RAJAJI LIFE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

Freedom and Democracy are essential for growth and development of the natlon. Rajaji's far-sighted economic policies and ideologies based on freedom are the way for quick economic prospe' rity and social stability. It would strengthen free society. On the other hand, socialism based on "command economy" worked havoc. There are more people today below the poverty line in India than ever before. The gains of the economy have been cornered by the corrupt politicians, bureaucracy and sycophant businessmen. The stability of the society is in danger. In 1957, I had the privilege of meeting Rajaji for the first time. In the course of the talk, he told me: "Tell business men to give up their fears and boldly speak out their views on economic policies on what is good for the country." When I mentioned to Rajaji the difficulty of such a task in view of the fear complex of many business men, he counselled: "There is nothing to be afraid of the Government if one is sincere in the expression of one's views." He gave his own example. Early in his life, there was an occasion to criticise some policy of the then ~r~tish rulers of the country, and all advised him against it saying that the powerful government would crush him. Nevertheless he went ahead, and found to his pleassnt surprise that instead of penalising him in any way, the Government respected him all the more for his frank expression of views in public interest. Further, it went out of the way whenever he had to deal with the Government to accommodate his wishes.