How has India changed in your lifetime? | Jagdish Bhagwati | Big Think

TL;DR

This video analyzes the impact of the Gujarati community's tradition of social work and the speaker's upbringing on his interest in economics and belief in free trade.

Transcript

I was born in Bombay now known as Mumbai uh in 1934 and I was deeply influenced by the fact that um the people from the state of Gujarat because the whole state bipoc into Gujarat and Maharashtra once you know we got independence and people states are reorganized along linguistic lines it used to be a common it used to be known as a Bombay presiden... Read More

Key Insights

• 💪 The Gujarati community has a strong tradition of social work and business orientation, making them the largest community of Indians abroad.
• 💦 Mahatma Gandhi harnessed this tradition for social good and inspired others, including the speaker's family, to contribute to public interest litigation and social work.
• 🖐️ Social mobility and values-based upbringing played a significant role in the speaker's successful career and those of his siblings.
• 🥺 The upbringing instilled the belief that education is paramount, leading the speaker to emphasize its importance to younger generations.
• 🫵 The speaker's interest in economics was influenced by teachers at Cambridge who viewed it as an instrument for social change rather than solely a theoretical discipline.
• 🥹 The lack of financial resources during the speaker's upbringing cultivated frugality and gratitude, which continued to shape his perspective on economics.
• 👮 The speaker's family has a history of significant achievements in fields like law, neurosurgery, and metallurgy, driven by values instilled in their upbringing.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did the Gujarati community's tradition of social work influence the speaker?

The Gujarati community's tradition of social work, which was built upon by leaders like Gandhi, deeply influenced the speaker's upbringing and his belief in using economics as a tool for social upliftment.

Q: What motivated the speaker to pursue economics over law?

The speaker's interest in economics was sparked by his teachers at Cambridge, who focused on using economics as a means to bring about positive social change, unlike the limited perception of law at that time.

Q: How did the speaker's upbringing impact his career and values?

The speaker's upbringing in a large family with limited financial resources fostered a strong emphasis on education, values, and social mobility, which contributed to his successful career in economics.

Q: What is the speaker's perspective on free trade?

The speaker believes in free trade as a means to promote overall prosperity and uplift people, rather than being driven by corporate interests, but acknowledges the need to supplement it with other policies.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The speaker was born in Bombay (now Mumbai) in 1934 and was influenced by the Gujarati community's strong tradition of social work and business orientation.

• The speaker's family had a history of involvement in social work and public interest litigation, with his eldest brother becoming the Chief Justice of India.

• The speaker's upbringing emphasized education and values, leading to successful careers for him and his siblings in fields like economics and neurosurgery.