Context:
Recently, the birth anniversary of Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia is observed.
Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia:
- Born in – 1910, in Uttar Pradesh.
- A visionary leader and freedom fighter
- Influenced by socialist thinkers like Marx and Engels.
- Advocated for a blend of Gandhian ideals and socialist principles.
- Strongly opposed caste-based discrimination and worked for its abolition.
- Advocated for equitable wealth distribution and rural development.
- Joined Congress Socialist Party (CSP) in 1934, a left-wing group within the Indian National Congress.
- Quit India Movement – Played a key role in mobilizing support for the movement in 1942.
- Left Congress in 1948 and co-founded the Socialist Party in 1955.
- Elected to the Lok Sabha in 1963
- Literary Works – Marx, Gandhi and Socialism, The Caste System, Wheel of History and Guilty Men of India’s Partition.
- Died in – 1967
Source: PIB
Previous Year Question
With reference to the Congress Socialist Party, consider the following statements:
1. It advocated the boycott of British goods and evasion of taxes.
2. It wanted to establish the dictatorship of the proletariat.
3. It advocated separate electorate for minorities and oppressed classes.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
[UPSC Civil Service Exam – 2015 Prelims]
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) None of the above
Answer: (d)
Explanation:
Statement 1 is not correct. Though they remained active in the workers and peasant’s movement, they did not advocate the boycott of British goods and the evasion of taxes.
Statement 2 is not correct. They advocated decentralised socialism, but did not wanted to establish the dictatorship of the proletariat.
Statement 3 is not correct. As secularists, they hoped to surpass communal divisions through class solidarity.