Karl Marx, Marxism And Hinduism

Hinduism and Marx. In my earlier Blog I had written that Marx had no knowledge of Hinduism. I was partially incorrect as he had indeed commented on Hinduism in his certain essays. Karl Marx wrote about Hinduism being a religion of worshipping cows and monkeys. He called it a religion of absolute deprivation and forced ascetics. So he did have some knowledge of Hinduism but very evidently a second hand percept and a weak knowledge of Hinduism as a religion. His words and views merely reflected the views of the Christian missionary writers of that time. There is no record of his reading of any Hindu scriptures. Any one who has studied Hinduism beyond the visible rituals would verily perceive his folly. Hinduism as practiced in Non Dualism as a philosophy is a precursor to communism. The Isa Upanishad shloka Om Sahana Vavatu,Sahan Bhunaktu Sah Veeryam Karvavahe Tejaswina Vadhi Tamastu Ma Vidvisha vahai Om Shanti Shanti Shanti . Amply demonstrate the desire of an all round growth. Bahujan Hitay Bahu Jan Sukhay also speaks of Greater Good for Greater Mass. Marxism also speaks about Mass Upliftment. About rule of the Workers. The distinction being, Marxism professed physical force as an essential instrument. Whereas Hinduism lay more emphasis on Inner transformation and the Strength of Soul was construed as applied force. Initially Marx under Hegel too, to certain extent believed in the said percept of Inner Strength. Latter on he moved on to more physical domain with the influence of Feurbach and Engels. Yet when Marx writes that “Emancipation of a Man is brought about by his completeness. By destruction of his ego. By his realization of his inner self devoid of other embellishments of citizenship and other trappings. He must When Swami Vivekanand says that to a hungry man Bread is his God. He though a great Hindu seer is talking Marxism. Marx professed the rule of Proletariat. Vivekanand said the next leaders would be one who is “Dasasya Dasam” . Hinduism is of service to the Proletariat whereas Marxism is the Rule of Proletariat. Marx is all but a failure today. Even during his life time he remarked “Thank god I am not a Marxist”. His most ardent successors both Lenin and Stalin were not Marxist in the real sense. The Mass Murders of your own fellowmen to promote your Concepts can not be termed as Marxism or rule of the Proletariat. Marx Marx did not believe in Party. He was an ardent supporter of Multi Party democracy and Press Freedom. He would had strongly objected to the sort of Governance where the Government derives its strength from Secret Police keeping an eye on its populace. Marx looked at Hinduism as a religion with all its ill hackneyed rituals.He had no perception of “DHARMA”. The very fact that basically Hinduism was not a religion but a “DHARMA” was alien to him. His basic understanding of religion was borne out of semantic religions. Principally that of Christianity and to a much lesser extent Islam.