Politics And Public Administration

Book Code: 1111015811757

P. R. Dubhashi

ABOUT THE BOOK

Book covers a number of essays on a large range of subjects – Politics, Public Administration, Economics, Cooperation, Society and Education. They are essential reading for students and teachers of the subject as well enlightened citizens.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. P.R. Dubhashi (M.A., Ph.D., D.Litt. IAS (Retd.) joined Indian administrative service in 1953 on the basis of all India Competitive Examination held in 1952. He was allotted to Mysore which later became Karnataka cadre and held senior positions in the higher echelons in State Government such as Divisional Commissioner and Secretary to the Government in various departments. He also held senior positions in Union Government as Joint Secretary, Additional Secretary and finally Secretary (Coordination) in the Cabinet Secretariat. He headed several national institutions of training and research including Indian Instiute of Public Administration. He served as Vice Chancellor of Goa University during 1990-1995 in its formative years. Dr. Dubhashi was the author of several reports prepared for the Central Government. He is author of 27 books in six of them in Marathi language on several subjects relating to public administration, political science, economic thought, co-operation and Panchayati Raj. · Received prizes in 1960 and 1961 at the hands of Jawaharlal Nehru for best essays awarded by the Indian Institute of Public Administration. · Received 'Shiromani Award' in 1993. · Conferred the Honour of Padmabhushan by Government of India on Republic Day 2010 and received at the hands of the President of India.

CONTENTS

POLITICS - I

1. Reflections on the Indian Polity and Some Suggestions for its Reconstitution ................................................................................. 11

2. The Federal Issues in Indian Polity ...................................................... 19

3. The Issue of States Organisation in India ............................................. 27

4. Changing Anatomy of Corruption ....................................................... 37

5. The Purpose of Politics ........................................................................ 41

6. Separation of Powers in the Indian Polity is Judiciary Undermining the Executive ? ............................................................... 45

7. Multiple Executives – A Mistaken Notion ........................................... 51

8. Indian Republic in Political Imbroglio ................................................. 55

9. Coalition Culture .................................................................................. 63

10. Whither Parliamentary Democracy in India ......................................... 69

11. Power to the People ............................................................................. 75

SOCIAL - II

1. Role of Social Activism in National Life ............................................. 81

2. Our National Identity ........................................................................... 85

3. Taslima Nasrin’s ‘Lajja’ – A True Assessment – Growth of Intolerance .......................................................................... 89

4. Quiet Violence in Bangladesh .............................................................. 95

5. Secularism Reconsidered ..................................................................... 99

6. The Message of Swami Vivekananda ................................................. 105

7. Science and Spritituality .................................................................... 107

8. Remembering Jawaharlal Nehru ........................................................ 113

9. Relevance of Mahatma Gandhi ......................................................... 121

10. The Legacy of Mahatma Gandhi ........................................................ 127

11. Celebration of Festivals ..................................................................... 137

12. Conferring Rights on Citizens - Laws and their Implementation ........ 141

CO-OPERATIVES - III

1. What is Co-operation? Objectives, Methods and Performance .......... 155

2. Should Multi-State Co-operatives be Registered as Companies Under the Companies Act? ................................................................. 159

3. Dr. Ambedkar’s Philosophy and the Principles of Co-operation ........ 163

4. Co-operation for a Better World and Better India .............................. 165

ECONOMICS - IV

1. Restructuring of The Indian Economy : Penumbra of Ambiguity ...... 173

2. What Makes Countries Rich or Poor? ................................................ 183

3. Ethics Versus Profits .......................................................................... 189

4. Wither Economic Reforms ................................................................. 193

5. Budgeting A Country’s Finances ........................................................ 197

6. Satyam Episode and Indian Corporate Image .................................... 201

7. Recession – Diagnosis and Remedies ................................................ 207

8. Economic and Social Policies need reappraisal Planning in the mixed economy after independence ................................................... 215

9. Agonising Reappraisal of Liberalisation and Globalisation ............... 221

10. Coping with Seasonalty and Drought ................................................. 229

11. Abolition of Planning Commission .................................................... 235

ADMINISTRATION -V

1. Whither Indian Bureaucracy? ............................................................ 239

2. Reflections on an Era – Memoirs of a Civil Servant by S. Bhothalingam ............................................................................ 243

3. Dealing Effectively with Law and Order Situations ........................... 247

4. Decline of the District Magistrate ..................................................... 251

5. Dealing with Maoist Challenge ......................................................... 253

6. Independence of CBI and of Police and Administration .................... 261

7. Yet Another Mega Scam .................................................................... 269

8. Good Governance ............................................................................. 275

EDUCATION - VI

1. Rethinking the University Setup – Take Care of the Fundamentals ............................................................................... 279

2. Quality of Higher Education ............................................................. 289

3. Accountability in University .............................................................. 297

4. National Accreditation Council – Tasks Ahead .................................. 301

5. Why Institutions Fail .......................................................................... 305

6. Positive Parenting and need for Flexibility in Education ................... 309

7. Educational Reforms: Issues of Quality and Equity ........................... 313

8. Educational Reforms in Finland and their Relevance to India ........... 319

9. New Educational Policy- Relevance to elementary Education ........... 323

10. Assessment of Students and Quality of Education ............................ 327

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS - VII

1. Regional Power – Concept and Implications ..................................... 333

2. Indo-American Relations in Perspective ............................................ 339

3. Demise of Soviet Union and its Aftermath ......................................... 343

4. Osama, Obama and India’s Foreign Policy ........................................ 347

5. Obama’s US Presidency and India’s Foreign Policy .......................... 351