Multitude
Certain concepts are embedded in ancient wisdom, guiding generations, and the idea of the multitude is one such concept. In the national anthem of India, written by Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941), the multitude is hailed as the absolute sovereign – जनगणमन–अधिनायक जय हे भारत भाग्यविधाता, meaning, “You have everyone’s thoughts and decisions about India’s future”. In a global context, Michael Hardt (b. 1960) and Antonio Negri (1933-2023) beautifully articulated this idea in their trilogy Empire, Multitude and Commonwealth, published in 2000, 2004 and 2009 respectively.
At the core of our understanding, we must recognise the idea of biopower — our planet as a unified living entity in the cosmos. As a part of this biopower, humans are intricately connected with nature and other living beings – animals, insects, plants, bacteria and minerals. Throughout history, the world has existed as a system of coexistence, encompassing social norms, educational institutions, livelihoods and laws that foster a harmonious existence. There is a perception that humans have ceased to evolve as individual organisms and are now collectively evolving into macroorganisms through complex social structures.
My long-time friend, biologist-philosopher Dr Ashok Tiwari, forwarded me an article by Dr Marcos B. Viermenhouk at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, written in 1996. Dr Viermenhouk envisioned that the Internet would provide a giant leap forward for humanity. He suggested that just as our species has evolved through natural selection, the Internet has evolved through us in second-order natural selection. With trillions of linked nodes and the constant buzzing of nerve impulses (IP packets) going through its ‘body’, doesn’t the Internet look a lot like a decentralised nervous system? Only a little was heard about Dr Viermenhouk after that, but his idea stayed.
The Internet has undoubtedly enabled global communication and collaboration on a scale never seen before, allowing for the rapid sharing of knowledge and ideas. However, whether this amounts to a form of macroorganism evolution is a subject of debate and interpretation. Ultimately, it’s a complex and nuanced topic with various perspectives. Currently, ChatGTP cannot provide beyond the ‘collective and curative information’ contributed by billions of people. Rather than a collective intelligence or a global brain, the Internet is a tool facilitating evolution differently.
India, an ancient civilisation, has a rich history of resilience and adaptability. It flourished for several thousand years, earning the title of the ‘Golden Bird’. When horse riding enabled people to move long distances, many invaders arrived. Initially, they returned after plundering, but later, many settled and became part of this land. They brought in different religions from their native lands. British colonisers, arriving by sea, ruled the vast Indian subcontinent, dividing the multitude along religious lines. Upon gaining independence in 1947, India chose secularism, and today, many religions coexist peacefully, showcasing the adaptability and resilience of the multitude.
People are essentially biopower. Even those living in poverty can continue to grow in number, giving birth to new generations. The book Multitude explains that this increasing number of poor fight against poverty and calls it one of the immense forces on Earth. A new form of shared ‘being’ has emerged stronger than the often impoverished, isolated and marginalised ’sections of the society’.
Once history moves on and the social reality changes, then the old theories are no longer adequate. We need new theories for the new reality. . . The primary elements . . . that will guide us in developing our own [method] are (1) the historical tendency, (2) the real abstraction, (3) antagonism, and (4) the constitution of subjectivity. (Multitude, p. 140-141)
Over the years after independence, the Indian poor have overcome the fragmentation, discouragement, resignation and even panic that poverty can create. They have begun to voice their grievances against the government. When politicians approach them with folded hands, seeking votes, people see it as their chance to change the situation. Amidst the buzz of India becoming the third-largest economy in the world, millions of poor people wonder about their woeful situation and see it as an irony rather than an occasion for jubilation. When a sleek metallic-coloured train zoomed past their mofussil stations, hundreds of passengers on the platform looked at it in despair, waiting for the old red passenger train that would take them to the nearby town.
India has traditionally been an agrarian society, with most of its population dependent on agriculture. This led to a subsistence economy where wealth accumulation was limited. There is a significant divide between rural and urban areas regarding income, access to education, healthcare and infrastructure. Millions of people migrate from villages to cities in search of livelihoods. Many are employed in the informal sector, which lacks job security, benefits and adequate wages, perpetuating poverty. Inadequate access to quality education and healthcare services is a significant barrier to poverty alleviation. Events like the COVID-19 pandemic have highlighted the vulnerability of the poor.
I live in the HITEC part of Hyderabad City, called Cyberabad. It is dotted with high-rise buildings, gated communities and the glittering offices of global corporations. The security personnel and support staff here are mainly from Eastern and Northeastern India. Their living conditions are in stark contrast to the conditions of their workplaces. It is as if every twenty-four hours, they live in two different worlds. They don’t even understand the concept of ‘immaterial labour’ in the IT and Financial Services industry and wonder how people make money by sitting in air-conditioned offices without performing physical work.
