December marks the hundreth year of the birth of Mulk Raj Anand who lived to a ripe age of nearly 99 years. And who in his life time strode the Indian arts stage, literally like a colossus! I had the good fortune to come into contact with this multi-faceted great Indian who inspired countless fellow…
Agriculture continues the growth decline!
PM talks theory, theory, and theory! The Prime Minister had called a meeting of the full Planning Commisssion. What is the urgency? Obviously, the government is worried over the agri sector’s continuing growth decline. Farm growth decelerated since 1997 from 2.5 per cent to currently to a shameful 0.1 per cent! There is a decline…
Billionaires vs Paupers in India!
What India should be doing? A recent survey that puts the new Indian billionaires in India at 311 persons. I don’t know how this is figure is arrived at. But assuming this figure comprises the new IT and BT(biotech) billionaries like Narayanamurthy of Infosys, Azim Premji of Wipro and Ms.Kiron Majumdar of Biocon, the biotech…
Agriculture as a business opportunity
Agriculture’s chances look brighter! Forget what the government says or doesn’t say! Agriculture sector, like other sectors, looks for a brighter future! There are now many positive developments like the recently concluded Hongkong WTO meet and the West Bengal CPI (M) Chief Minister’s private sector friendly approach to economic development etc. This is not the…
Tackling rural health neglect
In 10 years India will have the best mass health programme Mr.Devi Shetty, Founder, Narayana Hrudayalaya says “If I had a choice, I would only treat poor patients, but economic realities do not permit that. But here is Dr.Sudarshan, using his place in the policy-making process to harness available resources for productive, effective delivery of…
Yes, our democracy becoming stronger
So many scandals only show the vibrancy of the system! In spite of the series of latest scandals, one minister gone and another seems on his way out, it looks our democracy is emerging a sustainable system. With the various organs of the state playing a more activist role. In particular the media has been…
National traits, attitudes and character
A series of scandals ! Yet Indians deny themselves all truths! What about the special Indian traits? Our attitudes? Our character? Why we don’t talk so much about our Indian weakness for double talk and double standards? Each nation and culture has its own special raits, attitudes and character. US President George Bush talks and…
Spectator, my favourite English magazine
Heard of Spectator? Perhaps not. This is a famous English weekly magazine I have been reading, almost all my life. This magazine is not available in India, I read it regularly in the British Council library whenever I visit it, be it in Chennai or in Bangalore or wherever I find myself. Even when I…