The Indian Libertarian

Summary

This fortnightly issue of The Indian Libertarian (Vol. VII No. 12, July 15, 1959), edited by Kusum Lotwala in Bombay, gathers the journal’s characteristic mix of free-market economics, anti-planning polemic, and political commentary. The lead editorial debates two Union Education Ministry proposals (compulsory schooling to age 14 and a means-tested scholarship scheme) and cooperative farming; subsequent articles range across international monetary policy (Lawrence Fertig on the dollar), the Kerala communist-government crisis, the public-versus-private-sector debate, India’s Pakistan policy, a critique of Chinese communes, education philosophy, and reports on the emerging Swatantra (New) Party. Through the rendered pages the issue argues a consistent classical-liberal line: that state planning, public-sector expansion, and communist models are economically and politically corrosive, while individual initiative and private enterprise are the engines of development.

Essays

Editorial: Two Educational Proposals

The editorial ‘Two Educational Proposals’ welcomes the Union Education Ministry’s contemplated extension of compulsory education to age 14 by 1975 and a scheme of 10,000 scholarships for poor and deserving students, while regretting the twelve-year delay and warning that without literacy real democracy is impossible. It then turns to cooperative farming as the most controversial subject, citing Minister S. K. Dey and Dr. V. K. R. V. Rao on whether cooperative farming can absorb disguised unemployment, and doubting that it solves the problem of underemployment.

• Backs compulsory education to age 14 and means-tested scholarships
• Calls illiteracy the great handicap to democracy
• Examines cooperative farming as a remedy for disguised rural unemployment
• Cites S. K. Dey and Dr. V. K. R. V. Rao on the farming debate

The Dollar will be on the Defensive

By Lawrence Fertig

Lawrence Fertig argues that the US dollar, long the world’s strongest currency, will come under defensive pressure as other nations’ economies recover and gold and currency convertibility shift. He frames the looming defensive position of the dollar as a consequence of restored convertibility and changing trade balances among the leading economies.

• Predicts the dollar will move onto the defensive internationally
• Links the shift to restored currency convertibility
• Reads recovery of other economies as the driving cause

Aspects of the Kerala Crisis

By MA Venkata Rao

M. A. Venkata Rao examines the Kerala crisis, where the elected Communist state government’s Education Act and policies provoked a mass agitation. He weighs the constitutional position and the question of central intervention against a duly elected government, treating the episode as a test of Indian democracy’s response to communist rule at the state level.

• Analyses the agitation against Kerala’s Communist government
• Centres on the Kerala Education Act as the flashpoint
• Weighs the constitutional question of central intervention

Public Versus Private Secret

By M. N. Tholal

M. N. Tholal contrasts the public and private sectors, arguing that the public sector’s expansion in transport and services produces inefficiency while private initiative serves the public better. He uses examples such as bus services and a central secretariat to press the case against state monopoly and for private enterprise.

• Defends the private sector over the expanding public sector
• Cites bus services and administrative bloat as evidence
• Argues private initiative serves the public more efficiently

India’s Pakistan Policy

By Balraj Puri

Balraj Puri examines India’s Pakistan policy, arguing for a realistic approach to relations between the two countries and weighing emotional versus national-interest considerations in shaping foreign policy toward Pakistan.

• Assesses India’s policy toward Pakistan
• Distinguishes emotional reactions from national interest
• Argues for a realistic bilateral approach

The Truth About Communes

By T. L. Kantam

T. L. Kantam critiques the Chinese commune system, tracing the ‘Great Leap Forward’ and the communes’ absorption of private property, land, livestock and family ties into collective ownership. Drawing on the party organ Jen-min jih-pao, he reads the communes as the last stage in communizing the whole Chinese economy and warns of the crisis they have brought within China.

• Critiques China’s commune system and the Great Leap Forward
• Describes progressive abolition of private property
• Quotes the party organ Jen-min jih-pao on collectivization
• Reads communes as a crisis within Communist China

Why Creative Education?

By Anthony Ellenjimittan

Anthony Ellenjimittan argues that education in modern times has become a department of government, with both communist and fascist states enforcing uniform educational patterns to mould citizens. He criticises Indian schools’ scramble for government recognition and grants, praises pioneering independent educators such as Gandhi, Tagore and Sri Aurobindo, and invokes Plato, Socrates and Aristotle to call for a creative education that preserves individual freedom rather than serving state ends.

• Warns education has become a department of the state
• Likens government recognition to communist/fascist control
• Praises Gandhi, Tagore and Aurobindo as independent educators
• Calls for creative education preserving individual freedom

America’s First Millionaire Family

By Norman Casserley

Norman Casserley sketches the history of America’s first millionaire family, the Astors, beginning with John Jacob Astor’s fortune built in the fur trade and the move into Manhattan real estate, as an illustrative tale of American wealth.

• Profiles the Astor family as America’s first millionaires
• Traces John Jacob Astor’s fur-trade fortune
• Notes the shift into New York real estate

Congress and the New Party

By S. M.

Writing as ‘S. M.’, this ‘Hindustan Times’ piece discusses the formation of the new Swatantra Party and its relation to the Congress. It weighs Rajagopalachari’s role and whether a credible conservative or free-enterprise opposition can emerge to challenge the dominant Congress, set against Nehru’s leadership.

• Discusses the launch of the new Swatantra Party
• Assesses its prospects against Congress dominance
• Centres on Rajagopalachari’s role

India and America

By G N Lawande

G. N. Lawande reports on a lecture by A. D. Shroff, well-known economist and founder of the Forum of Free Enterprise, on America and India under the Indo-American Society’s auspices. Shroff argues there is no hostility in America toward India, that American investors are willing to invest if a proper climate is created, that capitalism is not in decay in America, and that the saving habit of the American people enables them to face any recession; he praises Radhakrishnan and G. L. Mehta for building goodwill.

• Reports A. D. Shroff’s lecture under the Indo-American Society
• Shroff sees no American hostility toward India
• Argues a proper climate would attract US investment
• Rejects the idea that capitalism is in decay in America

Congress “A Selfish and Greedy Party”

By “C. R.”

Under the byline ‘C. R.’, this piece reproduces a ‘Socialist Programme is Denounced’ commentary in which Rajagopalachari attacks the Congress and its socialist programme, charging it with becoming ‘a selfish and greedy party.’ It frames Rajaji’s denunciation of Congress economic policy and the case for the new opposition.

• Reproduces Rajagopalachari’s denunciation of the Congress
• Brands Congress ‘a selfish and greedy party’
• Attacks the Congress socialist programme

News Digest

The News Digest collects short national news items, including reports of arrests of Kerala communists by the Red government, agitation gathering strength, allegations of nepotism, and a debate over English as a medium of instruction. It functions as the issue’s roundup of current political developments.

• Roundup of short national news items
• Reports on the Kerala agitation and arrests
• Notes a debate over English as medium of instruction

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