What I see around me is evident in every metropolitan city in India and around the world. Income inequality is indeed a significant issue in the modern world. The unequal distribution of income among individuals in a population can have various social, economic and political consequences. Addressing income inequality is essential for the well-being of the less fortunate and the overall stability of society, including the wealthy. Extreme income inequality can lead to social unrest, increased crime rates and instability. Migration can be viewed as a new mode of invasion. Initially arriving as low-paid workers, migrants grow in number over generations and assert their rights, forcefully and even violently, as seen in recent riots and arson in many European cities.
The poor are no longer gloomy, despairing or resigned to their fate. They are aware of what is happening and are ready to seize their chance to turn things around. The Internet has become a powerful medium for spreading ideologies and even securing funding. The multitude is now organised, responsive and even swift. It is in everyone’s best interest to work towards a more equitable distribution of wealth and opportunities. But how?
Democracy is the gift of the modern world, and as the general elections amply demonstrated, people can change their rulers and make policies change. How much has changed is debatable, but people have the power to enforce change. As we celebrate India’s 78th Independence Day on August 15, 2024, it can be said with conviction that the multitude in India is done with divisive rhetoric and seeks its share of the wealth that the new economy is creating. A toilet, free gas, free electricity and tap water are all good and gratefully accepted, but more is needed. The issue is, who will own and control the ‘five trillion dollar Indian economy’ that is being hailed?
The Indian multitude represents an intricate tapestry of diversity and complexity. Understanding this multitude requires acknowledging the interplay of various social, economic, cultural and political factors, not by regressing to primordial identities like religion and caste but by raising their education level and creating livelihood. It is time for our great political parties to free themselves of their ideological inertia and come up with solutions rather than endless arguments. The multitude is growing restless, watching stale discourses and empty promises to no end every day on TV. There is an urgent need for young leaders to step forward, articulate the needs and aspirations of the multitude, and ensure that those are acted upon.
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Indeed, this is a complex issue without an easy solution. On one hand, it’s essential to keep top wealth creators motivated, as they drive modernization, innovation, and overall economic growth. On the other hand, it’s equally crucial to create ample opportunities for those at the other end of the spectrum, allowing them to actively participate in the economic flywheel and gradually improve their circumstances. The key lies in ensuring that everyone, across the spectrum, performs their duties (dharma) with dedication, without falling into the traps of complacency or lethargy. The paradox is stark: while many people struggle to find meaningful work, there is an abundance of essential tasks that need to be done, from farming to infrastructure development. However, aligning these opportunities in a way that benefits everyone and creates a win-win scenario remains one of the most challenging puzzles to solve.
Without a doubt, Prof Tiwari said that income inequality is indeed a significant issue in the modern world. The unequal income distribution among individuals in a population can have various social, economic and political consequences. Addressing income inequality is essential for the well-being of the less fortunate and the overall stability of society, including the wealthy. Extreme income inequality can lead to social unrest, increased crime rates and instability. Migration can be viewed as a new mode of invasion. Initially arriving as low-paid workers, migrants grow in number over generations and assert their rights, forcefully and even violently, as seen in recent riots and arson in many European cities.
The poor are no longer gloomy, despairing or resigned to their fate. They know what is happening and are ready to seize their chance to turn things around. The Internet has become a powerful medium for spreading ideologies and even securing funding. The multitude is now organised, responsive and even swift. It is in everyone’s best interest to work towards a more equitable distribution of wealth and opportunities.’
It is clear that we must confront the challenges of income inequality head-on if we are to maintain peace and tranquility in our societies.
Thank you for this blog on the Multitude, an increasingly relevant concept in our modern, Internet-connected world and expanding Gig Economy. As you are part of this dynamic workforce, it’s essential to understand that gig work can be divided into two categories: “geographically tethered work,” which requires workers to be in a particular place, and “cloud work,” which refers to work that can be completed remotely via a computer.
App-based transportation—like Uber, food delivery, or other consumer-facing services—represents noticeable changes to work – people working as drivers and delivery men are multitudes. McKinsey estimates that 540 million people could be seeking work through “online talent platforms” by 2025. Freedom from traditional forms of work can potentially create societal problems in the future.
Sir, I reflected upon your blog Multitudes for several days. It touches me deep inside as I see myself in this blog. I am Dean of the Management School at Apollo University, Chittoor, now, and my journey has been long and arduous to reach this station. The million-dollar question being argued all over India is how to solve this massive inequality. Does national growth need more time to deliver its magic, or is India’s economic formula flawed?
Today, the wealthiest 10% in India controls 80% of the nation’s wealth. The top 1% owns 58% of India’s wealth. By comparison, the wealthiest 1% in the United States owns 37% of the wealth. Another way to look at it: In India, the wealth of 16 people equals 600 million people. One of our most significant challenges is inadequate education and public health. While we may not have all the answers, I remain hopeful for substantial progress.
