Sen emphasizes the role of the mass media and awareness of the common people to break through this vicious circle and make the politicians, running the governments, work in a desirable fashion. Unfortunately this optimis...
Revista Científica Arbitrada de la Fundación MenteClara, 2020
La historia de la civilización humana hasta ahora conocida ha sido marcada con logros gloriosos e... more La historia de la civilización humana hasta ahora conocida ha sido marcada con logros gloriosos e injusticias abyectas caracterizadas por la pobreza, la desigualdad y las privaciones. La explicación más coherente de la pobreza y la injusticia se encuentra en las obras de Karl Marx y Frederick Engels. Ellos asociaron la pobreza y la injusticia con la propiedad privada, la división del trabajo, el intercambio, la competencia, la familia y el Estado. Amartya Sen ha considerado la democracia pluralista como la forma más deseable de gobierno que podría garantizar el crecimiento con justicia social junto con la libertad humana. Aunque son mejores que las formas autoritarias de gobierno en muchos aspectos, las democracias basadas en partidos políticos están sobrecargadas con una corrupción generalizada basada en la alianza criminal-sindical-política. Sen enfatiza el papel de los medios de comunicación y la conciencia de la gente común para romper este círculo vicioso y hacer que los políti...
Revista Científica Arbitrada de la Fundación MenteClara, 2019
En este artículo consideramos el concepto de la Revolución Cultural desde una perspectiva no conv... more En este artículo consideramos el concepto de la Revolución Cultural desde una perspectiva no convencional y enfatizamos que, en lo que respecta al concepto básico, la Revolución Cultural tiene especial relevancia para la sociedad moderna y puede concebirse como un esfuerzo colectivo para asegurar la elevación de la mente humana y las modalidades psíquicas como un todo. Nos esforzamos por resaltar la correspondencia del concepto de la Revolución Cultural con dos formas casi similares de profundización en las causas de las enfermedades que aquejan a la sociedad humana desde tiempos inmemoriales. La primera comparación se hace con los puntos de vista del filósofo moral y economista Adam Smith, que divide los sentimientos humanos en dos categorías principales, a saber: elementos más nobles y elementos más básicos y atribuye todas las enfermedades de la sociedad humana al último grupo de sentimientos. La segunda posición corresponde a la antigua filosofía india sankhya, que clasifica los...
Revista Científica Arbitrada de la Fundación MenteClara, 2018
El amor místico entre el poeta indio ganador del Premio Nobel Rabindranath Tagore y la gran intel... more El amor místico entre el poeta indio ganador del Premio Nobel Rabindranath Tagore y la gran intelectual argentina Victoria Ocampo ha sido un asunto de profundo interés entre círculos eruditos de todo el mundo desde que se conocieron en San Isidro, Argentina, en 1924. Esta reunión fue accidental: Tagore camino a Perú detenido en Buenos Aires a causa de un mal ataque de Influenza. Aunque Ocampo había desarrollado un profundo interés espiritual en Tagore y su filosofía desde que leyó en 1914 la traducción francesa de André Gide de Gitanjali, del libro de poesía de Tagore, premiado con el Nobel, difícilmente podía imaginarse que alguna vez tendría la oportunidad de encontrarse personalmente con su ídolo de adoración. Como los médicos argentinos le recomendaron a Tagore un completo descanso hasta su total recuperación, Ocampo se ofreció a recibirlo junto con su secretario honorario Leonard Elmhirst en Villa Miralrio en San Isidro. Aquí Tagore fue retenido durante dos meses (noviembre-dic...
Revista Científica Arbitrada de la Fundación MenteClara, 2018
Desde que se otorgó el Premio Nobel de Economía a Amartya Sen, se han hecho muchos esfuerzos por ... more Desde que se otorgó el Premio Nobel de Economía a Amartya Sen, se han hecho muchos esfuerzos por destacar el pasado de Sen Shantiniketan y la afinidad de su visión mundial con la de Rabindranath Tagore. Desafortunadamente, es probable que un análisis más profundo revele que los puntos de vista de Amartya Sen -basados en el mundo occidental- sean diametralmente opuestos a los de Tagore -basado en la antigua perspectiva india mundial-, particularmente en lo que respecta al desarrollo sostenible y la vida ética humana. Este artículo se esfuerza por resaltar los aspectos contrastantes de las visiones del mundo de dos galardonados con el Premio Nobel de Bengala.Ever since the Nobel Prize in Economics was awarded to Amartya Sen, there has been much endeavour to highlight Sen’s Shantiniketan background and affinity of his world outlook with that of Rabindranath Tagore. Unfortunately, a deeper analysis is likely to reveal that Amartya Sen’s views (based on western world-outlook) are diametr...
