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Friday, April 10, 2026
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Indian Liberals Matter

Indian welfarists destroyed right to property by guaranteeing rights to life, liberty

A welfare state grows out of mutual co-operation and spontaneity, not through measures thrust forcibly upon the masses, wrote G Jayachandran in 1959.

Violent class-war doctrines of Marx became the sole saviour of labour: MA Venkata Rao

It is not State aggrandisement that has to explain and justify itself but the claims of human liberty and individuality, libertarian commentator MA Venkata Rao wrote in 1958.

Why legal provisions are necessary to curb the power of trade unions: MH Mody

The collusion between the new class of bureaucrats, politicians, businessmen and trade union bosses perpetuates itself partly because of the short-run benefits and partly because they see no way out of the system, wrote author MH Mody in 1980.

The so-called ‘socialist pattern’ and democracy cannot co-exist for long: Minoo Masani

The main enemies of grassroots vigilance are personality cult, loyalty to party 'high command', sycophancy and a controlled economy where permit-licence is a pre-condition to economic survival, Minoo Masani wrote in 1989.

Capitalism isn’t responsible for mass unemployment. Look at Japan, Singapore: BS Iyer

It is not capitalism which is responsible for the evils of permanent mass unemployment, but the policies of the stateman which paralyse its working, wrote BS Iyer in 1971.

Welfare state is socially and economically a national disaster: GN Lawande

In a welfare state, the rule of law has been defiled and public opinion and sovereignty are being superseded by the undemocratic decrees of the ministers, wrote GN Lawande in 1958.

Marxism extinguishes democratic rights the moment it captures power: MA Venkata Rao

Being founded on class war, any State founded on Marxism is bound to set itself in opposition, bitter and all-out, against all other nations, libertarian commentator MA Venkata Rao wrote in 1963.

There’s no need for the outdated and ridiculous shroud of secrecy around Budget: Nani Palkhivala

To every economic policy, we must apply the acid test—how far will it bend our people to fruitful ends and how far will it dissipate them in coping with a bumbling bureaucracy, Palkhivala wrote in 1977.

Liberal methods reach social justice faster than socialism: Minoo Masani

The biggest capitalist has to consider what the smallest man in the market wants. This is how the consumer is king and this is what is called a free market economy, Minoo Masani wrote in 1966.

Indian bureaucracy should be given incentives and rewards: MH Mody

Is there a place for a counter-bureaucracy, or a separate and competing bureaucracy to counterbalance the force of the executive’s bureaucracy, asked author MH Mody in 1980.

On Camera

A stronger Iran has emerged from the rubble. US learned the lesson 40 days late

The US and Israel’s assassinations of Iranian leadership ended up bestowing martyrdom on those killed. Shias saw the deaths as a continuity of martyrdom from the Battle of Karbala.

Data centre gold rush risks blackouts, central electricity body warns states against tripping grids

India’s fast-growing data centre sector may strain state electricity networks; Central Electricity Authority has urged Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Tamil Nadu to boost capacity.

Theaterisation proposal to be shared with defence ministry in a week or so—CDS Gen Anil Chauhan

Theaterisation, which aims to divide the forces into three theatres with specific areas of responsibility, will become the single most far-reaching reform that the Indian military has witnessed since independence.

China insulated itself against energy shocks. India is ‘all talk, no walk’

China patiently invested capital, skill and technology in coal gasification. Unlike it, we won’t move from words to action. As crude prices decline, we lose interest.