There are talks about establishing a pension system in the vein of Social Security to provide an immediate lift for millions. A few days ago, the Union government launched a pension plan, though it has yet to be without criticism. As part of India’s unregulated domestic workforce, millions never had any protection. Only now are some Indian states passing laws to shield such workers from exploitation. Thank you Sir.
Thought provoking Independence Day blog, Prof Tiwariji !
Your captivating expressions of wisdom resonate with the aspirations of the multitude in India !!
I want to add a famous quote from Napoleon Bonaparte here. “If you form a team of hundred lions with one dog as a leader, then the hundred lions will die as a dog. But if you form a team of a hundred dogs with one lion as a leader, then a hundred dogs will fight like lions.” We need leaders who will drive the nation with ideas and technology. This is the need of The Hour. India does not require strong leaders. India needs an inspiring, knowledgeable, kind, compassionate and competent leader. A strong leader concentrates all powers on himself and makes everyone powerless. Hence, instead of progress, the country is often embroiled in hatred and internal conflicts between the pro and opposite groups of the leader. The world’s most famous management Guru, Peter Drucker, said this aptly, “Effective leadership is not about making speeches or being liked; results, not attributes, define leadership.”
VERY CONTEMPORARY INSIGHT. LOT OF WORK NEED TO BE DONE IN OUR COUNTRY. Good, educated, honest people must enter politics as it is polluted beyond our imagination and needs a thorough cleansing. POLITICS AND POLITICIAN HAVE BECOME DIRTY WORDS IN OUR CURRENT LEXICON.
That is a very accurate observation, sir. It is more on the “effect” side.
We should focus on the “cause “ and work out implementable Solutions. Intrinsically, Indians are non-violent and content and still believe in peaceful Coexistence. However, long periods of foreign rule, exposure to foreign culture, their jealousy with richness and universal hood of great Eternal Sanatan Bharteeyta, gradual and systematic erosion of the very roots of Indianhood, making Indians feel and believe that whatever is Indian is primitive, superstitious, unscientific, discriminatory, derogatory, divisive, inhumane and therefore worth abandoning and that West is the Best. Thus, we became vulnerable to borrowed, imposed philosophies, including all forms of —-isms, religion is opium, Aryan Dravid theories, Ram Krishna all imaginary, Geeta Ramayan Ved Puran Upnishad, all rubbish and fiction. Only ABRAHMIC religions are epitomes of truth, love, peace and humanity. This is how the fanatic expansion of Islam and Church-sponsored Conversion to Christianity started in India and the world over. This has given tangible effect to the incompatibility of too rigid and too open foreign cultures; demographic change over time further disturbed the dynamic balance of our society, which in turn triggered the feeling of insecurity, mistrust, rivalry, and aspirations, both political and economic coupled with hidden agendas within and outside country leading more towards fission rather than fusion. Hence, there is a need for strong nationalist leadership at all control points, be it Panchayat, Talluk, District, State, or Centre. Strong legislation to reduce undue pressure on natural resources is the need of the hour. Stop the erosion of ethical values by restructuring child education. Break the political-bureaucratic-anti national element Axis. Give a free hand to the police and make them accountable. Cleanse Judiciary. How?? Sanitise the nursery where human input comes from. How? Educational reform with population control.
So, all political parties should deliberate and identify the national goals. Let there be open debate in Parliament and public as well. Population, Corruption, and internal and external security could be the starting point. With regards
Sir, In Shrimad Bhagavad Gita, Shri Krishna says:
लोकसंग्रहमेवापि सम्पश्यन्कर्तुमर्हसि
For the good of the world (Loka-sangraha), you should also do what you need and set an example ((3.20).
Loka-sangraha is made up of three parts:
Building and maintaining good relationships between people; Being kind and caring to animals that live in the same places as us; and Preserving the environment by not polluting it and not using up natural resources, and giving time or money to programs that clean up and plant trees.
The reason is that others then copy such good work which lead to a better society.
यद्यदाचरति श्रेष्ठस्तत्तदेवेतरो जन: |
स यत्प्रमाणं कुरुते लोकस्तदनुवर्तते
Whatever the best does, that is what others do. The world follows what great proves by their action as meritorious. (3.21)
Thank you Arun ji for the nice message on 78th Independence Day. We have to develop young leaders in large quantities to take care of this issue. That’why Dr Kalam insisted on me developing leadership in our country after my retirement in 2011. I am following his advice sincerely.
The changing form of the multitude has the potential to enhance democratic processes by increasing participation and representation. Still, it also poses challenges related to polarisation and managing diverse interests. The overall effect on democracy will depend on how citizens and political institutions navigate these changes.