Revista Científica Arbitrada de la Fundación MenteClara, 2016
Este artículo se propone identificar y aislar lo científico y beneficioso de la falsedad, superst... more Este artículo se propone identificar y aislar lo científico y beneficioso de la falsedad, superstición y misticismo que envuelve al tantrismo.De todas las prácticas religiosas y semireligiosas antiguas de la India, el culto tántrico es el que ha conseguido el mayor reconocimiento y la mayor popularidad en todo el mundo. La razón de esta popularidad no ha sido el interés académico, espiritual o filosófico. Por el contrario, se lo ha asociado con promesas de obtener poderes mágicos y sobrenaturales, como también promesas de mejorar la potencia sexual y la intensidad del disfrute sexual y restablecer la potencia sexual perdida en las personas mayores. En la India, la gente común le confirió una mala reputación al culto tántrico. El misterio, la psicosis de culpa y temor también se asocian a este culto esotérico.El tantra en sí no es una religión pero ha penetrado en la mayoría de las comunidades religiosas y subreligiosas no solo de la India sino también de Tíbet, China, Japón y muchos...
Revista Científica Arbitrada de la Fundación MenteClara, 2018
En este artículo consideramos el concepto de la Revolución Cultural desde una perspectiva no conv... more En este artículo consideramos el concepto de la Revolución Cultural desde una perspectiva no convencional y enfatizamos que, en lo que respecta al concepto básico, la Revolución Cultural tiene especial relevancia para la sociedad moderna y puede concebirse como un esfuerzo colectivo para asegurar la elevación de la mente humana y las modalidades psíquicas como un todo. Nos esforzamos por resaltar la correspondencia del concepto de la Revolución Cultural con dos formas casi similares de profundización en las causas de las enfermedades que aquejan a la sociedad humana desde tiempos inmemoriales.La primera comparación se hace con los puntos de vista del filósofo moral y economista Adam Smith, que divide los sentimientos humanos en dos categorías principales, a saber: elementos más nobles y elementos más básicos y atribuye todas las enfermedades de la sociedad humana al último grupo de sentimientos. La segunda posición corresponde a la antigua filosofía india sankhya, que clasifica los ...
Culture Mandala the Bulletin of the Centre For East West Cultural and Economic Studies, 2007
Extract: Among Western great thinkers, Adam Smith and Karl Marx have their specific views regardi... more Extract: Among Western great thinkers, Adam Smith and Karl Marx have their specific views regarding human development in the true sense of the term.
Culture Mandala the Bulletin of the Centre For East West Cultural and Economic Studies, 2000
Extract: One way of characterising the history of civilisation's progress since the emergence... more Extract: One way of characterising the history of civilisation's progress since the emergence of private property is as a history of conflict between unbridled self-interest and social ethics. So far as economic or material progress alone is concerned, self-interest (emanating from the animal instinct for self preservation) has been the dominant force. Given that material progress is meaningful for the human race as a whole only when it is subservient to social ethics, it is disconcerting to note that, in reality, what economic development has brought about seems quite the other way around.
Revista Cientifica Arbitrada de la Fundicion MenteClara
The hitherto known history of human civilization has been checkered with glorious achievements an... more The hitherto known history of human civilization has been checkered with glorious achievements and abject injustice characterized by poverty, inequality and deprivation. The term poverty may be looked upon in both absolute and relative sense. The most coherent explanation of poverty and injustice is to be found in the works of Karl Marx and Frederick Engels. They associated poverty and injustice with private property, division of labour, exchange, competition, family and the State. So, according to the Marxian approach, poverty and injustice could be eliminated only under communism, a social situation where the above six basic causes of poverty are completely nonexistent. The first step towards the progress to Communism is establishment of Socialism through proletarian revolution. However, the crumbling of most of the so called socialist regimes during the late 1980s and early 1990s has raised doubt about the feasibility of the Marxian solution. The desirability of the communistic society has also been challenged even by many staunch adherents of the Marxian doctrine. There has been a widespread frustration among the communists and adherents of the concept of socialistic pattern of society in the so called mixed economies like pre-globalization India. The consequence has been a complete about turn, blind worship of uncontrolled market economy, i.e. the so called capitalistic system. This paradigm shift has resulted in unbelievable material progress since the late 1980s, but with the dawning of the new millennium the horror of increasing poverty and deprivation has been haunting the conscientious minds. The most prominent voice that has raised protests against blind adherence to free market mechanism is that of Amartya Sen who has emphasized that to contain the maladies associated with material progress in the era of globalization, public action is essential. He has considered pluralistic democracy as the most desirable form of government which could ensure growth with social justice along with human freedom. Although better than authoritarian forms of governing in many respects, political party based democracies are overburdened with widespread corruption based on criminal-trade union-politician alliance. Sen emphasizes the role of the mass media and awareness of the common people to break through this vicious circle and make the politicians, running the governments, work in a desirable fashion. Unfortunately this optimistic note of Sen has come up against a serious hurdle pointed out by Adam Smith long ago. According to Smith a psychosis common to most of the people, whatever be their own positions, is that they admire the powerful and the rich (whatever be the means of their achievements) instead of the really worthy ones, viz. the honest and virtuous who has failed to achieve power and wealth. This has, in fact, spelt out a gloomy prospect for the human race.
