D. R. Pendse on the Indian Liberal Tradition

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_7NoDmhvvA Duration: 391.2s

D. R. Pendse (00:09): In terms of economic policy or economic thinking, we can say there’s a center. Then there is a right of center, which is a — there’s a far right at the extreme end. Then there’s a left of center, which is a complete communist. And then there’s a center. Isn’t it? There is center. So somebody — are, are you a liberal? I mean, somebody asked me, are you a liberal? I would say, what is a liberal? Well, if you say, do you believe in a right of center policy? I say, yes. Now if you look at that, I’m talking mainly from the point of view of economic policy, as economy. So my approach is that at present, I find that liberal policy, or policies which the so-called liberals would have favored, are being favored. So although there are some — subject to some exceptions, but although never before in the last twenty, forty, fifty years, the policies have been so close to the world thinking. Because since last year, BJP government taking over, whatever broad orders we see as a policy, the government policy, seem to be broadly close to the world thinking. Not exactly equal to, but close to. They’re closer to the world thinking than ever before. So I’m going by that. So if I’m going by that, the — so, so then that I say, yes. I, I favor liberal — liberal — I, I definitely favor right of center economic policy. That is, if that is liberalism, yes, I am, I am liberal. But unless you define what is a liberal, or unless you say these are liberal party, and are you a member? I said, no, I’m not a member of any party. Well, I mean, that’s broadly what we have. You see, people say, lone liberal, lone warrior, Raju. But why lone warrior? Whatever he was aspiring, whatever he was fighting for is won. The liberal values are weak now. So we should celebrate whatever he was fighting for, whatever we all wanted — our present policies are close to that. They are not exactly equal, but are close, closer than ever before. So that is what I’m — saying, looking at it, unless you have a proper definition of a liberal — so unless you have a — I, I don’t think there is a definition of a liberal party. So if there is no — that is why I, I find it very difficult to answer the question when you use the word liberal, Indian liberal group. I mean, I can understand liberal group. So, anyway, with that, that is a broad thing. I’m definitely in favor of economic policy — on the whole, the government policies to be, let, right of center. At present, they are on the whole right of center. They are more — they are closer to what most liberals would have liked than ever before. So to that extent, liberals are winning, in my opinion, to that extent, and I’m happy about it. So with that, I’m — with that preface, I’m giving the answer to that. Now when you say Rajaji, I never met Rajaji, I do not really know. Isn’t it? He wanted to see how he can get across the laws and all that sort. That is also important. Palkhivala was not a politician. He was an ambassador and all that — that is a separate thing. But that is it. Then MRP, he was the implementer. He was the, what do you call, media man. So he knew what the things — knew the conclusions of this thing, he knew how to put them across. Forum of Free Enterprise was a model through which he used that, which is — which is also important. There’s no use having all the things in a book. They will be carried forward to the people. So Forum of Free Enterprise was one way of doing it. So he did extremely well. So I’m not — but there are four different categories. Rajaji, Palkhivala, Minoo Masani, and Vinaymar. They’re all important, but they are all in different categories, all generally favoring the right of center economic policy. And they all should be very happy about the present day. That’s what I’m saying. And I did not know Rajaji. I knew Minoo Masani only — to some extent I knew him. But, of course, I have the greatest respect for public opinion, developing public opinion, creating public opinion, and getting things done.