For All Our Tribal Chiefs

While looking at our “tribals” revolting, it might be pertinent to point out that the white people also began as tribes. Further, their tribes were never at peace with one another; wars were perpetual. Ancient English kings, who were nothing but warlords, could never defeat the Danes in battle, and it is on record that these kings had to pay taxes to the Danes – what was called “danegeld.”

Scotland, in the time of Adam Smith (5 June 1723 – 17 July 1790), exhibited many traces of tribal culture. There is the curious incident of a visitor from France dropping by at Glasgow to meet Smith. The visitor was invited by Smith to a music concert. However, when 100 bagpipers started playing their martial tunes, this visitor could scarcely comprehend that this too was “music.” Note that the tunes were martial: the first part was a “call to arms”; the second, the music of the battlefield; and the final part was the wailing over the dead. This is their history, this is their culture, this is their music. The story of Scotland is but a story of battles, battles and more battles.

How did these tribes get civilized? Simple, by preferring to live via The Market. No more looting and plunder. Unfortunately, the gora has still not been able to shake off his tribalism – both “welfare” and “warfare” are atavistic ideas. The welfare is like the chief doling out portions of the kill; and warfare is what gora tribals expect from their king.

It was Adam Smith who informed the people of the then world that civilization and progress lie in The Free Market. Further, that all moral virtues are also inculcated in this market. Smith despised war, the “game of kings.”

Note that Scotland in Smith’s time was extremely backward, way behind England. But the enlightenment of the English happened because of a pucca Scot. Adam Smith complained that he learnt nothing in his 7 years at Oxford. And this view was seconded by many other great men, including Gibbon and Bentham. When the Honourable East India Company set up their Haileybury College to train recruits to the Indian civil services, the greatest emphasis was given to teaching the principles of classical political economy – and the great guru was none other than the long-deceased Adam Smith. The EIC, of course, had to set up this college only because neither Oxford nor Cambridge taught this subject then.

I have no doubt that India’s backward people, including all our indigenous tribes, can speedily proceed on the path of progress and civilization – exactly as the Scots did. Today, on LRC, there is an excellent article by Professor Walter Williams on the decline in education in the USSA. The West is in decline on several fronts – all because of their tribalism. Civilization and free markets are where people become Individuals, where group culture does not exist. It is unfortunate that all our “State politics” focuses on groups – as in the case of caste. This, too, is atavistic. Modernity, free markets, cities and civilization – these are for Individuals. It is here that the need for a warlord is dispensed with. No Big Chief at all. Just a friendly Mayor.

Our poor, oppressed tribals, long treated as anthropological specimens, need to hear this other message – which is all about Liberty, Justice, Peace, Trade, Cities and all the good things of life. They need this enlightenment. As with the Scots in the 18th century, I am confident that these people can progress to great heights. Perhaps, some of them might try and emulate Adam Smith and become a great economist. And I wish them luck.