Extract: Recent rapid advances in communication technology have changed global structural pattern... more Extract: Recent rapid advances in communication technology have changed global structural patterns and produced new concepts and poles of dynamism in international relations. One such technology, which is increasingly causing a mixed reaction across international boundaries, is that of the Internet. For the first time in history the emergence of the Internet has produced an anarchic power that is capable of influencing individuals, societies and governments on a scale previously unimaginable.
Revista Cientifica Arbitrada de la Fundacion MenteClara, 2024
The wonderful story book Panchatantra is the most widely travelled text of Indian origin. The aut... more The wonderful story book Panchatantra is the most widely travelled text of Indian origin. The authorship of the treatise has been ascribed to some unidentifiable Vishnu Sharma. It is said in the preamble that the octogenarian author composed the stories in order to educate three refractory sons of an ancient Indian king named Amara Shakti. The book contains all the essential knowledge as embedded in all the ancient Indian sastras of ethics, morality, practical economics and politics, ideas necessary for all conceivable professions including that of the ruler, ministers and high government officials. This story book, in five Tantras (parts), has been popular among readers of all ages, occupations, countries, races, and religious communities. Thousands of books and articles have been written on Panchatantra and various aspects of the text, its origin, history etc. have been closely scrutinized by erudite scholars to the best conceivable depths. But here our approach is going to be quite novel. Eschewing all theoretical queries we adopt the story telling mode right from the beginning, as in case of the text of Panchatantra. The story telling mode of presenting any topic has its origin in unknown past and it has been again and again verified that this mode of presenting any topic is the most attractive, effective and the least time consuming mode of instilling any concept into the comprehensive faculty of the target audience or readers. Our work contains seven sections:
Revista Científica Arbitrada de la Fundación MenteClara, 2020
Este artículo se realizó para explorar las relaciones entre el peronismo como filosofía y práctic... more Este artículo se realizó para explorar las relaciones entre el peronismo como filosofía y práctica política relacionado con otras filosofías. Se busca establecer las diferencias entre las ideologías imperantes en el mundo –si aún existen- y las acciones concretas tomadas de estas ideologías para identificar las propias del peronismo y su relación con el neoliberalismo. Se entrevistó a un dirigente del peronismo histórico seleccionado por su trayectoria para luego realizar un análisis crítico de su discurso. Se encontró que pese a los intentos del capitalismo para destruir conceptos ideológicos que establezcan vínculos intelectuales entre las personas y convertirlos en individuos consumidores todavía persisten actores sociales que intentan lograr equidad y armonía entre los ciudadanos. Este hallazgo tiende a rescatar valores humanos de fraternidad y realización colectiva destruidos por los medios hegemónicos de manipulación global que aíslan a los integrantes de una sociedad para pod...
Revista Científica Arbitrada de la Fundación MenteClara
Publicamos el siguiente documento del Dr. Ratan Basu como una joya digna de preservarse para tene... more Publicamos el siguiente documento del Dr. Ratan Basu como una joya digna de preservarse para tener una visión más clara de la historia de la India y cómo fueron desarrollándose las formas sociales, políticas y económicas. Basado en las tradiciones indias antiguas de las fuentes autóctonas de la historia que se encuentran dispersas en los Vedas, Puranas, las epopeyas -Rāmāyana y Mahābhārata-, textos budistas, jainistas y las excavaciones e inscripciones rupestres como fuentes de información, amplía el foco de su investigación ya que en lo que respecta a la historia cronológica -como generalmente entendemos por el término "historia"-, los textos indios antiguos apenas brindan una idea coherente. Es por eso que incluye en este documento autores extranjeros desde Escílax de Carianda pasando por autores griegos, chinos, cristianos hasta principios del siglo XX. Es fundamental esta investigación sistemática y profunda, para comprender los orígenes y las fuentes del primer manusc...
