"The Dilemma of an Indian Liberal" by Gurcharan Das

"The Dilemma of an Indian Liberal" by Gurcharan Das
About the author: Gurcharan Das is a celebrated author and public intellectual. He is a best-selling author of India Unbound: From Independence to the Global Information Age, The Difficulty of Being Good: On the Subtle Art of Dharma, Kama: The Riddle of Desire and Another Sort of Freedom. He has been a regular columnist for the Times of India and his writings have also appeared in the Financial Times, Wall Street Journal, among others.
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[@prajwalmodak8865]

This is such an amazing talk! Thanks for sharing

[@sumantrawat5586]

I hope that this talk is viewed and heard both by the BJP and Congress leaders. How much of an effect it might have is anybody's guess. But thank you Mr. Gurcharan Das for bringing some sense and reason to the National Dialogue !

[@Oceansta]

Fantastic insights by the gentleman. Much appreciated.

[@atman2952]

Till 90s India offered freedom of speech? Lol big time. What happened to Rangeela Rasul? Nehru was the first one to pass laws to curb free speech. Read Tripurdaman Singh's sixteen stormy days.

[@KrishnaIyer01]

My friend - Better you keep Tripurdaman Singh's book !!! The book by Gurucharan Das is for open minded Liberals and those of us who love our Freedom. It is not those who nitpick, and move to extremes to prove a point. The wise man that Gurucharan Das is, he leaves with the fact that "there is Hope for Liberalism" !!!

[@oyehoyemon2286]

​​@@KrishnaIyer01by defn that's not how a liberal would engage with some opposing idea to their own.
But snark aside, realise why this rhetoric is applied. It stems from
1) obfuscation of classical liberal to the newer left leaning type in Indian discourse, i.e making people think batting for first principle liberal ideas = Marxism/socialism which couldn't be further from the truth
2) Petty Revenge, self anointed liberals (INC) pulled every trick in the book in the first 50 years and now some feel it's fair to repay it in kind, over taking the high road to construct a more liberal polity.
What could we do going forward?
1) Assuage the critique of selectivity used by Indian RW supports by calling out more illiberal ideas across the political aisle
2) holding the govt accountable for future illiberal transgressions.
Failing to do both would only alienate the sides more killing the idea of liberalism in India.

[@yj9032]

Most of the books banned by Nehru were to appease Hindus, freedom of speech had its issues here until 90s, but don’t pretend the beneficiaries weren’t people like you. Nowadays, it has become even more dangerous to speak freely (Google Gauri Lankesh).
Please check you facts. 😂 you Anand Ranganathan fans should do more research instead of waving around your imaginary victim card.

[@TusharSharma-k6h]

​@@yj9032 bro SP MLA Giving speech of we will boti boti PM and CM and of openly and in framer protest the same thing happened. Giving death threat to PM of India by Khalistan's what other do you need ...

[@yushpi]

​@@yj9032 The motive behind the Gauri Lankesh is unestablished yet. The beheadings on Nupur Sharmas statements are more recent. Drop your masks all of you!

[@KrishnaIyer01]

Wisdom from a wise man like you is to be Cherished for generations. As always, Wisdom dawns late, and gets picked up by the younger and open generation, who are eager for a Change, versus the usual Adults of our Generation, who as Age goes by, get Adulterated (if they have not retained their openess and youthful inquiries and curiosities) !!!

[@sbaskaran7638]

Gurcharan obviously forgotten Emergency in 1975, “ Indira is India”,
“ Committed Judiciary” of 70s, Attempt to introduce “ Press control” bills by PC ( later withdrawn under pressure) , Sacking of Hirudaya Mangeshkar by AIR under direction by Nehru for broadcasting a song Savarkar, virtual colonisation by left of JNU and other academic Institutions.
Was he under spell of some sedatives then?

[@AmanSharma-sl5vg]

1. Sanskriti is more superior and scientific language even laguage scientist in world is preaching sanskriti. English was imposed so its our dharma to free ourself and choose excellence ie Sanskrit.
2. Secularism is blasphemy in Islam. They never endorses the idea but Hindus are forced to accept Secularism that has caused atrocities for hindus as minority in Iindia and outside. Thats why the society is tiered of this inequality.
Liberals needs to understand that there was a world before West became the power center. There was scientific languages and mathematics before English. There was takshilas before Libraries. There was loktantra rajya samiti modals before Democracy. There is a hidden treasure but first acknowledge and follow the trail of the roots.

[@theodiscusgaming3909]

there is no "superior" or "scientific" language, such an idea is just racism

[@yushpi]

​@@theodiscusgaming3909 racism? Really?😂

[@RyanReynolds-l8y]

Anderson Karen Robinson Kevin Taylor Karen

[@royenlawyer6045]

What crappy explanation regarding nasasiya Sukta. There were no “sides” debating. There are no asking the Brahmins and saying that they are argumentative.
It is the sweet smooth lies of the liberal which put off the patriots.
He is at pains to declare that BJP is more reformist and during its rule seen less religious violence. But then…he is a liberal and therefore has to being in IsIamophobia.

[@ravishekharvishal6145]

Nonsense....