Day two of the NSI study group consisted of talks on Modernity and Nationalism. Both by Professor Achin Vanaik. I personally believe Achin is one of the few scholar-activists on whose works Anarchists in India should pay good deal of attention to. (To name just one more: Praful Bidwai, who was Achin’s friend and comrade and formed the Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament and Peace with him and other comrades)

The talk on modernity and nationalism were historic and theoretical in nature and I cannot surmise those aspects here. Though I will highly recommend Achin’s new book on the subject for anyone who wants to understand the development and role of nationalism in India more carefully.

I have never have had the opportunity to discuss the Anarchism-Marxism debate in detail with Achin, but hope to have one soon. And a fruitful one. After the talk I asked Achin to comment on Rudolf Rocker’s work on Nationalism, which does not run counter to what Achin has to say but instead broadens it. He was unfamiliar with the work and author. The point I put forward was the society, culture and a people are natural results of social organization and it is with the emergence of State that the nation emerges and Nationalism as its official religion. And when “nation unity” is achieved it kills the culture, mobility, autonomy and creativity. And all periods of “national de-stablity” are result of high culture and creative freedom.

But as I framed the State as the main culprit. In all it’s forms. The discussion turned into the debate over anarchists preference of overthrowing State “tomorrow”. He talked about “problem of prefiguration” – a problem for authoritarians. Though, I must add, it is a complex issue and cannot be addressed here. He didn’t realize the need for prefigurative politics for social transformation. Its almost funny how many marxists are saddened by failure of raising consciousness of the masses without mass participation and beginning to change habits here and now. This intellectual somersault requires a heavy dose of doublethink.

EDIT:

Marxist economics and Anarchism.

This is just to make clear that many anarchists make use of marxist “theory” for understanding the capitalist system and also hold the concept of class war strongly. Work of Wayne Price is just one example. Most anarchists and anarcho-syndicalists use of the “theory” in day to day activities.