Dissent and disagreement have always been the leitmotif of our public life. That is what makes India so vibrant, diverse and yet cohesive. So, contrarian pulls, pressures and arguments shouldn't really be cause for comment. But I must confess to being surprised-and a little disturbed-by the force and vehemence with which different sections of society have been attempting to force their beliefs down the throats of others.

As a magazine, Business Today supports economic liberalisation and free trade; it advocates less intrusive state machinery and passionately supports greater transparency and individual freedom. There are sections that oppose these ideals on ideological or political grounds. I can live with that. To paraphrase 18th century French philosopher Voltaire, I disagree with what they say, but I'll defend to the death their right to say it. That is the essence of democracy and the pillar on which the right to free speech rests.

But alongside the lively, and sometimes prickly, debate on these issues, the country is engaged in other, more fundamental, arguments. The first concerns the future of the country's liberal space. I would like to believe that a vast majority of my countrymen are liberal in their personal beliefs; and that even when they strongly oppose some view contrary to their own, they do so in a sober, dignified manner. So I was more than a little perturbed at the hounding of a film actress by members of a political party; her "heresy": she had publicly aired a very common sense view of pre-marital sex. Such atavistic passions are reminiscent of 16th century pre-Reformation Europe, and, obviously, have no place in a country that is racing towards its 21st century destiny.

Equally disturbing is the rise of isolationist tendencies in sections of our urban populace. I refer here to the recent agitations in Bangalore and Mumbai against the influx of white- and blue-collar workers from other states into these cities. Imagine! These are two of India's most cosmopolitan cities, and arguably, the two most globally recognisable urban Indian centres. Yet, I haven't lost hope. Though the loony fringes may be grabbing the headlines and sound bytes, there's still a massive cosmopolitan constituency that people like you and I can depend on. This class is apolitical and, therefore, voiceless. But in a democracy, numbers ultimately count; so no mainstream political party can afford to antagonise this mass of people.

In parallel with this trend is the other, older, one of identity politics. At a time when the country is marketing itself as the world's human resource base, it is ridiculous that there are still people who believe that birth, and not merit, should be the passport to a seat at life's high table. Make no mistake; Business Today is all for affirmative action to help weaker sections of society find their feet in this world. But what is happening in its name makes a mockery of our stated goal of becoming a meritocracy.

There are other fault lines across the secular-communal, transparency-corruption and openness-secrecy divides. The historical truth is that no entrenched elite has ever yielded its privileges to other pressure groups without a fight. And all these debates, fights and witch hunts are really manifestations of that battle. Fifteen years of economic liberalisation have dealt a heavy blow to historical hierarchies and levelled the playing field for most Indians. It has also created uncertainties and stress points in a deeply conservative society. And the old order is merely taking advantage of these to fight back. But such resistance is to be expected. Every country in the world has had to face, and overcome, such conflicts on their road to greatness; and there's no reason why India should be different.

Meanwhile, for this 14th Anniversary issue, Business Today has identified 25 other, more tangible, challenges that the country faces. These, too, have to be addressed if we are to reach our goal of becoming a developed nation in the foreseeable future. And as in previous years, we've assembled a stellar line-up of contributors who offer their own unique insights into how to tackle them. The articles are insightful and thought provoking and will certainly make you think.

On that note, let me wish all of you Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Sanjoy Narayan