ARUN SHOURIE ******************************** image.png Preparing For Death by Arun Shourie ; Published by Penguin Viking ; Pages 516; Price ₹799. ************************************************************* Arun Shourie is a prolific writer but quite comprehensible. His learning is as eclectic and wide like that of Bertrand Russell and Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. Lord Tennyson wrote " In the Spring a young man’s fancy turns to thoughts of love". In old age our thoughts turn to "Intimations of Mortality”--on “Death”. Shourie , 78, has worn several hats — editor, economist, politician and author — with consummate ease for his thorough grasp of many subjects and is respected for his grasp of an impressive gamut of issues. He was hospitalised on December 1, last year after he suffered a head injury while out on a walk near his home in Lavasa, Maharashtra.This book could be a result of that fall. The book under review is chockful of insights, novel interpretations, practical suggestions and methods to achieve “peaceful dissolution of our minds” when we are about to depart. According to Shourie, “Every chapter contains practical lessons. I have also summarised some of the teachings on meditation which I have found useful, which, in fact, helped me when I was in ICU a few months ago,” Shourie’s book is at once a meditation on death and a handbook on dying both theoretical and practical. The first part is basically narrative. It has fascinating photographs of the five persons from history whose deaths Shourie analyses with deep perspectives and unknown cameos — Gautama Buddha, Ramakrishna Paramahansa, Ramana Maharshi, Gandhi and Vinoba Bhave. The second half of the book is reflective where the reader is treated to a discipline of logic and absolute speculation. He lays bare the secret enveloping death and displays utter stoicism . We are introduced to 14th Dalai Lama — Tenzin Gyatso. The Dalai Lama has lots of things to declare that is both wise and witty . Vali, the king of Kishkindha, on being pierced through his heart by an arrow sent by Rama from behind a tree, asks the Prince of Ayodhya: ‘Why have you done this to me? What was my crime? I did you no harm...’ Vali’s question in one form or another haunts every ‘ordinary’ mortal, with the ‘you’ in it being Death itself, the entity that comes sans notice, mostly ill-timed, quite ruthless and therefore absolutely unjustly. Resistance may exist but at the very end of that end, there is a kind of courage. The kind that may be seen in any person being executed. Stoicism becomes the norm. The memorable deaths of history are basically deaths of human beings with organs that feel pain, limbs that turn helpless, minds that confess to experiencing of agony. There is, in other words, a Vali in every Valiant and the ‘arrow’ is in comprehension of the whys and wherefores of life. Be the end ever so gracefully, even willingly, accepted, an understanding of death is not part of the hero’s heroic moment. Arun Shourie relates a conversation with a friend of his own ‘seniority’ at a memorial service. “Yaar, Arun,” the friend says to him, “Have you noticed one thing? We now know more people on that side of the LoC than on this?” Who controls and why, that Line which we must all cross, is the question that makes this book an instruction for the mind and a balm for the heart. Shourie has offered impressive stories from ancient Hindu and Buddhist scriptures as well as from current times.He commences with the Buddhist maxim that death is a certain thing but the time and place thereof are uncertain.Then he focuses on death and dying and speculates as to how to make it easier to endure. Except when it is sudden and accidental, death follows the failure of the body and the weakening of the mind, leading to helplessness, which helps to prepare you for the inevitable. Shourie’s real interest is in Buddhism and Advaita as the book is replete with anecdotes of the Buddha and those connected with Advaita. The book is made lively by haikus from Basho and other Japanese masters or little passages from the Upanishads or poems from Urdu and Punjabi sources. Shourie talks of the last days of the great men and points out how even they persons suffered at the very end. He analyses the techniques used by them and how their deaths were eased by mind over matter.From their lives, he infers that “even the noblest have to suffer the afflictions that strike us ordinary folk, the broken arm of Sri Ramakrishna, the broken collarbone of Sri Ramana, the duodenal ulcer that plagued Vinoba, the cancers that ultimately consumed both Sri Ramakrishna and Sri Ramana. The difference is that they didn’t wallow in self-pity. They strove on and reached unimaginable heights in spite of the afflictions”. Shourie comments impassively about his own family and his own illness to demonstrate the fragility and uncertainty of life and also emphasises on the need to provide security to your family after your death by making a will or by setting up a personal trust. Arun Shourie takes cue from major religions, philosophy, and spiritual train of thought to help people face their end with equanimity. The training of the mind is regarded as a prerequisite to get over the frailty and the suffering of the body. The question this mesmerising account raises — actually explicitly though it shies away from an answer — is did Arun’s father, Hari Dev Shourie, the founder of Common Cause, commit euthanasia? By making convincing forensic use of the letter his father left, Arun presents a compelling case that drives one to the conclusion that his father committed euthanasia. Shourie adds that Buddha maintained that attachments are not just for survival — we tend to think that those are the things which determine a person's happiness. Shourie threw some light , at a Lit-Fest---on how most of the primary figures in his book endorsed and practised euthanasia in different forms. The only person who hesitated at the time of death is Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. He was childlike and had a certain kind of innocence to him. That is quite the description of a true mystic — they behave like children on occasion.But they would certainly think that when the time comes, you should lose. And in a sense, Vinoba did that — fasted to death. Gandhiji took that decision in Kasturba's case. In that sense they were all practitioners of euthanasia by going through with the act of 'dissolving' oneself." This is a book that makes one think and be prepared for the Final Journey. P.P.Ramachandran. 27/12/2020. 16

