Marx's Views on India: A Sociological Appraisal of the - MacSphere

653 Pages·2013·63.99 MB·English

by  Bula Bhadra

A SOCIOLOOICAL APPRAISAL OF THE "ASIATIC· MODE OF PRODUCTION
MARX'S ~ ON INDIA: A SOCIOLOOICAL APPRAISAl,
OF mE "ASIATIC" K)DE OF PRODOCTION
By
Bula Bhadra, B.A. (Hons.), M.A., M.A., M.A.
AThesis
Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies
in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements
for the Degree
Doctor of Philosophy
McMaster University
June, 1986
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (1986) McMASTER UNIVERSITY
(Sociology) Hamilton, Ontario
TITLE: Marx's Views on India: ASociological Appraisal
of the "Asiatic" Mode of Production
AUTHOR: Bula Bhadra, B.A. (Hons.) (Calcutta University)
M.A. (Calcutta University)
M.A. (Brock University)
M.A. (McMaster University)
SUPERVISOR: Professor Cyril Levitt
NUMBER OF PAGES: xii, 639
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ABSTRACT
The current literature on the theory of the "Asiatic" mode of
production, which summarizes Marx's views on the non-European social
formations including India, is quite vast. Even then, to date there is
no systematic study which focuses simultaneously on the methodological
and theoretical problems and consequences immanent in the "Asiatic"
mode, and on its empirical validity within the historical context of the
Indian social experience. The present dissertation, thus, seeks to
achieve two objectives. First, it attempts to examine how far and to
what extent Marx's "Asiatic" mode of production ~ be justified and
upheld methodologically and theoretically, on the one hand, and
empirically, on the other, .2!l the basis of the concrete experience of
the Indian social formation from about the rise of the Indus
civilization to the first consolidation of the Muslim rule. Second, it
also demonstrates that not only is Marx's theory grounded upon
Orientalism, but, what is even more important, it stands for and indeed
represents what I call materialist Orientalism =: the doctrine that
rationalizes and sanctifies the geographical divide between the East and
West, and, hence, separates Them from Us EY. resorting to material or
concrete explanatory factors.
From this standpoint, the present dissertation seeks to fill in
a characteristic void in the contemporary literature for two reasons.
First, the eXisting stUdies, which are largely unsystematic from a
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methodological and theoretical point of view, invariably center around
revising the "Asiatic" mode in such a way as to make it more acceptable
than what would be the case in its original Marxian form. In contrast
to this, it is argued that numerous methodological and theoretical
problems are built into the very structure of Marx's theory, so much so
that it is hardly amenable to any constructive modification or revision.
By focusing on pre-Muslim India for the determination of the empirical
validity of the AMP, the present dissertation purports to remedy a
second deficiency. As yet there is no such systematic empirical
assessment of Marx's theory,although marx himself constructed his
theory almost completely on the basis of the Indian historical
experience. In sum, my findings indicate that Marx's theory is
empirically inadequate in view of the existence of an overwhelming mass
of historical data to the contrary.
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ACKNOWLEIXiIOO!JffS
I wish to extend my sincere appreciation to all those who helped
me make this thesis a reality. lowe an immense debt to all the members
of my dissertation committee - Dr. Cyril Levitt, Dr. Krishna Sivaraman,
Dr. Graham Knight, and Dr. Louis Greenspan whose experience and support
made the process of writing the dissertation an intellectually
challenging and stimulating experience. I especially thank Prof. Cyril
Levitt, who as my dissertation adviser, provided me with the necessary
intellectual freedom and invaluable guidance at all stages of the
research process. I acknowledge gratefully also my debt to Prof.
Krishna Sivaramanj it was my good fortune to have had the benefit of
his material help, and wise and subtle counsel. I am especially
appreciative of the fact that he not only tolerated my Marxist arguments
but also stood by me in hours of my need.
No endeavour such as this is possible without the assistance of
many other individuals. In particular I desire to express my deep
