J. C. Kumarappa
Encyclopedia
J. C. Kumarappa (January 4, 1892 - January 30, 1960) was an India
n economist
and a close associate of Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi
. A pioneer of rural economic development theories, Kumarappa is credited for developing economic theories based on Gandhism
— a school of economic thought he coined "Gandhian economics
."
), Kumarappa changed his name following his return from studying economics
and chartered accountancy
in England
in 1919. Kumarappa travelled to the United States
in 1928 to obtain degrees in economics and business administration at the Syracuse University
and Columbia University
, studying under Edwin Robert Anderson Seligman
.
District. Kumarappa worked to imbibe Gandhian values of "trusteeship," non-violence and a focus on human dignity and development in place of materialism
as the basis of his economic theories. While rejecting socialism
's emphasis on class war
and force in implementation, Kumarappa's ideas also rejected the emphasis on material development, competition and efficiency in free-market economics. Gandhi and Kumarappa envisioned an economy focused on satisfying fundamental human needs and challenges, while rooting out socio-economic conflict, unemployment, poverty and deprivation.
Kumarappa worked as a professor of economics at the Gujarat Vidyapith
in Ahmedabad
, while serving as the editor of Young India during the Salt Satyagraha
. Kumarappa helped found and organise the All India Village Industries Association in 1935 and was imprisoned for more than a year during the Quit India movement
. He wrote two books during his imprisonment, Economy of Permanence and the Practice and Precepts of Jesus
.
and the Indian National Congress
to develop national policies for agriculture and rural development. Kumarappa also travelled to the People's Republic of China
, East European nations and Japan
on diplomatic assignments and to study rural economic systems being implemented there. He spent some time in Sri Lanka
, where he received Ayurvedic
treatment and settled down in Madurai
at the M. K. Gandhi Niketan, where he would continue his work in economics and writing books. After his death, the Kumarappa Institute of Gram Swaraj was founded in his honour.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n economist
Economist
An economist is a professional in the social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy...
and a close associate of Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement...
. A pioneer of rural economic development theories, Kumarappa is credited for developing economic theories based on Gandhism
Gandhism
Gandhism is the collection of inspirations, principles, beliefs and philosophy of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , who was a major political and spiritual leader of India and the Indian Independence Movement....
— a school of economic thought he coined "Gandhian economics
Gandhian economics
Gandhian economics is a school of economic thought based on the socio-economic principles expounded by Indian leader Mohandas Gandhi. It is largely characterised by its affinity to the principles and objectives of nonviolent humanistic socialism, but with a rejection of violent class war and...
."
Early life
Born in Tanjore (now in Tamil NaduTamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
), Kumarappa changed his name following his return from studying economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
and chartered accountancy
Chartered Accountant
Chartered Accountants were the first accountants to form a professional body, initially established in Britain in 1854. The Edinburgh Society of Accountants , the Glasgow Institute of Accountants and Actuaries and the Aberdeen Society of Accountants were each granted a royal charter almost from...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1919. Kumarappa travelled to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1928 to obtain degrees in economics and business administration at the Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
and Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, studying under Edwin Robert Anderson Seligman
Edwin Robert Anderson Seligman
Edwin Robert Anderson Seligman , was an American economist.-Biography:He was born in New York City, a son of Joseph Seligman, a banker. He was educated at Columbia University, where he graduated in 1879...
.
Gandhian economics
Upon his return to India, Kumarappa published a major article on the British tax policy and its exploitation of the Indian economy. Upon Gandhi's request, Kumarappa prepared a major economic survey and study of rural India in Gujarat, which he published under the title A Survey of Matar Taluka in the KhedaKheda
Kheda is a town and a municipality in Kheda district in the Indian state of Gujarat. Kheda, also known as Kaira, is 35 km from Ahmedabad. The National Highway no. 8 connecting Ahmedabad and Mumbai passes through Kheda...
District. Kumarappa worked to imbibe Gandhian values of "trusteeship," non-violence and a focus on human dignity and development in place of materialism
Materialism
In philosophy, the theory of materialism holds that the only thing that exists is matter; that all things are composed of material and all phenomena are the result of material interactions. In other words, matter is the only substance...
as the basis of his economic theories. While rejecting socialism
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
's emphasis on class war
Class conflict
Class conflict is the tension or antagonism which exists in society due to competing socioeconomic interests between people of different classes....
and force in implementation, Kumarappa's ideas also rejected the emphasis on material development, competition and efficiency in free-market economics. Gandhi and Kumarappa envisioned an economy focused on satisfying fundamental human needs and challenges, while rooting out socio-economic conflict, unemployment, poverty and deprivation.
Kumarappa worked as a professor of economics at the Gujarat Vidyapith
Gujarat Vidyapith
The Gujarat Vidyapith is a major university located in Ahmedabad, in the state of Gujarat in India. It was founded in 1920 by Mohandas Gandhi, the leader of the Indian independence movement...
in Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad also known as Karnavati is the largest city in Gujarat, India. It is the former capital of Gujarat and is also the judicial capital of Gujarat as the Gujarat High Court has its seat in Ahmedabad...
, while serving as the editor of Young India during the Salt Satyagraha
Salt Satyagraha
The Salt March, also known as the Salt Satyagrahah began with the Dandi March on March 12, 1930, and was an important part of the Indian independence movement. It was a campaign of tax resistance and nonviolent protest against the British salt monopoly in colonial India, and triggered the wider...
. Kumarappa helped found and organise the All India Village Industries Association in 1935 and was imprisoned for more than a year during the Quit India movement
Quit India Movement
The Quit India Movement , or the August Movement was a civil disobedience movement launched in India in August 1942 in response to Mohandas Gandhi's call for immediate independence. Gandhi hoped to bring the British government to the negotiating table...
. He wrote two books during his imprisonment, Economy of Permanence and the Practice and Precepts of Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
.
Later life
After India's independence, Kumarappa worked for the Planning Commission of IndiaPlanning commission of India
The Planning Commission is an institution in the Government of India, which formulates India's Five-Year Plans, among other functions.-History:...
and the Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
to develop national policies for agriculture and rural development. Kumarappa also travelled to the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
, East European nations and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
on diplomatic assignments and to study rural economic systems being implemented there. He spent some time in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
, where he received Ayurvedic
Ayurveda
Ayurveda or ayurvedic medicine is a system of traditional medicine native to India and a form of alternative medicine. In Sanskrit, words , meaning "longevity", and , meaning "knowledge" or "science". The earliest literature on Indian medical practice appeared during the Vedic period in India,...
treatment and settled down in Madurai
Madurai
Madurai is the third largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It served as the capital city of the Pandyan Kingdom. It is the administrative headquarters of Madurai District and is famous for its temples built by Pandyan and...
at the M. K. Gandhi Niketan, where he would continue his work in economics and writing books. After his death, the Kumarappa Institute of Gram Swaraj was founded in his honour.
External links
- Frontier weekly - Oct 2010
- Economic and Political Weekly, vol. 40 no. 52 Dec 24, 2005
- Kumarappa Institute of Gram Swaraj
- KIGS biography of Kumarappa
- Kumarappa biography