Arthaśāstra state, like many other ancient states, used to impose strict state-control over price... more Arthaśāstra state, like many other ancient states, used to impose strict state-control over prices of final commodities and factors of production. In fact, price policy was an integral part of of the Arthaśāstra economy. Perfect functioning of the Arthaśāstra economy depended on financial soundness of the government which again depended a good deal on revenue collected from commodity taxes. Uncertainty about prices of commodities would lead to uncertainty in the entire economic system as delineated in Arthaśāstra. So, a systematic and coherent price policy was a sine qua non for im The exact mechanism of price control, however, has not been spelt out in detail in Arthaśāstra. Nevertheless, by piecing together the guideline scattered in various chapters of the book, we can get a fairly good insight into the actual mechanism of price control inherent in Arthaśāstra. In this chapter we endeavour to piece together various aspects of price control mechanism implicit in Arthaśāstra. It should be mentioned in this connection that an integral part of price fixation in Arthaśāstra were the measures associated with its proper implementation. So we are to discuss these measures which made the price fixation policy in Arthaśāstra realistic and free from utopian degeneration. These measures included: i) Administrative measures; ii) Espionage mechanism; iii) Accounting and iv) Buffer stock. The short run and long run aspects of Arthaśāstra price policy are also of importance. All the above matters are discussed in detail in the following sections. The superintendent of commerce was entrusted with the task of enforcing the price policy. The prices of different commodities were to be fixed by him. He, however, did not fix prices arbitrarily. In fact, a uniform rule was followed throughout the country to determine the just prices of all the commodities. To quote from Arthaśāstra: 4/2/36: “In the case of commodities distant in place and time, however, the (Director of Trade), expert in fixing prices, shall fix the price after calculating the investment, the production of goods, duty, interest, rent and other expenses.” Thus, Just Price = Average cost of production + Tolls and Taxes + Transport and associated costs + Profit margin. Now, one may be tempted to compare this ‘just price’ with other similar concepts available in the jungle of modern economic literature. But a little reflection will make one realize that such comparisons do not make sense. There are innumerable normative approaches and value judgements as regards determination of ‘fair price’ or ‘just price’. But in Arthaśāstra, ‘just price’ was simply a guideline that automatically came up from the general set up. It was, in fact, an integral part of the politico-economic system inherent in Arthaśāstra implementation of all other state policies as delineated in Arthaśāstra.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2019
The Public Distribution System (PDS) of India plays a crucial role in reducing food insecurity by... more The Public Distribution System (PDS) of India plays a crucial role in reducing food insecurity by acting as a safety net by distributing essentials at a subsidised rate. While the PDS forms a cornerstone of government food and nutrition policy, India continues to be home to a large population of hungry and malnourished people. This review seeks to explore the functioning and efficiency of the PDS in achieving food and nutritional security in India. A comprehensive and systematic search using the key terms “food insecurity” OR “food security” AND “Public Distribution System” OR “PDS” OR “TPDS” AND “India” identified 23 articles which met the inclusion criteria. This review draws attention to the lack of published literature in areas of PDS and food security in India. The findings of the review emphasise the role of PDS in tackling hunger and malnutrition while highlighting its limited role in improving food security and childhood mortality due to operational inefficiencies. The PDS h...
Extract: One way of characterising the history of civilisation's progress since the emergence... more Extract: One way of characterising the history of civilisation's progress since the emergence of private property is as a history of conflict between unbridled self-interest and social ethics. So far as economic or material progress alone is concerned, self-interest (emanating from the animal instinct for self preservation) has been the dominant force. Given that material progress is meaningful for the human race as a whole only when it is subservient to social ethics, it is disconcerting to note that, in reality, what economic development has brought about seems quite the other way around.
The mystic love between the Indian Nobel Laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore and the great Argentin... more The mystic love between the Indian Nobel Laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore and the great Argentine intellectual Victoria Ocampo has been a matter of deep interest among erudite circles all over the world ever since they happened to meet in San Isidro, Argentina in 1924. This meeting was a chance incident – Tagore on way to Peru being held up at Buenos Aires on account of a bad Influenza attack. Although Ocampo had developed a deep spiritual interest in Tagore and his philosophy since she had read in 1914 Andre Gide's French translation of Gitanjali, the Nobel awarded book of poetry by Tagore, she could hardly imagine that she would ever have any opportunity to meet in real life Tagore, her idol of worship.As the Argentine physicians advised Tagore full rest till complete recovery, Ocampo prompted to host him along with his honourary secretary Leonard Elmhirst at Villa Miralrio at San Isidro. Here Tagore was held up for two months (November-December, 1924) in course of which the ...