appreciation of the invaluable help and suggestions given by Dr.
Buddhadeva Bhattacharyya of Calcutta University. While at McMaster, I
should especially name Michael Anthony Gismondi, to whom lowe the
largest of the debts I have incurred among my contemporary friends. He
has helped me in more ways than I can say, from returning overdue books
to editing and re-editing the entire dissertation, and from hanging my
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book-shelves to sharpening my thinking on the subject. He was certainly
the one who rose above what I have called "materialist Orientalism" in
the dissertation. And last but by no means least he has done his best to
sweeten my distractions, and has stood by me even at the risk of getting
kicked.
I am grateful to my parents for their abiding faith in my
ability to bring this to a successful conclusion. I also thank Mrs.
Lynda Chapple for her excellent typing and retyping of the manuscript.
Finally, I dedicate this disseration to my loving husband and
best friend, Bipul, without whose sacrifice and support it may not have
seen daylight.
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TABLE OF OONTalfS
Page
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION .
1. Purpose of the Study ..........•..•..........
II. The Genealogy of Marx's Theory of the AMP: A
Review of the Different Aspects of the Indian
Social Formation and its Peoples . 3
III. From Oriental Despotism to the Asiatic Mode
of Production: A Review of Contemporary
Findings 11
IV. Interpretation of the Pre-British Indian
Social Formation: AReview of the Main
Trends 21
V. The Scope and Organization of the
Dissertation . 46
VI. Methodology, Types and Sources of Data, and
Limitations of the Dissertation . 53
~ CHAPTER TWO: MARX AND THE ASIATIC MODE OF
PRODUCTION ....•.....•.................. 78 J
I. Introduction . 78
II. The Absence of Private Property in Land ..... 81
III. Social Stagnation and the Village Community . 94
IV. Oriental Despotism and the State . 111
V. Conclusion . 118
CHAPTER THREE: THE RIGHT TO PRIVATE PROPERTY IN LAND:
AMETHODOLOGICAL AND THEORETICAL
CRITIQUE ....•..•..............•..•..... 128
1. Introduction ........•....................... 128
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II. AMethodological and Theoretical Review:
Predecessors and Contemporaries of Marx 130
III. Marx: AMethodological and Theoretical
Critique 149
IV. Conclusion 184
CHAPTER FOUR: THE DEVELOPMENT OF PRIVATE PROPERTY IN
LAND: AN EMPIRICAL CRITIQUE 199
I. Introduction .......•........................ 199
II. The Origin ana Development of Private Landed
Property in India .......•..•..•..•.......... 200
III. Conclusion 232
CHAPTER FIVE: PRIVATE PROPERTY IN LAND AND FEUDAL
DEVELOPMENTS IN INDIA: AN EMPIRICAL
CRITIQUE .•..•..•....................... 244
I. Introduction 244
II. European Feudalism: Some Pertinent Remarks 246
III. Landed Property and Feudal Developments in
Pre-Muslim India .....•...................... 255
IV. Conclusion 278
CHAPTER SIX: SOCIAL STAGNATION AND THE VILLAGE
ECONOMY: AMETHODOLOGICAL AND
THEORETICAL CRITIQUE 293
I. Introduction 293
II. AMethodological and Theoretical Review:
Predecessors and Contemporaries of Marx 295
III. Marx: AMethodological and Theoretical
Critique 318
IV. Conclusion . 340
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CHAPTER SEVEN: SOCIAL STAGNATION AND THE VILLAGE
ECONOMY: AN EMPIRICAL CRITIQUE .•...... 352
I. Introduction 352
II. The Rise and Development of the Ancient
Indian Socia-Economic Formation ...•..•.•.... 354
III. The Origin and Development of the Feudal
Economy •....•••..••.•.•••••..••••.•.•••••••• 386
IV. Conelusion . 409
CHAPTER EIGHT: ORIENTAL DESPOTISM OF THE CLASSLESS
STATE: AMETHODOLOGICAL AND THEORETICAL
CRITIQUE 427
1. Introduction . 427
II. AMethodological and Theoretical Review:
Predecessors and Contemporaries of Marx 429
III. Marx: AMethodological and Theoretical
Critique 442
IV. Conclusion 469
CHAPTER NINE: ORIENTAL DESPOTI~1 OF THE CLASSLESS
STATE: AN EMPIRICAL CRITIQUE ..•..•.•.. 481
I. Introcluction 481
II. The Formation and Development of Social
Classes 483
III. Aspects of Political Development: The Nature
and Functions of the State in Ancient and
Early Medieval India .....•..•..•..•.••...•.• 522
IV. Conclusion . 556
CHAPTER TEN: GENERAL CONCLUSION .. 575
BIBLIOGRAPHY ...........•................................... 600
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