ThoughtGallery.org > Gurcharan Das: ‘India Grows At Night’

Gurcharan Das: ‘India Grows At Night’

Join Asia Society for a discussion with Gurcharan Das about his latest book, India Grows at Night: A Liberal Case For A Strong State. The program will be moderated by The program will be moderated by Vishakha N. Desai, President Emerita of Asia Society.

When two Indians sit down to chat, they quickly agree that their country is rising despite the state, and cynically sum up their country’s story of private success and public failure as “India grows at night while the government sleeps.” But how could a nation become the world&’s second-fastest growing economy despite a weak, flailing state? And shouldn’t India also grow during the day? The recent slowdown is a sign that India may have begun to experience the limits of growing at night.

What India needs, Gurcharan Das says, is a strong liberal state. Such a state would have the authority to take quick, decisive action; it would have a rule of law to ensure those actions are legitimate; and finally, it would be accountable to the people. But achieving this will not be easy because India has historically had a weak state and a strong society.











When: Thu., Dec. 5, 2013 at 6:30 pm
Where: Asia Society and Museum
725 Park Ave.
212-288-6400
Price: $15
Buy tickets/get more info now
See other events in these categories:

Join Asia Society for a discussion with Gurcharan Das about his latest book, India Grows at Night: A Liberal Case For A Strong State. The program will be moderated by The program will be moderated by Vishakha N. Desai, President Emerita of Asia Society.

When two Indians sit down to chat, they quickly agree that their country is rising despite the state, and cynically sum up their country’s story of private success and public failure as “India grows at night while the government sleeps.” But how could a nation become the world&’s second-fastest growing economy despite a weak, flailing state? And shouldn’t India also grow during the day? The recent slowdown is a sign that India may have begun to experience the limits of growing at night.

What India needs, Gurcharan Das says, is a strong liberal state. Such a state would have the authority to take quick, decisive action; it would have a rule of law to ensure those actions are legitimate; and finally, it would be accountable to the people. But achieving this will not be easy because India has historically had a weak state and a strong society.

Buy tickets/get more info now