Rajaji: The forgotten champion of free enterprise in India

By N.S. Venkataraman* 
Ever since independence, India has honoured its national leaders and freedom fighters on their birth anniversaries, particularly Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru. Continuing this tradition, since 2014 Prime Minister Narendra Modi has regularly highlighted the contributions of figures such as Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. While these leaders rightly receive recognition, many others who made significant sacrifices for the nation remain relatively less acknowledged. Among them is C. Rajagopalachari—popularly known as Rajaji.
Rajaji was a multifaceted leader who played a pivotal role in the freedom movement and later in shaping ethical public life and democratic values in independent India. He wrote and spoke extensively on philosophy, social reform, prohibition, and moral standards in governance, and was known for his clarity of thought and conviction.
One of Rajaji’s most distinctive contributions was his advocacy of free enterprise as essential for rapid economic growth. He firmly believed that governments should govern—rather than run businesses—and argued against the heavy state control that dominated post-independence economic policy. During the decades of public-sector expansion and the “permit-licence-quota raj,” he warned that excessive restrictions on private enterprise would hinder national progress.
Rajaji maintained that personal ambition, goal-setting, and profit-making were not unethical pursuits, provided they were grounded in fairness and healthy competition. He expressed strong faith in the energy and innovation of individuals and the private sector, and believed that large-scale investment and enterprise-driven growth were necessary to address inequality and lift millions out of poverty.
Over time, India discovered the limitations of rigid socialist planning. Economic reforms gradually opened space for private participation, and in recent years the focus on entrepreneurship and investment has intensified. Since 2014, the Modi government has emphasised private initiative and economic liberalization, including moves such as opening the nuclear sector to private participation. Support programmes such as Start-up India, Atmanirbhar Bharat, the Clean India mission, and the national promotion of yoga reflect an effort to build a culture of individual responsibility and innovation.
Rajaji was not opposed to the public sector; he only insisted that it should not grow at the cost of private enterprise. Today, as India rises as the world’s fourth-largest economy, the relevance of his vision appears clearer than ever.
Rajaji’s foresight and his advocacy of free enterprise deserve wider recognition. His birthday on December 10 and his death anniversary on December 25 offer an appropriate moment to remember his contribution to India’s economic thought and national development. Prime Minister Modi, who has often spoken about the power of individual initiative, would do well to highlight Rajaji’s ideas and acknowledge his enduring legacy.
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*Trustee, Nandini Voice For The Deprived, Chennai