Sauvik V Raju: Confusing ends and means

[Parth J Shah <parth@ccsindia.org>]

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Mr. Raju writes:

"Just as Chakraverti dreams of a vibrant night life in cities as an
ideal of a liberal society, I dream of a society where our villages are
well connected by roads, where every farmer plouging the land has the
most modern implements; of a panchayat which dispenses justice without
being influenced by caste and hierarchical considerations; where every
hut has
an electric connetion and piped water so that our women do not have to
trudge many kilometers to fetch potable water; of decently built school
houses with teachers actually present instead of being  present only on
payrolls; of such school children decently clad and decently nourished;
where primary health centres do indeed cater to the primary health needs
of the community well equipped with medicines and staffed,  if not by a
doctor, by at least  para medical personnel; where instant communication
with the outside world and information on a variety of matters from land
records, to weather conditions are available to any farmer at the click
of a mouse; where.... And this is not a small dream. "


Indeed not a small dream.  But who would be AGAINST good transport,
electric connection, piped water, medical care, education, and mouse or
mice on every desk!  Even the die-hard Marxists would not dispute the
goals.  Wouldn't Naxalites say this is exactly what they are fighting
for--A Big Dream?

But the debate is not about the ENDS. It is about the MEANS.  What means
are more likely to help fulfill the Big Dream?  The answers given by
liberals are different from, say, those given by Marxists.  I don't need
to spell out the differences for this audience.

Mr. Raju's point of contention, I submit, is not really an issue of
debate.  Or does his liberalism object to "vibrant night life" in cities
or villages?  If that is the case, then of couse we liberals need to
debate--whether desire of an individual for a "vibrant night life"  is
illiberal. That would be an issue to contest.

But let's not confuse ends and the means.
parth-



--
Dr. Parth J. Shah                        Eamil: parth@ccsindia.org
President                                Web: http://www.ccsindia.org
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