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Tuesday, September 2, 2025
TopicIndian Liberals Matter

Topic: Indian Liberals Matter

From Vedanta, India turned to Nehruvian socialism and buried its liberal roots: Sharad Joshi

An Indian Hitler will have to be exceptionally lucky to survive for any length of time. This much hope ought to be enough for seekers of liberty and equality, wrote Sharad Anantrao Joshi, president of Swatantra Bharat Paksh party, in 1995.

Planning for the free market, not state control, will lift India out of poverty: BR Shenoy

A free-market system based on consumer sovereignty, with the state confined to essential public functions would generate much faster growth, Shenoy wrote in 1963.

Like a gambler, govts squandered India’s legacy through mindless socialism: Nani Palkhivala

Our brand of socialism did not result in transfer of wealth from the rich to the poor but only from the honest rich to the dishonest rich, lawyer-jurist Nani A Palkhivala said in 1991.

Bank nationalisation will be a blow to India’s mixed economy, lead to totalitarianism: Phiroze Shroff

If banks were to be nationalised, politicians would start interfering with bank officials and put undue pressure on them, Prof Shroff wrote in 1963.

Socialist planners aggravated unemployment problem

Planning Commission couldn't tackle unemployment because new job opportunities in large-scale industries producing consumer goods were not created, wrote GN Lawande in 1963.

Socialism doesn’t deliver prosperity or produce equality. Does it give freedom? Of course not

‘If socialism does not serve the purposes for which it was intended, that is, moving towards a freer and more equal society, is liberalism the alternative?’ wrote Minoo Masani in 1966.

Socialism hinders India’s industrial growth. We need free enterprise first

‘The tirade against capitalism is wholly unfounded. Capitalism as it has shaped during the past quarter of a century is a far better method of developing the economic resources of any country,’ wrote DN Hosali in 1956.

Private enterprise didn’t fail in India. JN Tata’s steel dream soared despite British ridicule

‘Nationalisation of the Imperial Bank and recently nationalisation of life insurance have dealt further blows to Private Enterprise and made capital more and more shy', wrote AD Shroff in his 1956 essay.

Private enterprise built India’s industries. Now it’s strangled by Gods in Delhi

Political authority and economic power are now concentrated in the hands of ministers and bureaucracy. Democracy is bound to degenerate into dictatorship, wrote MA Master in August 1960.

Prices, like water, will find their own level. Controls breed vested interests: Minoo Masani

‘A British economist has said that to try to stop prices by controls is like a lady going to a surgeon to remove her double chin—the thing comes out at the back of her neck in a bump,' wrote Minoo Masani in November 1966.

On Camera

China will be more central to India now. Though an anti-US unity is premature

Even with the option of EU markets, China will have to be a significant part of India’s economic policy. But the difficult security relationship is an important complication.

A Rs 33,000 cr ‘banking fraud’: ED’s case against Arvind Dham, Amtek’s web of ‘500 shell companies’

ED has accused Amtek promoter Arvind Dham of controlling web of nearly 500 shell companies operating as a layered structure, with up to 15 levels of indirect ownership, to divert funds.

‘Real-time, all-climate’ explosives detector could enhance airport & border security—no dogs, no swabs

Bengaluru-based CeNS designs accurate, portable, and cheap sensor using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. It could significantly reduce risks at vulnerable choke points. 

For Indian Mercedes, Asim Munir’s dumper truck in mirror is closer than it appears

From Munir’s point of view, a few bumps here and there is par for the course. He isn’t going to drive his dumper truck to its doom. He wants to use it as a weapon.