Stories from the grassroots | Thoughts on development | Lessons on leadership
This is the talk that I gave on the occasion of Vivekananda Jayanthi at the Vivekananda Institute of Indian Studies on January 11, 2021. Swami Vivekananda never ceases to inspire and one feels that one has only scratched the surface in trying to understand his message. Watch on…
It is now a little more than 4 decades since i first read the 8 volumes (now they are nine) of ‘The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda’. So much water has flowed under the bridge, so many experiences that have added to my understanding of his message and so much still left in this ever continuous learning journey. Listening to the radio interview today morning (broadcast by Akashavani, Mysore FM 100.6) brought back many of those moments when one keeps doing what one believes is correct. There is a sense of urgency and importance in the actions that are driven
Nations around the world are challenged on how to ensure the benefits of governance and development reach the last mile. When all things are said and done, what really matters is whether the person at the end of the road is feeling the impact of, and getting the benefits of good governance. ‘Antyodaya’ & ‘Janabhagidari’ are powerful concepts that India is keeping as the paradigms to ensure this. Prime Minister Modi refers to this repeatedly and exhorts all stakeholders to ensure that no one is left out and all are included in the growth journey of India. I wrote about
A lot of people keep asking me about the last one year that I have spent working in the Government as an insider. From being a person outside the system constantly interacting with it and seeking their support for ensuring human development at the grassroots, friends including myself are surprised on how my journey has brought me here. From being a angry young man in the early eighties to feeling disillusioned at the ‘trickle down effect’ that never truly happened, to working inside Government in building the capacity of people and systems at the Capacity Building Commission, I have indeed