Swarajya, February 18, 1961
The withdrawing of the baneful restraints placed on the energy and enterprise of producers and distributors, the release of the creative spirit of the people, will result in a leap towards prosperity and progress, which will proceed with accelerated pace as it did in West Germany and Japan.
Wealth is not produced by letting the monster of envy play with our policies and destroying the seed that must multiply, viz., capital. Wealth is not produced by suffocating and choking, but by freedom to breathe and grow.
Let us do some fundamental thinking. Let us not go on destroying the value of our money, and the nation along with it, by “our endless round of perpetual-motion schemes - something for-nothing-economic-witchcraft”. As the inflation rate is proceeding up and up, and our interest and establishment charges are increasing, as we roll with exceeding smoothness downhill, making paper money and spending it, will it take very long to get to the bottom? Let us recover good sense before it is too late.
Pakistan has begun to show us the way in a striking manner. The following news item has appeared in the press:
The Pakistan Cabinet, at its meeting today, took a major step to take the country towards a free economy by deciding to lift controls on a large number of items with immediate effect. The Industries Minister, Mr. A. K. Khan, told newsmen that in pursuance of the Government’s policy that more production could take place only in a free economy, the Government had lifted controls on 29 commodities out of 44. These, include building material like iron and steel, cement, plates and sheet glasses, sanitary and water supply fittings and building hardware, caustic soda and medicines. Among the 15 items still under price and distribution control were tea, sewing machines, edible oils and bidi leaves. ‘The Pakistan Government last week lifted control on price and distribution of cotton yarns and cloth.
Japan and West Germany had shown the true way to progress. But those good examples had no effect on our omniscient Congress Party. Now neighbour Pakistan has decided firmly to take the path of decontrol and to release the energy of her people. Sunshine will take the place of darkness. Pakistan has been providentially charged, so to say, to teach us a lesson and lead us out of the Wrong path into which we have strayed.
There is no doubt the effects will soon be seen by those who have the mind to see. The withdrawing of the baneful restraints placed on the energy and enterprise of producers and distributors, the release of the creative spirit of the people, will result in a leap towards prosperity and progress, which will proceed with accelerated pace as it did in West Germany and Japan.
If our economy continues to be in the grip of the Congress Party, and if sycophant officials who have become more socialist than their socialist masters, continue to harass, impede and hamper those who are really eager to add to national wealth, Pakistan will soon be in a position to shame, us and demonstrate what can be achieved by the releasing of national energy.
Wealth is not produced by letting the monster of envy play with our policies and destroying the seed that must multiply, viz., capital. Wealth is not produced by suffocating and choking but by freedom to breathe and grow. Are we to wait till Pakistan, following the path of Swatantra, shames us into wisdom? The clichés of socialism will not help us. Those clichés should be thrown into the dust-heap of modern falsehood. The balanced generalities of our Prime Minister will not help us either. Like other empty things, there is more sound in them than guidance. Can there be anything more absurd than one of our ex-ambassadors using bitter language against West Germany for not aiding us and our ‘Plan’ with more loans. This is patent and dishonourable blackmail. Are we decent borrowers, or are we just exploiting the cold war and taking up the role of rowdy beggars? Beggars we are, but let us at least behave like decent beggars.
Let us do some fundamental thinking. Let us not go on destroying the value of our money, and the nation along with it, by “our endless round of perpetual-motion schemes - something for-nothing-economic-witchcraft”. As the inflation rate is proceeding up and up, and our interest and establishment charges are increasing, as we roll with exceeding smoothness downhill, making paper money and spending it, will it take very long to get to the bottom? Let us recover good sense before it is too late.
