In his latest book, Looking Away: Inequality, Prejudice, and Indifference in New India, Harsh Mander argues that since India opened up its economy in the 1990s, its citizens have become increasingly marginalized and society more polarized. In his view, as poverty and homelessness have increased in both urban and rural settings, the state has abandoned its responsibility to provide for the poor, while the middle class now avoids even the basic impulses of sharing.
At the same time, the overwhelming win by the Bharatiya Janata Party in 2014 on the strength of its economically liberal agenda suggests that many in India believe the best way to achieve better government and progress is through relaxed regulation that places primacy on innovation and growth.
This tension has raised some interesting questions for exploration: as India strives to achieve good governance, should free markets or a rights-based approach take priority? Can India do both without sacrificing one, and if so, what implications does it have for the current model of government? This discussion examines issues of inclusion and social inequality in the Indian context and explores the relevance of these debates for other developing countries.
Speakers
- Harsh Mander is a social worker and writer who works with survivors of mass violence, homeless persons, and street children. He is a founding member of the National Campaign for the People’s Right to Information and previously served on India’s National Advisory Council.
- Sanjay Patil (moderator) is a program officer with the Public Health Program.