*Toward a Free Economy*

The author is Aditya Balasubramanian and the subtitle is Swatantra and Opposition Politics in Democratic India.  Amartya Sen’s blurb says the following:

Toward a Free Economy is a brilliant history of economic ideas in independent India. It provides a new view of the origins of conservatism in Indian politics, libertarian rather than authoritarian and committed to free markets rather than to Hindu nationalism, which should make a big difference.

Here is one excerpt:

Kusum sacrificed a career as a sports journalist to run the day-to-day operations of the institute [Libertarian Social Institute] during the 1950s.  Her dedication and everyday labor made Indian libertarianism viable.  By this time, her septuagenarian father had retired to a life of reading and writing in the nearby town of Deolali.  Nevertheless, consistent with the patriarchy of the times, the historical record offers far more information about Ranchoddas than Kusum.  Ranchoddas’ obituary merely described Kusum as “the devoted co-worker and collaborator in Mr. Lotvala’s journalistic and ideological work.”  Perhaps she subtly asserted her independence from the strictures of matrimony by signing off documents as “Miss Kusum Lotvala.”  And yet, even this choice took place i nthe context of performing clerical activities on Ranchoddas’ behalf.

The institute was strongly influenced by the American, New York state-based Foundation for Economic Education.  There is also plenty in the book about the influence of Mises.  Recommended and long overdue.