Question

Explain the ways in which the European thinkers like Montesquieu and Karl Marx used Bernier’s description of India.

Hint:

Bernier’s accounts were biased by his desire to portray India as inferior to the European political model. Historians now study these accounts as critical examples of colonial-era knowledge production.

Answer 1

Concept:

• European perceptions of India were significantly shaped by travelogues like those of Francois Bernier.
• Philosophers and economists interpreted these accounts to construct theories of governance and class structure.

Step 1: Montesquieu and Oriental Despotism
Montesquieu utilized Bernier’s claims to develop the theory of 'Oriental Despotism.'
He argued that because the Indian ruler owned all land (no private property), the society was necessarily stagnant, autocratic, and devoid of the liberty found in Europe.

Step 2: Marx and the Asiatic Mode of Production
Karl Marx incorporated Bernier's descriptions into his 'Asiatic Mode of Production.'
He theorized that the state's total control over irrigation and agricultural resources hindered the development of a market-based society, keeping the Indian economy essentially feudal and unchanging.