Reduce Military Expenditure

Increased food production is no doubt absolutely essential for national well-being. It is inconceivable that we can, by any process of modernisation, convert India into an industrial country, depending for food on imports from abroad, to be paid for by export of steel or textiles or sugar or even tea. Even if it were physically possible, it would be an incongruous lopsidedness for countries with a vast land area. Increased food production is not a thing to be achieved by amendment of laws or the substitution of statutory regulations for the old fashioned contractual relations, or by a limitation of the acreage of individual ownership, least of all by overthrowing personal interest and introducing in its place collective or bureaucratic management, through co- operative organizations. The increase of food crops calls for a programme of constructive help and encouragement, enlargement of holdings, and fostering increased interest among the farmers: certainly not of sowing discord among the elements who have to cooperate, and tinkering with agrarian affairs so as to cause land values to move down to vanishing point.

     Increase of food production is to be attained, if at all, by stages which are necessarily slow, for which the exchange crisis cannot wait. Bankruptcy would overtake us and upset the whole cart. The one and only way out of the crisis is a reduction of military expenditure. This reduction is not only possible but also desirable from every point of view. The Government must run the gauntlet of anti-Pakistani fanaticism and do this reduction. It requires great courage and decision, but it is this and this alone that can save calamity. It will be called reckless, a policy that will ‘sell India' to the enemy, and so on. But it should not be minded if we wish to save the country. The arms race started by American military aid to Pakistan can be stopped only by unilateral action on our part. Indeed, we should shame America into decency in this matter by taking such a bold step, even if there were no crisis in our foreign exchange relationship calling for economy in expenditure. Investment in arms equipment for air, naval, and ground warfare on the pattern, though on a smaller scale, of the Western Powers, is as fantastic and unreal as the stockpiling of nuclear bombs by them, knowing all the while that they are never to be used.

     Every consideration points in the direction of drastic cuts in our defense expenditure. Courage in one form or another, but distinguished from old Micawber’s confidence, is called for to meet the crisis which cannot any longer be hidden or ignored. The best form of courage in the present context is to face the anti-Pakistani fanatics and follow the only rational course indicated and make drastic savings in the military budget.

     The idea of meeting the situation by entering into long term commitments with the 'Free World' in the form of loans is bound to land us in political implications that must surely affect our independence in international affairs. It is treacherous ground to walk on. The right solution is one that can be executed by ourselves, although it certainly requires great strength of decision. Nothing short of an intrepid move can adequately meet the situation.

     Many factors have contributed to the remarkable economic revival of Germany and Japan after the almost wholesale devastation of the war. But the fact that these nations have reduced their military expenditure, whether the reduction be by inclination or necessity, is one of the chief contributing causes. The present prosperity of Germany and Japan must inspire us in India as well as in Pakistan not only to fresh energy but to a realization of the wastefulness of putting money in armaments in the context of the present world.