Revista Científica Arbitrada de la Fundación MenteClara, 2020
The hitherto known history of human civilization has been checkered with glorious achievements an... more The hitherto known history of human civilization has been checkered with glorious achievements and abject injustice characterized by poverty, inequality and deprivation. The most coherent explanation of poverty and injustice is to be found in the works of Karl Marx and Frederick Engels. They associated poverty and injustice with private property, division of labour, exchange, competition, family and the State. Amartya Sen has considered pluralistic democracy as the most desirable form of government which could ensure growth with social justice along with human freedom. Although better than authoritarian forms of governing in many respects, political party based democracies are overburdened with widespread corruption based on criminal-trade union-politician alliance. Sen emphasizes the role of the mass media and awareness of the common people to break through this vicious circle and make the politicians, running the governments, work in a desirable fashion. Unfortunately this optimis...
Revista Científica Arbitrada de la Fundación MenteClara, 2020
La historia de la civilización humana hasta ahora conocida ha sido marcada con logros gloriosos e... more La historia de la civilización humana hasta ahora conocida ha sido marcada con logros gloriosos e injusticias abyectas caracterizadas por la pobreza, la desigualdad y las privaciones. La explicación más coherente de la pobreza y la injusticia se encuentra en las obras de Karl Marx y Frederick Engels. Ellos asociaron la pobreza y la injusticia con la propiedad privada, la división del trabajo, el intercambio, la competencia, la familia y el Estado. Amartya Sen ha considerado la democracia pluralista como la forma más deseable de gobierno que podría garantizar el crecimiento con justicia social junto con la libertad humana. Aunque son mejores que las formas autoritarias de gobierno en muchos aspectos, las democracias basadas en partidos políticos están sobrecargadas con una corrupción generalizada basada en la alianza criminal-sindical-política. Sen enfatiza el papel de los medios de comunicación y la conciencia de la gente común para romper este círculo vicioso y hacer que los políti...
Revista Científica Arbitrada de la Fundación MenteClara, 2019
En este artículo consideramos el concepto de la Revolución Cultural desde una perspectiva no conv... more En este artículo consideramos el concepto de la Revolución Cultural desde una perspectiva no convencional y enfatizamos que, en lo que respecta al concepto básico, la Revolución Cultural tiene especial relevancia para la sociedad moderna y puede concebirse como un esfuerzo colectivo para asegurar la elevación de la mente humana y las modalidades psíquicas como un todo. Nos esforzamos por resaltar la correspondencia del concepto de la Revolución Cultural con dos formas casi similares de profundización en las causas de las enfermedades que aquejan a la sociedad humana desde tiempos inmemoriales. La primera comparación se hace con los puntos de vista del filósofo moral y economista Adam Smith, que divide los sentimientos humanos en dos categorías principales, a saber: elementos más nobles y elementos más básicos y atribuye todas las enfermedades de la sociedad humana al último grupo de sentimientos. La segunda posición corresponde a la antigua filosofía india sankhya, que clasifica los...
Revista Científica Arbitrada de la Fundación MenteClara, 2018
El amor místico entre el poeta indio ganador del Premio Nobel Rabindranath Tagore y la gran intel... more El amor místico entre el poeta indio ganador del Premio Nobel Rabindranath Tagore y la gran intelectual argentina Victoria Ocampo ha sido un asunto de profundo interés entre círculos eruditos de todo el mundo desde que se conocieron en San Isidro, Argentina, en 1924. Esta reunión fue accidental: Tagore camino a Perú detenido en Buenos Aires a causa de un mal ataque de Influenza. Aunque Ocampo había desarrollado un profundo interés espiritual en Tagore y su filosofía desde que leyó en 1914 la traducción francesa de André Gide de Gitanjali, del libro de poesía de Tagore, premiado con el Nobel, difícilmente podía imaginarse que alguna vez tendría la oportunidad de encontrarse personalmente con su ídolo de adoración. Como los médicos argentinos le recomendaron a Tagore un completo descanso hasta su total recuperación, Ocampo se ofreció a recibirlo junto con su secretario honorario Leonard Elmhirst en Villa Miralrio en San Isidro. Aquí Tagore fue retenido durante dos meses (noviembre-dic...
Revista Científica Arbitrada de la Fundación MenteClara, 2018
Desde que se otorgó el Premio Nobel de Economía a Amartya Sen, se han hecho muchos esfuerzos por ... more Desde que se otorgó el Premio Nobel de Economía a Amartya Sen, se han hecho muchos esfuerzos por destacar el pasado de Sen Shantiniketan y la afinidad de su visión mundial con la de Rabindranath Tagore. Desafortunadamente, es probable que un análisis más profundo revele que los puntos de vista de Amartya Sen -basados en el mundo occidental- sean diametralmente opuestos a los de Tagore -basado en la antigua perspectiva india mundial-, particularmente en lo que respecta al desarrollo sostenible y la vida ética humana. Este artículo se esfuerza por resaltar los aspectos contrastantes de las visiones del mundo de dos galardonados con el Premio Nobel de Bengala.Ever since the Nobel Prize in Economics was awarded to Amartya Sen, there has been much endeavour to highlight Sen’s Shantiniketan background and affinity of his world outlook with that of Rabindranath Tagore. Unfortunately, a deeper analysis is likely to reveal that Amartya Sen’s views (based on western world-outlook) are diametr...
