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This book wants to answer the question “How liberal is India?” Experts in their respective fields share their perspectives on themes and facets of India’s history, politics, the society and the economy with a focus on the overriding question. The essays provide insights into areas of importance for liberal governance. Taken together, the chapters give a conclusive perspective on the state of liberalism in this country.

While India has a long way to go before she may be termed a liberal democracy, this book shows that Indian liberals—in spite of many arguments—have more in common than what holds them apart. This is a strong base to move ahead—and continue the never-ending quest for more freedom for all.

Contents: 1. Introduction/Ronald Meinardus. 2. Liberal Ideas in India’s History of Thought/Karthik Shankar. 3. Was Gandhi a Liberal?/Barun S. Mitra. 4. Is the Indian Constitution Liberal?/Sudhir Krishnaswamy. 5. Why India does not have a Liberal Party?/Kumar Anand. 6. Democracy, Federalism and Local Governments/Jayaprakash Narayan. 7. The Idea of Justice and the Ideal of Liberalism in India/Sanjoy Hazarika and Sarthak Roy. 8. The Mixed Bag of Economic Freedom/Seetha. 9. Poverty Alleviation and the Market Economy: Voices from the Ground/Ambrish Mehta. 10. Digital India: Chances and Challenges to Individual Freedom/Nikhil Pahwa. 11. Liberalism in Hinduism/Hindol Sengupta. 12. Gender Politics and the State of Women Empowerment: A Feminist Perspective/Japleen Pasricha. 13. Section 377 and Beyond: A New Era for Transgender Equality?/Jayna Kothari. 14. Navigating Through Education Policies, Principles and Practices: A Personal Journey/Parth Shah. 15. India’s Conditional Press Freedom/Pramit Pal Chaudhuri. 16. Old Country, New Ideas: How Liberal Is India’s Youth?/Harish Alagappa. 17. Indicators, Ratings, Rankings: India’s Performance in International Governance Surveys/Ronald Meinardus.