Subject(s): Economic history -- Social conditions -- India after independence -- Economic development and social opportunity : education, health, government, state and market, market excluding and market complementary interventions, positive focus -- India in comparative perspective : East Asia and growth mediated progress, human capital , internal diversities -- India and china : life style, pre and post reform conditions, authoritarianism , famines and vulnerability -- Public action and social inequity : Economic reforms, basic equality and economic reforms, social security and health care, local governance and social reforms -- basic education as a political issue : social change, school education, female education, political action -- Gender inequality and women's agency : Female deprivation and missing women, female-male ration, women's agency and child survival, widowhood and gender relations, gender equality and social progress -- Well beyond liberalization : radical needs and moderate reforms, governance and public action, women;s agency and social change