Revista Científica Arbitrada de la Fundación MenteClara, 2016
Este artículo se propone identificar y aislar lo científico y beneficioso de la falsedad, superst... more Este artículo se propone identificar y aislar lo científico y beneficioso de la falsedad, superstición y misticismo que envuelve al tantrismo.De todas las prácticas religiosas y semireligiosas antiguas de la India, el culto tántrico es el que ha conseguido el mayor reconocimiento y la mayor popularidad en todo el mundo. La razón de esta popularidad no ha sido el interés académico, espiritual o filosófico. Por el contrario, se lo ha asociado con promesas de obtener poderes mágicos y sobrenaturales, como también promesas de mejorar la potencia sexual y la intensidad del disfrute sexual y restablecer la potencia sexual perdida en las personas mayores. En la India, la gente común le confirió una mala reputación al culto tántrico. El misterio, la psicosis de culpa y temor también se asocian a este culto esotérico.El tantra en sí no es una religión pero ha penetrado en la mayoría de las comunidades religiosas y subreligiosas no solo de la India sino también de Tíbet, China, Japón y muchos...
Revista Científica Arbitrada de la Fundación MenteClara, 2018
En este artículo consideramos el concepto de la Revolución Cultural desde una perspectiva no conv... more En este artículo consideramos el concepto de la Revolución Cultural desde una perspectiva no convencional y enfatizamos que, en lo que respecta al concepto básico, la Revolución Cultural tiene especial relevancia para la sociedad moderna y puede concebirse como un esfuerzo colectivo para asegurar la elevación de la mente humana y las modalidades psíquicas como un todo. Nos esforzamos por resaltar la correspondencia del concepto de la Revolución Cultural con dos formas casi similares de profundización en las causas de las enfermedades que aquejan a la sociedad humana desde tiempos inmemoriales.La primera comparación se hace con los puntos de vista del filósofo moral y economista Adam Smith, que divide los sentimientos humanos en dos categorías principales, a saber: elementos más nobles y elementos más básicos y atribuye todas las enfermedades de la sociedad humana al último grupo de sentimientos. La segunda posición corresponde a la antigua filosofía india sankhya, que clasifica los ...
Culture Mandala the Bulletin of the Centre For East West Cultural and Economic Studies, 2007
Extract: Among Western great thinkers, Adam Smith and Karl Marx have their specific views regardi... more Extract: Among Western great thinkers, Adam Smith and Karl Marx have their specific views regarding human development in the true sense of the term.
Culture Mandala the Bulletin of the Centre For East West Cultural and Economic Studies, 2000
Extract: One way of characterising the history of civilisation's progress since the emergence... more Extract: One way of characterising the history of civilisation's progress since the emergence of private property is as a history of conflict between unbridled self-interest and social ethics. So far as economic or material progress alone is concerned, self-interest (emanating from the animal instinct for self preservation) has been the dominant force. Given that material progress is meaningful for the human race as a whole only when it is subservient to social ethics, it is disconcerting to note that, in reality, what economic development has brought about seems quite the other way around.
