J. C. Kumarappa

J. C. Kumarappa (born Joseph Chelladurai Cornelius) (January 4, 1892 - January 30, 1960) was an Indian Christian economist and a close associate of Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi. A pioneer of rural economic development theories, Kumarappa is credited for developing economic theories based on Gandhism — a school of economic thought he coined "Gandhian economics."

Early life and studies

Joseph Chelladurai Cornelius was born on 4 January 1892 in Tanjore, Tamil Nadu. He changed his name following his return from studying economics and chartered accountancy in Britain in 1919. In 1928 he travelled to the United States to obtain degrees in economics and business administration at Syracuse University and Columbia University, studying under Edwin Robert Anderson Seligman.

Gandhian economics

On his return to India Kumarappa published an article on the British tax policy and its exploitation of the Indian economy. At Gandhi's request he prepared an economic survey of rural Gujarat, which he published as A Survey of Matar Taluka in the Kheda District. He strongly supported Gandhi's notion of village industries and promoted Village Industries Associations.

Kumarappa worked to combine Christian and Gandhian values of "trusteeship", non-violence and a focus on human dignity and development in place of materialism as the basis of his economic theories. While rejecting socialism's emphasis on class war and force in implementation, he also rejected the emphasis on material development, competition and efficiency in free-market economics. Gandhi and Kumarappa envisioned an economy focused on satisfying human needs and challenges while rooting out socio-economic conflict, unemployment, poverty and deprivation.

Kumarappa worked as a professor of economics at the Gujarat Vidyapith in Ahmedabad, while serving as the editor of Young India during the Salt Satyagraha. He helped found and organise the All India Village Industries Association in 1935; and was imprisoned for more than a year during the Quit India movement. He wrote during his imprisonment, Economy of Permanence, The Practice and Precepts of Jesus (1945) and Christianity: Its Economy and Way of Life (1945).

Later life

After India's independence, Kumarappa worked for the Planning Commission of India and the Indian National Congress to develop national policies for agriculture and rural development. He also travelled to the People's Republic of China, eastern Europe and Japan on diplomatic assignments and to study their rural economic systems. He spent some time in Sri Lanka, where he received Ayurvedic treatment. He settled in Madurai at the M. K. Gandhi Niketan, where he continued his work in economics and writing.

He died on 30 January 1960. After his death the Kumarappa Institute of Gram Swaraj was founded in his honour. His younger brother Bharatan was also associated with Gandhi and the Sarvodaya movement.

References

• Lindley, Mark (2007). J.C. Kumarappa: Mahatma Gandhi's Economist.
• Rajeswar Rao, P. (1991). The Great Indian patriots (Volume 1).
• Economic and Political Weekly, vol. 40, no. 52, Dec 24, 2005.
• Template:It Centro Gandhi Edizioni (A cura di) (2011). Joseph C. Kumarappa, Economia di condivisione, Come uscire dalla crisi mondiale.

External links

• Kumarappa Image Dinamani
• Frontier weekly - Oct 2010
• Kumarappa Institute of Gram Swaraj
• KIGS biography of Kumarappa
• Kumarappa biography
• Lindley, Mark (2007). J C Kumarappa Mahatma Gandhi’s Economist. Mumbai: Popular Prakashan. ISBN 978-8179912805.