Manmohan Singh's legacy as a "liberal" is emblematic of the contradictions inherent in the neoliberal project that has swept India since the 1990s. While Singh's decency as a public figure is often extolled, his economic policies marked a historic capitulation to capital's global imperatives, institutionalizing inequality under the guise of modernization. What is often overlooked in these tributes is that the term "neoliberalism" itself has been co-opted by capitalist forces to market a deeply conservative, hierarchical agenda as a liberating and progressive movement.
Far from embodying the values of emancipation, equality, and justice traditionally associated with liberalism, neoliberalism in India has entrenched wealth disparities and undermined democratic institutions. As the World Inequality Lab aptly notes, India's "Billionaire Raj" is more unequal than even the exploitative British colonial regime. The reforms championed by Singh, far from ushering in a golden era of liberalism, laid the groundwork for today's corporate-dominated, exclusionary politics and the rise of Hindu nationalism—a stark departure from the secular, egalitarian ideals of India's independence movement.
In this context, the last true liberals in India are not the architects of neoliberalism but the communists of Kerala, who continue to uphold a vision of society rooted in social justice, public welfare, and collective emancipation. Kerala's commitment to universal education, healthcare, and progressive labor rights starkly contrasts with the neoliberal commodification of these essential services. The state's communist-led governance offers an alternative that aligns with the original spirit of liberal values, emphasizing equity and human dignity over market supremacy.
Thus, to mourn Singh as India's "last liberal" is to misread the trajectory of India's political economy. It is not neoliberal technocrats but those resisting the capital-first order—whether through the Left's steadfast advocacy for workers' rights or Kerala's example of people-centric governance—who carry the torch.