Revista Cientifica Arbitrada de la Fundicion MenteClara
The hitherto known history of human civilization has been checkered with glorious achievements an... more The hitherto known history of human civilization has been checkered with glorious achievements and abject injustice characterized by poverty, inequality and deprivation. The term poverty may be looked upon in both absolute and relative sense. The most coherent explanation of poverty and injustice is to be found in the works of Karl Marx and Frederick Engels. They associated poverty and injustice with private property, division of labour, exchange, competition, family and the State. So, according to the Marxian approach, poverty and injustice could be eliminated only under communism, a social situation where the above six basic causes of poverty are completely nonexistent. The first step towards the progress to Communism is establishment of Socialism through proletarian revolution. However, the crumbling of most of the so called socialist regimes during the late 1980s and early 1990s has raised doubt about the feasibility of the Marxian solution. The desirability of the communistic society has also been challenged even by many staunch adherents of the Marxian doctrine. There has been a widespread frustration among the communists and adherents of the concept of socialistic pattern of society in the so called mixed economies like pre-globalization India. The consequence has been a complete about turn, blind worship of uncontrolled market economy, i.e. the so called capitalistic system. This paradigm shift has resulted in unbelievable material progress since the late 1980s, but with the dawning of the new millennium the horror of increasing poverty and deprivation has been haunting the conscientious minds. The most prominent voice that has raised protests against blind adherence to free market mechanism is that of Amartya Sen who has emphasized that to contain the maladies associated with material progress in the era of globalization, public action is essential. He has considered pluralistic democracy as the most desirable form of government which could ensure growth with social justice along with human freedom. Although better than authoritarian forms of governing in many respects, political party based democracies are overburdened with widespread corruption based on criminal-trade union-politician alliance. Sen emphasizes the role of the mass media and awareness of the common people to break through this vicious circle and make the politicians, running the governments, work in a desirable fashion. Unfortunately this optimistic note of Sen has come up against a serious hurdle pointed out by Adam Smith long ago. According to Smith a psychosis common to most of the people, whatever be their own positions, is that they admire the powerful and the rich (whatever be the means of their achievements) instead of the really worthy ones, viz. the honest and virtuous who has failed to achieve power and wealth. This has, in fact, spelt out a gloomy prospect for the human race.
Revista Científica Arbitrada de la Fundación MenteClara, Apr 30, 2018
Desde que se otorgó el Premio Nobel de Economía a Amartya Sen, se han hecho muchos esfuerzos por ... more Desde que se otorgó el Premio Nobel de Economía a Amartya Sen, se han hecho muchos esfuerzos por destacar el pasado de Sen Shantiniketan y la afinidad de su visión mundial con la de Rabindranath Tagore. Desafortunadamente, es probable que un análisis más profundo revele que los puntos de vista de Amartya Sen -basados en el mundo occidental- sean diametralmente opuestos a los de Tagore -basado en la antigua perspectiva india mundial-, particularmente en lo que respecta al desarrollo sostenible y la vida ética humana. Este artículo se esfuerza por resaltar los aspectos contrastantes de las visiones del mundo de dos galardonados con el Premio Nobel de Bengala.
Abstract Ever since the Nobel Prize in Economics was awarded to Amartya Sen, there has been much endeavour to highlight Sen’s Shantiniketan background and affinity of his world outlook with that of Rabindranath Tagore. Unfortunately, a deeper analysis is likely to reveal that Amartya Sen’s views (based on western world-outlook) are diametrically opposed to that of Tagore (based on ancient Indian world-outlook), particularly as regards sustainable development and eco-ethical human living. This article endeavours to highlight these contrasting aspects of the world-outlooks of two Bengali Nobel Laureates.
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Papers by Ratan Lal Basu
It should be mentioned in this connection that an integral part of price fixation in Arthaśāstra were the measures associated with its proper implementation. So we are to discuss these measures which made the price fixation policy in Arthaśāstra realistic and free from utopian degeneration. These measures included:
i) Administrative measures; ii) Espionage mechanism; iii) Accounting and iv) Buffer stock.
The short run and long run aspects of Arthaśāstra price policy are also of importance. All the above matters are discussed in detail in the following sections.
The superintendent of commerce was entrusted with the task of enforcing the price policy. The prices of different commodities were to be fixed by him. He, however, did not fix prices arbitrarily. In fact, a uniform rule was followed throughout the country to determine the just prices of all the commodities. To quote from Arthaśāstra:
4/2/36: “In the case of commodities distant in place and time, however, the (Director of Trade), expert in fixing prices, shall fix the price after calculating the investment, the production of goods, duty, interest, rent and other expenses.”
Thus,
Just Price = Average cost of production + Tolls and Taxes + Transport and associated costs + Profit margin.
Now, one may be tempted to compare this ‘just price’ with other similar concepts available in the jungle of modern economic literature. But a little reflection will make one realize that such comparisons do not make sense. There are innumerable normative approaches and value judgements as regards determination of ‘fair price’ or ‘just price’. But in Arthaśāstra, ‘just price’ was simply a guideline that automatically came up from the general set up. It was, in fact, an integral part of the politico-economic system inherent in Arthaśāstra implementation of all other state policies as delineated in Arthaśāstra.
However, the crumbling of most of the so called socialist regimes during the late 1980s and early 1990s has raised doubt about the feasibility of the Marxian solution. The desirability of the communistic society has also been challenged even by many staunch adherents of the Marxian doctrine. There has been a widespread frustration among the communists and adherents of the concept of socialistic pattern of society in the so called mixed economies like pre-globalization India. The consequence has been a complete about turn, blind worship of uncontrolled market economy, i.e. the so called capitalistic system. This paradigm shift has resulted in unbelievable material progress since the late 1980s, but with the dawning of the new millennium the horror of increasing poverty and deprivation has been haunting the conscientious minds.
