Summary
Title: M.N. Roy: Radical Humanist: Selected Writings
Author: compiled by Innaiah Narisetti
Publisher: Prometheus Books
ISBN: 1591021413
Pro:
• Offers Western readers insight on humanism in India
• Demonstrates that humanism is not merely a Western philosophy
Con:
• More of a biography of M.N. Roy would have been helpful
Description:
• Collection of writings from noted Indian humanist M.N. Roy
• Allows readers familiar with Western humanism to see a different perspective
Book Review
One of the more influential humanists in India was M.N. Roy (1887-1954), a revolutionary who was at one point the founder-secretary of the Mexican Communist Party. He even associated closely with communist figures such as Lenin, Stalin, Mao, and Trotsky. Eventually he came to reject communism, though he never entirely gave up on some basic socialist principles and went on to help chart the course of humanist philosophy for India during the early post-colonial years.
Roy called his philosophy “Radical Humanism.” It was radical because it rejected many, if not most, of the traditional political and philosophical assumptions of Indian society. It was humanism because it focused entirely on the needs and situation of human beings. This philosophy is presented to Western readers by Innaiah Narisetti in a compilation of essays entitled M.N. Roy: Radical Humanist.
Narisetti, a national executive member of the Indian Radical Humanist Association, writes in his introduction:
- “Roy liked to think of his humanist thought as radical, integrated, scientific, and new, as he wanted to differentiate it from old humanist thought, which was dominated by religion. In fact, Roy arrived at his humanist philosophy by integrating the results of various scientific disciplines, a significant difference in approach. ...He emphasized ethics while avoiding the supernatural element — a particular problem in countries like India — and its role in sanctioning or approving certain types of moral behavior. Another aspect of Roy’s humanism was its emphasis on eduction, especially the reliance on scientific method.”
M.N. Roy: Radical Humanist: Selected Writings, compiled by Innaiah Narisetti
Although Roy left behind communism, he did retain one crucial element of Marx‘s thinking: abstract, esoteric philosophy must be abandoned in favor of a philosophy that helps people to live, to cope with their environment, and to achieve the fullness of their potential. Philosophy has often been an academic subject with little impact on people’s lives. Roy wanted to change that and for this reason much of his philosophical writing focused on economics and politics.
