Most countries in South Asia have now moved to open economies from the statist consensus of the first couple of decades after independence. However there is still a marked tendency to rely on statism for social goods. In this context, India has shown the benefits of greater choice in the manner in which literacy has improved over the last decade, running parallel as it were with economic growth.

In this article Parth Shah deals with the problems that still remain, and the mindset that needs to be overcome. The experiences on which the article is based show how, even in the face of restrictions, the desire for freedom and choice will assert itself. The example of Kerala which he cites shows how easy and productive it is to escape from a straitjacket of dogma. When that is understood, the potential for massive improvements might be realised in accordance with fundamental liberal principles.