The most prominent voice that has raised protests against blind adherence to free market mechanism is that of Amartya Sen who has emphasized that to contain the maladies associated with material progress in the era of globalization, public action is essential. He has considered pluralistic democracy as the most desirable form of government which could ensure growth with social justice along with human freedom. Although better than authoritarian forms of governing in many respects, political party based democracies are overburdened with widespread corruption based on criminal-trade union-politician alliance. Sen emphasizes the role of the mass media and awareness of the common people to break through this vicious circle and make the politicians, running the governments, work in a desirable fashion.
Unfortunately this optimistic note of Sen has come up against a serious hurdle pointed out by Adam Smith long ago. According to Smith a psychosis common to most of the people, whatever be their own positions, is that they admire the powerful and the rich (whatever be the means of their achievements) instead of the really worthy ones, viz. the honest and virtuous who has failed to achieve power and wealth. This has, in fact, spelt out a gloomy prospect for the human race.
It should be mentioned in this connection that an integral part of price fixation in Arthaśāstra were the measures associated with its proper implementation. So we are to discuss these measures which made the price fixation policy in Arthaśāstra realistic and free from utopian degeneration. These measures included:
i) Administrative measures; ii) Espionage mechanism; iii) Accounting and iv) Buffer stock.
The short run and long run aspects of Arthaśāstra price policy are also of importance. All the above matters are discussed in detail in the following sections.
The superintendent of commerce was entrusted with the task of enforcing the price policy. The prices of different commodities were to be fixed by him. He, however, did not fix prices arbitrarily. In fact, a uniform rule was followed throughout the country to determine the just prices of all the commodities. To quote from Arthaśāstra:
4/2/36: “In the case of commodities distant in place and time, however, the (Director of Trade), expert in fixing prices, shall fix the price after calculating the investment, the production of goods, duty, interest, rent and other expenses.”
Thus,
Just Price = Average cost of production + Tolls and Taxes + Transport and associated costs + Profit margin.
Now, one may be tempted to compare this ‘just price’ with other similar concepts available in the jungle of modern economic literature. But a little reflection will make one realize that such comparisons do not make sense. There are innumerable normative approaches and value judgements as regards determination of ‘fair price’ or ‘just price’. But in Arthaśāstra, ‘just price’ was simply a guideline that automatically came up from the general set up. It was, in fact, an integral part of the politico-economic system inherent in Arthaśāstra implementation of all other state policies as delineated in Arthaśāstra.
However, the crumbling of most of the so called socialist regimes during the late 1980s and early 1990s has raised doubt about the feasibility of the Marxian solution. The desirability of the communistic society has also been challenged even by many staunch adherents of the Marxian doctrine. There has been a widespread frustration among the communists and adherents of the concept of socialistic pattern of society in the so called mixed economies like pre-globalization India. The consequence has been a complete about turn, blind worship of uncontrolled market economy, i.e. the so called capitalistic system. This paradigm shift has resulted in unbelievable material progress since the late 1980s, but with the dawning of the new millennium the horror of increasing poverty and deprivation has been haunting the conscientious minds.
The most prominent voice that has raised protests against blind adherence to free market mechanism is that of Amartya Sen who has emphasized that to contain the maladies associated with material progress in the era of globalization, public action is essential. He has considered pluralistic democracy as the most desirable form of government which could ensure growth with social justice along with human freedom. Although better than authoritarian forms of governing in many respects, political party based democracies are overburdened with widespread corruption based on criminal-trade union-politician alliance. Sen emphasizes the role of the mass media and awareness of the common people to break through this vicious circle and make the politicians, running the governments, work in a desirable fashion.
Unfortunately this optimistic note of Sen has come up against a serious hurdle pointed out by Adam Smith long ago. According to Smith a psychosis common to most of the people, whatever be their own positions, is that they admire the powerful and the rich (whatever be the means of their achievements) instead of the really worthy ones, viz. the honest and virtuous who has failed to achieve power and wealth. This has, in fact, spelt out a gloomy prospect for the human race.
Abstract
Ever since the Nobel Prize in Economics was awarded to Amartya Sen, there has been much endeavour to highlight Sen’s Shantiniketan background and affinity of his world outlook with that of Rabindranath Tagore. Unfortunately, a deeper analysis is likely to reveal that Amartya Sen’s views (based on western world-outlook) are diametrically opposed to that of Tagore (based on ancient Indian world-outlook), particularly as regards sustainable development and eco-ethical human living. This article endeavours to highlight these contrasting aspects of the world-outlooks of two Bengali Nobel Laureates.