This website is maintained by the Centre for Civil Society (CCS) and supported by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom.

Forum of Free Enterprise
Economics of Freedom

The Forum of Free Enterprise (FFE) was set up in the year 1956 by A D Shroff. It was established with the idea of organizing like-minded people to counter the socialistic and anti-private sector propaganda of the Nehru government. His vision was to keep the organization non-partisan and non-political in nature. His unequivocal statement was that “We are not a political organization. Our main, if not the only, objective is of an educative character.”

The forum believed in educating and shaping public opinion towards ideas of a free society and to dismantle the myths about free enterprise that were created by the government.

The council of management included some prominent liberals of the time including S K Sen, M A Sreenivasan, Sardar Mohan Singh, Narayan Dandekar, Minoo Masani, F S Mulla, T M Desai, K C Cooper, F P Mehta, M A Master and many more liberals championing the cause of free enterprise.

Since its establishment in July 1956 till January 2010, the forum has published a total of 674 booklets on vital subjects related to economics and free enterprise. Prominent economists, businessmen and industrialists, educationists and numerous scholars have penned these booklets. They reached a great number of readers in over 9,500 colleges and management institutes, members of parliament, over 25 chambers of commerce.

The legendary budgetary speeches given by the great liberal Nani A Palkhivala were first delivered from the platform of Forum of Free Enterprise in March of 1958. The attendance reached a staggering 100,000 during the last three budgetary speeches that Palkhivala delivered. These attendees were a part of one of the biggest gatherings of people anywhere in the world on an economic subject.

The Forum is still alive and active in educating and spreading ideas of free enterprise as visualized by its founding fathers.

Issues

Controlling Inflation in India – BR Shenoy (1977)

This musing is an excerpt from BR Shenoy’s essay “Controlling Inflation in India” published by the Forum of Free Enterprise in their booklet titled “The Basic Truth About Inflation”. The essay focuses on the resolution of separation of official claims and market-based observations. The article emphasizes the strategies that needed to be adopted in controlling inflation through the review of how the trends started taking place.

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A Blueprint for Eradication of Poverty – Dr B.P. Godrej (1980)

Produced below is an excerpt from an essay titled “A Blueprint for Eradication of Poverty” by Dr B.P. Godrej, published by the Forum of Free Enterprise in December 1980. Through the essay, Dr Godrej critiques the public sector’s inefficiencies in addressing poverty and unemployment. He highlights the widespread malnutrition and lack of economic progress, advocating...
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A Blueprint for Eradication of Poverty – Dr BP Godrej (1980)

Produced below is an excerpt from an essay titled “A Blueprint for Eradication of Poverty” by Dr B.P. Godrej, published by the Forum of Free Enterprise in December 1980. Through the essay, Dr Godrej critiques the public sector’s inefficiencies in addressing poverty and unemployment. He highlights the widespread malnutrition and lack of economic progress, advocating...
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Free Enterprise and Freedom (Murarji Vaidya, 1956)

The following musing is an excerpt from a booklet under the same name, authored by Murarji Vaidya and published by the Forum for Free Enterprise in 1956. The author addresses the objectives of the Second Five Year Plan proposed by the Planning Commission of India – highlighting the restrictions on private enterprise to prevent concentration…

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FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO PROPERTY BY V. M. TARKUNDE (1971)

V.M Tarkunde’s “Fundamental Right to Property” explains how the right to property is fundamental to a human being to enjoy other fundamental rights.

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Democracy in India (1959)

The essay by J M Lobo Prabhu, MP Lok Sabha 1967 traces the development of the Indian constitution factoring in the various influences that have played a role in its making.

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From the industrial Age to the Information Age: Rethinking he regulation of securities markets by Bradley D. Belt

The following booklet titled “From the Industrial Age to the Information Age: Rethinking the regulation of securities markets ” was authored by Bradley D. Belt. The text is reproduced from that of the market conditions in the US and how things in the economy worldwide followed after The Great Depression. Moreover, the author wants to...
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Economic Infirmities will continue under the Union Budet 1996-97 by H. P. Ranina

The following booklet titled “Economic Infirmities will continue under the Union Budget 1996-97 ” was authored by H. P. Ranina. The text is based on a public lecture in Mumbai under the auspices of the Forum of Free Enterprise.  The text begins by explaining the maiden budget speech and its whatabouteries and then the author...
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An Evaluation of Common Minimum Programme by S.S. Bhandare and J.K. Mukhopadhyay (July 15, 1996)

The following booklet titled "An Evaluation of Common Minimum Programme" was published on July 15, 1996, and was authored by S.S. Bhandare and J.K. Mukhopadhyay. The authors in this text applaud the introduction of "A Common Approach to Major Policy Matters and a Minimum Programme" (CMP) by the United Front Government in 1996. They write...
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Forward Trading in Shares by MR. Mayya (April 5, 1996)

The following booklet titled "Forward Trading in Shares" was published on April 5, 1996, and was authored by M.R. Mayya. The text begins with a brief of the history of forward sharing in India. After a ban in 1969, forward sharing was once again permitted by the government in 1983 and was akin to trading...
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Union Budget 1997-98 by H.P. Ranina (March 15, 1997)

The following booklet titled “Union Budget 1997-98: Foundation For An Indian Economic Miracle” authored by H.P. Ranina commences by condoning the efforts of the Finance Minister Mr. P. Chidambaram for making India an attractive investment destination, leading the author to hail him as ‘one of the architects of modern India’. The most laudable efforts include...
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Finance Companies – Agenda For Urgent Action by Dr. A.C. Shah (July 15, 1997)

The following booklet titled “Finance Companies - Agenda For Urgent Action” authored by Dr. A.C. Shah commences by highlighting the important developments in the realm of the Non-Banking Financial Companies, namely, the Reserve Bank of India Act amendment which provides wide sweeping powers to the RBI, and the relaxation of access to credit facilities, which...
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