The Liberal Position

Summary

“The Liberal Position” is the members’ newsletter of the Indian Liberal Group; this is its inaugural issue (No. 1, October 2001), issued from the Group’s Mumbai national headquarters and marked “For Private Circulation only.” The issue has two parts. The first is a long signed letter from ILG President S. V. Raju that doubles as an editorial: it introduces the newsletter, reminds members of the liberal values that led them to revive and reorganise the ILG in 2000, reports on the Group’s website and its recent seminars and chapter activities across India, and shares (anonymised) member responses to a candid status report admitting the organisation’s slow progress. The second part is “Annexure (A),” a detailed set of draft amendments to the ILG’s Constitution proposed by Raju, aimed at simplifying the organisational structure ahead of the Group’s First National Convention (tentatively February 2002). The issue also tells members that a reprint of founder Minoo Masani’s book “We Indians” — funded by the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust — is enclosed.

Essays

President’s letter / ‘Dear Friend’ (inaugural editorial)

By S. V. Raju, President

President S. V. Raju’s inaugural letter frames “The Liberal Position” as a medium to bridge the “digital divide” among members (those with and without internet access) and to strengthen fraternal bonds. He restates the ILG’s shared values — freedom, responsibility, tolerance, social justice, equality of opportunity — and its defence of personal liberty, free expression, association, property and the right to information. He explains why the ILG, founded in 1964 as essentially a debating group, was reorganised in 2000 to become action-oriented, and laments that liberalisation begun in 1991 has stalled while corruption corrodes public morality. The letter promotes the Group’s new website (www.liberalsindia.com), lists current public-policy debates and a calendar of 2001 seminars and chapter inaugurations (Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Vidarbha, Maharashtra), and reproduces frank member feedback on the ILG’s slow growth, including calls for a strong centre, high-profile members, and a focus on a few concrete projects.

• Inaugural editorial letter from ILG President S. V. Raju.
• Newsletter conceived to bridge members’ ‘digital divide’ and strengthen fraternal bonds.
• Restates ILG’s liberal values and its 2000 reorganisation from a 1964 debating group into an action-oriented body.
• Argues liberalisation has stalled since 1991 and that corruption is a graver threat than terrorism.
• Promotes the new website and lists 2001 seminars and new state chapters (AP, Kerala, Vidarbha, Maharashtra).
• Publishes candid, anonymised member responses on the organisation’s slow progress.

Annexure (A): Draft Amendments to the Constitution of the Indian Liberal Group

By Suggested by S. V. Raju, President, ILG

“Annexure (A): Draft Amendments to the Constitution of the Indian Liberal Group,” suggested by President S. V. Raju, proposes a sweeping simplification of the ILG’s organisational structure. Articles 1-3 (Name, Objectives, Headquarters) are left unchanged; the amendments begin at Article 4, replacing the existing tiers (National Council, National Executive, State Councils, State and District Committees) with a leaner structure of National Executive, State Chapters and Local Chapters. The annexure invites members to respond by 10 November 2001, sets out interim arrangements vesting authority in an ad-hoc National Executive (capped at twelve members) until organisational elections, and targets the holding of the First National Convention (and approval of the amendments) by early 2002.

• Draft amendments to the ILG Constitution proposed by President S. V. Raju.
• Articles 1-3 unchanged; revisions begin at Article 4 (Organisation).
• Replaces multi-tier structure with National Executive, State Chapters and Local Chapters for simplicity and flexibility.
• Members invited to comment by 10 November 2001, ahead of the First National Convention (tentatively 16-17 Feb 2002).
• Interim arrangements vest power in an ad-hoc National Executive (max 12 members) until elections.

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