Socialism, Sarvodaya and Democracy: the Theoretical Contributions of M.N. Roy, J.P. Narayan and J.B. Kripalani

This book attempts to explicate the theoretical writings of M.N. Roy, Jayaprakash Narayan and J.B. Kripalani to examine their views on Socialism, Sarvodaya and Democracy. Outlining the parameters of Sarvodaya, it takes a critical assessment of M.N. Roy’s views on democratic socialism, his critique of Marxism and Liberalism, and his concept of Radical Humanism.Reconstructing J.P. Narayan’s views on democratic socialism, it examines his perspective on Marxism, Nationalism and Western Socialism. It further discusses in detail his views on Sarvodaya, including his conception of partyless democracy and communitarianism, and his movement for Total Revolution. Finally, it explicates Kripalani’s philosophy of Socialism and the State, his critique of Marxist concept of class struggle, and his interpretaion of Gandhian democracy with special focus on nonviolent revolution, economic principles, decentralization and basic education.