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Kerala can have an indigenous growth path: MGS

Special Correspondent

Calls for `an imaginative politics of industrial development'

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Renowned historian M.G.S. Narayanan has said that Kerala can, despite the many developmental setbacks it has suffered over the last 50 years, still forge ahead if it encourages indigenous capital and native practices in production and consumption accompanied by adoption of `an imaginative politics of industrial development through private initiative and open competition.'

Presenting the theme paper at the session on `Governance and Development: The Kerala Experience' on the second day of the three-day seminar being organised by the C. Achutha Menon Foundation here on Friday, Prof. Narayanan pointed out that without an all round re-adjustment of perspectives and personnel, tinkering with legislative and administrative reforms may not produce big results. If this does not happen, Kerala would go down further in industrial productivity and Keralites would be forced to play second fiddle to outsiders who would take over the economy and exploit the natural and human resources for the sake of their profit and pleasure, he warned.

Coming down heavily on the Communists and Congressmen for the current state of affairs in the socio-political scene in the State, Prof. Narayanan said the two political forces, through abdication of their responsibility to uphold parliamentary principles and provide good governance, were responsible for the shift of initiative in the social and political spheres from political parties to communal organisations in Kerala. "This has also contributed to a situation where development has been pushed back, and communal politics has been pushed forward to occupy the centre of the stage," he said.

Prof. Narayanan cited migration of Keralites to foreign countries in search of employment as the single important factor that has contributed to resolution of the State's development problem to a certain extent. The process of migration and resultant remittances from abroad has saved the people of Kerala from starvation and creation of a parallel economy.

Noting that there are signs of the advent of a new climate in Kerala along with the rest of India, Prof. Narayanan said this would not last unless there is a sincere commitment to open market and free enterprise, adopted without sacrificing our cultural and political identity, based on self-respect and self-knowledge gained through a proper study of natural and social sciences. C. Achutha Menon, he said, was the only statesman among the Chief Ministers of Kerala who boldly and openly defied the anti-development trend of strikes by introducing the `dies non' rule. The State must go further, he said.

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