“In a democracy, the people get the government they deserve.” This quote, attributed to French political thinker Alexis De Tocqueville (1805–1859), brings out the truth when most people can select a government that may not be the best for all the people and even for the best of the nation’s interests. The Internet has certainly brought people together, but it also spreads fake news and hate. But still, bad things and atrocities are increasingly difficult to hide now.
Most people don’t care about politics and have very little knowledge about the problems. Some leaders use rhetoric and lies to get what they want instead of thinking about what the people think.
So, we have populism and the anti-intellectual cult that cries “the will of the people” while ignoring what “the people” really want to further the goals of a small group of extremists for their gain, at the expense of everyone else.
These lawmakers, who are populists, are no different than manipulators. When things get terrible, these people end up supporting a plan against their best interests, even though they don’t know it.
An interesting Blog, Prof Tiwari Ji. India’s intricate blend of ancient wisdom and modern-day challenges necessitates a determined focus on inclusive growth. Your emphasis on these socio-economic complexities is accurate. The urgent need to harmonize tradition with innovation is undeniable. By prioritizing the needs of the many, we can shape a future characterized by equity, justice, and environmental sustainability. The proposed framework provides a comprehensive perspective for understanding our world’s intricacies and inspires a holistic approach to problem-solving.
Arun jee is a rare great human being of this era. His deep insights in understanding present and farsighted vision for future improvements are unparallele. This is seen in his this blog the ‘Multitude’. One thing we must realize that fundamentals and culture of freeship hardly lasts long. No creature in this nature lives on “freeship”. Every creature works for survival and adapts symbiotic relationship with who soever come in the way of survival. And that’s how the law of nature operates. The dynasties or the democratic rulers, who understood this fact lasted long. Otherwise, lived very short life. The scientists, technologists or the philosophers sitting in their isolated places work for the betterment of the people, the society. The use of the things they bring forward to the society depends on people, how do they use that. It also depends on the policy makers and people involved in their implementations. Unless and until we are honest and responsible to ourselves, we can’t be honest and responsible to the society and humanity as whole. How can one divide us based on religion, cast and the cread unless we want to ! Upliftment of moral education in educational curriculum and feeling of pleasure in serving others, can help modern generation get rid of todays evils plaughing humanity.
Thanks for a very nice blog on the impact of IT and related technologies. What is emerging, according to my understanding, is the rich are becoming still richer in terms of their sheer richness. The number of billionaires and trillionaires globally, and also in India is increasing. The statement “The poor are no longer gloomy, despairing or resigned to their fate.” may not be correct. The poor, in my opinion, have resigned to their fate but are hopeful that their children will move up the ladder in the days and years to come. The fact will remain that the gap between rich, rather ultra rich, and poor will continue to increase qualitatively and quantitatively unless we bring about disruptive thinking accompanied with action on this serious issue.
Well articulated . We are living in a new world with less patience and more ambitions. Fundamental rights are known but forgotten our Fundamental duties. We see towards others and aspire to be like them but sincerity of effort is missing. Inspite of all odds we are moving ahead and that by itself is commendable. We should be proud of our culture and traditions . Need to learn good aspects from others. Jai Hind
Dear Prof
Happy 78th Independence Day for India!
As you celebrate your independence, you have a right to point out the inequality that still exists worldwide. We should espouse democratic values that narrow the gap between rich and poor.
Internet has changed the society no doubt. But for a country like India where data is almost free it is turning more to the disadvantage of poor, especially the youth who are in dire condition due to abject meaningful employment. I see most unemployed in villages hooked to their mobiles watching nonsense. They are not only wasting their precious time but also their thinking/ brains are being controlled by nefarious barrage of propaganda messages, videos of political parties of different hues. Youth are the agents of change. It has happened in India and the latest example is Bangaladesh. But somehow Indian youth has accepted the rotten system of governance and endemic corruption at every stage.
Having born ten years after independence, I have watched the once steady, and suddenly a ‘disruptive’ change in our lives for the better. Technology has helped India transform into a modern age for the better.
However, as you brought out, ‘inequality’ exists’ – throughout India not and confined t0 certain regions. Reasons could be many – suppression even today, inability to rise to higher standards of living due to economic reasons or lack of access due to terrain. This leads one to believe that progress bas been lop sided even after 77years.
Meaningless and endless discussions have not helped.
This ‘old man, INDIA’ requires, as you mentioned, requires ‘young blood’ to get rid of the disparities with vigour and as soon as possible.
Let us all in this 78th year of independence look forward and extend out help and support in this mission.
Very thought-provoking analysis of our times, Arun Tiwari sir.
Articulating the social tensions of our times is the first step in containing the buildup and eruption of discontent. The elections work as a safety valve. The electorate is wise and has clear diffusive intent—the intelligentsia must understand and articulate it for the masses.
The divisive and incendiary powers must have been weakened but would only give up their agenda when the phenomenon is well deciphered and pervasive.