Democratic Socialism

Author: Asoka Mehta

Publisher: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan

Edition: 1959

Binding: Paperback

Pages: 192

Size: 4.5 × 0.5 × 7 inches

Language: English

  Democratic Socialism presents the political and social ideas associated with Asoka Mehta, an influential Indian thinker who was closely involved in the development of socialist thought in India. The book examines the concept of democratic socialism and considers how principles associated with socialism might be understood alongside democratic institutions and political freedoms. The idea of democratic socialism developed partly from debates about how societies could address economic inequality and social disadvantage while maintaining representative political institutions. Unlike systems based on the abolition of political pluralism, democratic socialist approaches have historically emphasized the relationship between social and economic reform and democratic participation. Mehta's work is particularly significant when read in the context of post-independence India. During the first decades after independence, Indian intellectual and political life included extensive discussion about economic development, planning, social justice, equality, democracy, and the appropriate role of the state. Socialist ideas formed an important part of these debates. The book also raises broader questions in political philosophy concerning the relationship between individual liberty and social equality. The concept of democracy involves political participation and representation, while socialist thought traditionally places greater emphasis on economic organization and distribution. Exploring the relationship between these principles creates important questions about the responsibilities of government, the organization of economic life, and the meaning of social justice. Asoka Mehta's contribution is particularly relevant to the study of Indian political and intellectual history because he participated in debates about India's political and economic direction during a formative period of the republic. His writings provide a perspective on how democratic and socialist ideas were discussed within the Indian context rather than solely through European political traditions. Published by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in 1959, this edition belongs to the early post-independence period of Indian publishing. The volume contains 192 pages and measures approximately 4.5 × 0.5 × 7 inches, making it a compact vintage paperback suitable for both reading and collection.

• Title: Democratic Socialism
• Author: Asoka Mehta
• Publisher: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan
• Edition: 1959
• Binding: Paperback
• Pages: 192
• Size: 4.5 × 0.5 × 7 inches
• Language: English
• Primary Subject: Political Philosophy / Indian Political Thought
• Key Topics: Democratic socialism, democracy, equality, social justice, political economy, Indian socialism
• Historical Context: Post-independence India
• Ideal for: Students of political philosophy, researchers of Indian political thought, historians, collectors of Indian books, and readers interested in socialism and democracy

🔹 Collector's Note

This 1959 Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan paperback edition of Democratic Socialism is a valuable vintage Indian political and intellectual work for collections focused on Indian political thought, political philosophy, socialism, democracy, and post-independence history. Its 192-page format and early post-independence publication date make it particularly relevant to collectors studying the intellectual debates that shaped modern Indian political and social thought.