4th Annual Indian Liberals Lecture by Mr Praveen Chakravarty
The Indian Liberals Annual Lecture is the flagship lecture series of the Centre for Civil Society, dedicated to celebrating and advancing the intellectual legacy of India’s classical liberal thinkers. Anchored in the principles of individual liberty, limited government, and market-based solutions, the lecture provides a platform for distinguished voices to share insights on India’s social, political, and economic landscape. This year, the lecture also marks CCS’s 28th Foundation Day, reaffirming nearly three decades of the Centre’s commitment to shaping public policy through the ideas of freedom and individual dignity.
Speaker Bio:
Praveen Chakravarty is a senior politician with the Congress party. He is also a Visiting Professor of Political Economy at Ashoka University. Before his foray into politics, he was a very successful angel investor including in India’s first unicorn and a senior Wall Street executive. He holds an undergraduate degree from BITS, Pilani and an MBA from The Wharton School.
A desire for public service led Chakravarty to join the Dr. Manmohan Singh government in 2009, first with the Unique Identity program and then with the Prime Minister’s Skills Mission.
After the 2014 elections, he became a scholar in political economy in a think-tank, where he published papers in peer-reviewed journals, articles in leading Indian and international publications.
In 2018, Chakravarty became a full time politician when was invited to formally join the Congress party by then President, Rahul Gandhi and his mentor Dr.Manmohan Singh.
He currently chairs two departments of the party – the All India Professionals’ Congress and Data Analytics.
He is a key member of the Congress’ economic think tank and helped draft the party’s manifestos for the 2024 and 2019 national elections.
Chakravarty is a prolific contributor to India’s policy discourse and has the unique distinction of having co-authored articles with former PM Dr. Manmohan Singh and former FM P. Chidambaram. He is an avid sports buff, an active tennis player, a South Indian classical music aficionado and an enthusiastic cook.
Website: https://praveenchakravarty.in/about/
Project Introduction
The Indian Liberals Annual Lecture is an initiative of the Centre for Civil Society (CCS) to strengthen the understanding of classical liberalism in India, where alternative and often counterproductive ideologies have long dominated public thought. While India has a rich liberal tradition, these ideas are not widely known or discussed.
Through its Indian Liberals website, CCS has created an extensive and regularly updated archive of original liberal writings and resources. This growing digital archive is an accessible source of knowledge for students, researchers, and citizens interested in individual liberty, limited government, and free markets. The Annual Lecture builds on this work by creating a vocal and public platform for these ideas. By featuring respected speakers who address India’s social, political, and economic challenges through a liberal lens, the lecture helps broaden the reach of liberal thought, spark informed debate, and strengthen the foundations of a freer, more open society.
Past Speakers
Over the years, the Indian Liberals Annual Lecture has featured eminent voices who have shaped and enriched India’s liberal discourse. Notable speakers include:
