A New Idea of India: Individual Rights in a Civilisational State

by Harsh Gupta 'Madhusudan'

controlled, constricted economy forces individuals to enter a very specific, limited pool of professions. It also forces individuals to cultivate political connections, besides straitjacketing society into sacrosanct hierarchies—this is the experience India had until the dawn of economic liberalisation in 1991, before which even the wealthy lived in mortal fear of politicians. In contrast, a freer economy accepts individuals as they are and allows them to grow into what they want to become—whether it is an entrepreneur, musician, actor, radio jockey, chef, business executive, danseuse, doctor, fitness instructor, fashion designer, singer or stand-up comedian. It is no coincidence that there has been an explosion of different types of professions in India only since liberalisation took off. If somebody in the 1980s was told that India’s youth could one day aspire to become dieticians, make-up artists or interior decorators, they would simply not have believed it because these professions did not exist as legitimate, remunerative career options.