UPSC Prelims 2020 Q14: Modern History – Key Personalities & Ideologies
- (a) the final goal of a stateless society
- (b) class struggle
- (c) abolition of private property
- (d) economic determinism
Answer: (a) the final goal of a stateless society
Explanation
Gandhism vs Marxism: Common Ground
| Goal / Feature | Gandhism | Marxism | Common? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Final goal: Stateless society | YES - Gram Rajya (self-sufficient villages) | YES - Withering away of State | YES |
| Class struggle | No - non-violent coexistence | YES - central mechanism | NO |
| Abolition of private property | No - small-scale private ownership ok | YES - all property communal | NO |
| Economic determinism | No - moral + ethical values matter | YES - material conditions determine history | NO |
ONE COMMON AGREEMENT: Both envision a STATELESS SOCIETY as the ideal end-state.
- Gandhism: Gram Rajya (autonomous, self-sufficient villages) where state machinery is minimal
- Marxism: Stateless communist society after the dictatorship of proletariat dissolves
Answer: (a) the final goal of a stateless society.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) CORRECT. Both Gandhism and Marxism share the ultimate vision of a stateless society - Gram Rajya (Gandhi) and classless/stateless communism (Marx).
- (b) Incorrect. Gandhi rejected class struggle - he sought harmony, not conflict between classes.
- (c) Incorrect. Gandhi advocated small-scale private ownership (khadi, village industries); Marx wanted abolition of all private property.
- (d) Incorrect. Gandhi believed in moral values and ethics as drivers; Marx in material/economic determinism.
Key point
Common ground: Both Gandhi and Marx envisioned a STATELESS SOCIETY. Gandhi's Gram Rajya = decentralized, self-sufficient villages. Marx's final communist society = withering away of State. But diverge completely on methods, property, and conflict.
Remember
One common agreement between Gandhism and Marxism is the final goal of a stateless society. Gandhi envisioned Gram Rajya (autonomous, self-sufficient villages), while Marx theorized the eventual withering away of the state in a classless communist society.
Common mistakes
- Assuming all socialist thinkers want the same things. Gandhi and Marx share end-goal (stateless) but diverge on means.
- Confusing Gandhi's non-violence with acceptance of status quo. Gandhi challenged British imperialism and inequality but through ahimsa.
- Missing Gram Rajya - Gandhi's vision of village republics where central state plays minimal role.
Exam tip
Gandhi vs Marx comparison: Both are anti-state utopianists but for different reasons. Gandhi = moral preference for village autonomy. Marx = belief that state withers away after class elimination. Nehru adopted mixed economy trying to blend both - planning + democratic freedoms.
Sources
- Gandhi - Hind Swaraj (1909) - Vision of Gram Rajya
- Marx - The Holy Family and German Ideology