Every epoch has its own economic structure and the characteristics of the structure in a country depend upon how far the country has progressed. The capitalism of today is not the same as the capitalism of the nineteenth century. It has changed. Many things which one advocated on behalf of socialism have now been universally accepted. Therefore, there is no question of choice between the two. It all depends upon how far the people have progressed. It would not suffice to dub people as socialist or raise socialist slogans or make a law. What is appropriate for a people depends upon the progress of their eco0nomy. They have to make efforts to go ahead. Besides, the present age is a complex and the people of the world attained different levels of progress in different parts. At the same time they know of the achievements of one another. Had they been completely unaware of one another's conditions, it would not have mattered. That is why this tussle keeps going on. Basically capitalism was a stage in economic progress which at one time greatly helped the world to go ahead. In my opinion that age is over. The new age that is coming is heading for socialism. At many places capitalism itself is taking on or will take on on the form of socialism. At many places capitalists call themselves socialists. The greatest capitalist country of the world, America, is in actual practice far more socialistic than we are, even though it may not believe in the principles of socialism. For the whole world of today is going in that direction. America says sincerely that its ideal is a classless society. But this is also the socialist ideal. It is useless for us to talk of socialism and communism. We have got castes and thousand other things that divide us. It is ridiculous to talk of big ones. Still the world is going in that direction of socialism, and we are too stumbling towards it. Some day or other we shall reach there.
Communism is also adjusting itself. Communism is, as a matter of fact, a plan of society. There is a little difference between communism and socialism but not much. As it is, there is may types of communism. But by and large it means a method, a method of war, violence and rebellion, to bring about that plan of society.
In some places these things are there to a greater extent, in others to a smaller one. Take for instance Soviet Union, the biggest communist country. The Soviet Union has progressed very rapidly and continues to do so. It has now become stable society. Its over all remains the same, but there is now no questions of her continuing her old methods. China, however, is a different case. In China so many things are having which have not being approved even by many communities themselves. Communism has one meaning at one time and another at another time. Religion is another such term. There are some religion that teach for forcible proselytization. But they too get cooled down and accept the situation. It takes all types to make the world.