Author: B G Verghese
Publisher: Penguin/Viking
Year: 2006
Language: English
Pages: 349
ISBN/UPC (if available): 0670058637
Description
Almost sixty years ago, Nehru spoke of India’s tryst with destiny at the dawn of Independence. In the Constitution of the new republic that was framed a few years later, the goals and values of that vision were unfolded. How far have we progressed since then and what is it that destiny now holds for tomorrow’s India?
The present volume of essays surveys the scene past-forward and paints a picture of what has been accomplished and what remains to be done. There is pride and satisfaction in particular over India’s vibrant democracy and progress in many directions. This is nonetheless tinged with concern, for there are nagging problems of governance and shortfalls in human and infrastructure development, as well as social deficits in the matter of rights, corruption and sectoral and regional imbalances. All these must be squarely faced and speedily overcome if the nation is to grow in keeping with its increasingly recognized potential as a rising great power.
It has been widely forecast that within thirty years India, together with the United States and China, will constitute the three largest economies in the world. The wellsprings of growth are there. However, as more than one author points out, mere economic and technological growth is not enough. In this globalizing world the market is not all. The citizen must march hand in hand with the consumer in a sharing and caring society.
The twenty-four essayists who write of Tomorrow’s India do so in celebration of the 125th anniversary of their alma mater, Delhi’s St Stephen’s College. Their themes relate to diplomacy and security; the economy and technology; governance; society’s watchdogs; ideology and values; social change; and culture and heritage. The authors represent a galaxy of public figures, academics, professionals and social workers. What they have to say makes compelling reading, with penetrating insights and critiques.
Contents
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
FOREWORD
ANIL WILSON
INTRODUCITON
B G VERGHESE
DIPLOMACY AND SECURITY
New Dimensions of Foreign Policy
K NATWAR SINGH
>From Independence to Freedom
PREM SHANKAR JHA
Managing National Security
MANOJ JOSHI
THE ECONOMY
India 2025: Illusions, Realities, Dreams
DEEPAK NAYYAR
Towards a Knowledge Society
KAPIL SIBAL
GOVERNANCE
The Governance Challenge
K SARWAR LATEEF
The Black Economy: Undermining the idea of the Nation
ARUN KUMAR
Rural Resurgence Bottom Up
MANI SHANKAR AIYAR
Grassroots Development Through Community Action
BUNKER ROY
Eastern Quagmire?
N K SINGH
WATCHDOGS
Public Interest Litigation
VIKRAMAJIT SEN
Indian Media: A Flawed Yet Robust Public Service
SAGARIKA GHOSE
Social Action to Overcome Some Day
HARSH MANDER
WAYS AND MEANS
Building Bridges Across Boundaries: Partnerships For Development
ARUN MAIRA
Does Ideology Matter?
SITARAM YECHURY
Rebellion to Reconciliation
DILIP SIMEON
The Relevance of Gandhi
GOPALKRISHNA GANDHI
Voices From the Margins
GEORGE ABRAHAM
SOCIAL CHANGE
Learning to be
RUKMINI BANERJI
Managing diversity, Building Fraternity
B G VERGHESE
HERITAGE AND CULTURE
Wealth of Indian English Writing
RAVI DAYAL
Indian Art in international Museums
NAVINA HAIDAR HAYKEL
An Undergraduate History of Hindi Cinema
MUKUL KESAVAN
Getting Ahead in Sports
RANJIT BHATIA
ABOUT THE AUTHORS