The Aryavarth Express
Agency(New Delhi): During the launch of his book, “The Dilemma of an Indian Liberal,” Gurcharan Das asserted that the credit for India’s landmark economic reforms in 1991 belongs to former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao and Finance Minister Manmohan Singh, rather than the Congress party. Das criticized the lack of effective communication and promotion of reforms to the public, stressing the importance of selling the benefits of reforms.
Das highlighted the historical significance of the economic reforms of 1991, which transformed India from a closed and controlled economy to an open and liberalized one. Despite the pivotal role played by Narasimha Rao and Manmohan Singh in steering these reforms, Das lamented that they failed to effectively convince their own party, leading to internal resistance within the Congress.
Drawing a parallel with former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Das emphasized the importance of spending time not only on implementing reforms but also on persuading the public about their merits. He criticized successive governments, including those led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Manmohan Singh during the UPA era, and Narendra Modi, for neglecting the crucial task of selling reforms to the public.
Das expressed concern over the prevailing perception among the public that reforms primarily benefit the wealthy while exacerbating inequality. He underscored the need for reformers to bridge this gap and convey the positive impact of reforms on society as a whole.
Furthermore, Das touched upon the current state of India’s democracy, which he believes is showing signs of weakening despite the country’s robust economic growth. He characterized this situation as an irony and a dilemma, reflecting on India’s transition from being admired for its democracy to facing challenges to its liberal democratic values.
“The Dilemma of an Indian Liberal,” published by Speaking Tiger Books, offers insights into these complex issues and is available for purchase both online and offline. Das’s previous works include “India Unbound: From Independence to the Global Information Age,” “The Difficulty of Being Good: On the Subtle Art of Dharma,” and his memoir “Another Sort of Freedom.”