In this episode, Shruti speaks with Nikhil Menon about the history of Indian socialism and central planning, government-artist relationships, economists who dissented from the central-planning orthodoxy, the legacy of P.C. Mahalanobis and much more. Menon is a historian of modern South Asia, specializing in the political and economic history of 20th-century India. His research explores the histories of democracy and development in independent India. His book, “Planning Democracy: Modern India’s Quest for Development,” tells the story of how India wedded western-style democracy and Soviet-inspired economic planning in the middle of the 20th century.

Recorded November 22nd, 2022

Read a full transcript enhanced with helpful links.

Follow us on Twitter

Follow Shruti on Twitter

Click here for the latest Ideas of India episodes sent straight to your inbox.