The Birth of Indian Liberalism explores one of the earliest works of political theory in modern India—Letters to an Indian Raja (1891). The book examines constitutional governance, individual liberty, and social reform in colonial India. It highlights Narayan Mahadev Parmanand’s original political thinking, challenging the belief that Indian liberalism was purely derivative of British ideas. Through detailed analysis, Rahul Sagar presents this work as an important indigenous contribution to political thought and intellectual history.

About The Author

Rahul Sagar is a Professor of Political Science at New York University Abu Dhabi. He has previously taught at Princeton University and Yale-NUS College. His earlier work, Secrets and Leaks: The Dilemma of State Secrecy, received multiple awards. He is also known for editing and introducing To Raise a Fallen People and The Progressive Maharaja.