SHASHI THAROOR ***************************** image.png The New World Disorder And the Indian Imperative by Shashi Tharoor and Samir Saran; Published by Aleph ; Pages: 292; Price Rs 799/- ******************************** The book under review by Shashi Tharoor and Samir Saran is absolutely timely and acts as a guide to Indian leaders in choosing the policies they ought to embrace as we enter the third decade of the 21st century. The two authors sponsor a vigorous foreign policy that will enshrine and uphold a world-wide union of democratic processes. All of us are aware that we are plagued by tough problems like global warming, terrorism, communal and ethnic tensions. What ought to be India’s role in this dreadful drama? Three outstanding issues face us and these are the upsurge of China, the stepping behind by the Western world under American leadership(or lack of it) and the burgeoning hold of populism and strong leaders. An interesting prologue of events given by the authors are Donald Trump’s withdrawal from the Climate Change agreement and the Trans-Pacific Partnership; China’s Belt and Road Initiative; the election across Europe of far-right Euro-sceptics and the vote for Brexit . These events have ineluctably resulted in the New World Disorder—which must be squarely faced by India and responded to meaningfully and forcefully. As a former United Nations official for decades, who once even ran the election to lead the organisation, Tharoor, a Member of Parliament, with his U N experience is richly endowed to analyse the deficiencies of the UN and the causes. The co-author Saran,is an authority on climate change, global governance and digital technology. He directs a well known think-tank and organises the government’s flagship conference Raisina Dialogue each year. He is ,thus,competent to analyse India’s claims and aspirations to contribute to the next version of the “New World Order” when it is born out of the disorder enveloping us today. New centres of power, new alliances and new rivalries are emerging, putting pressure on institutions governing global trade and security. As power is shifting and dispersing, domains for geopolitical rivalry or participation get extended. The central aim of the book is to describe and understand this phenomenon of disorder and provide a solution to it. An important chapter in the book is concerned with what a “New World Order” would constitute, and how our country must assume the mantle of leadership. “India may well be the only country with the credentials and capability to script an equitable ethic for a new international order,” write the authors, which may be an overblown hope-- taking into account the current situation, rising populism and protectionism, a right-wing government itself accused of authoritarianism, and the threat of religious majoritarianism. The authors hope that India as a “relatively wealthy, democratic, multicultural state with an instinct that privileges multilateralism and rules-based order” is welcome in the New World Order. The New World Order that Tharoor and Saran refer to has several dimensions. H.G. Wells, in his book The New World Order, spoke of a global idea to reconstruct human society through a common belief in the “Rights of Man”. Curiously several persons believed that a “New World Order” was the creation of a secret group with the avowed aim of forming “authoritarian world government” . Approaching the global disorder from an institutional perspective, the authors concentrate on global governance. Institutions based on American liberal values, including the United Nations , World Trade Organization , World Bank and International Monetary Fund , have been the foundation of international order, and the systems of alliances and multilateral institutions that have upheld this order have been the safeguard of international stability. The authors highlight four essential aspects of global governance buttressed by events or case studies: history ; forces of convergence and disruptions ; the emergence of institutions and processes ; and universal norms . They enumerate the five crises that characterise global governance today: the crisis of legitimacy, representation, the collective, identity and sovereignty, supported by case studies. The authors strongly espouse need for ‘Re-forming’, rather than reforming of this governance structure, so that it accommodates the diverse cross-section of interests. The global governance of peace and security faces mounting challenges. The UN as the leading guarantor of peace and security failed to tackle issues and is criticised for its inaction, for example, during the South China Sea dispute, violence in Iran, Libya and Syria , the humanitarian crisis in South Sudan, Rohingya crisis in Myanmar, the civil war in Yemen and so forth. The UN’s response to humanitarian crises has been selective, and this issue has remained contentious in international politics. Selective intervention by the UN has damaged the legitimacy of the international order. Interventionist policies of the UN depend on factors such as the level of human suffering, the level of spillover effects of the crisis; the military strength of the target state and the extent to which the UN has previously engaged in a crisis. The underlying fact remains, “the governance structures of today still reflect the realities of 1945 and not 2020” . Questioning the legitimacy (or inadequacy) of the UN, the authors believe that the UN is neither indispensable nor irrelevant. It is ‘intransigent’ , stuck in a moment in history. The Global North refuses to take into account its historic role in afflicting climate change and alleges the Third World countries are responsible for degrading the environment, due to poverty and increased population and the costs and liability of mitigation and adaptation have to be borne collectively . The Global South asserts that the rich nations must bear the basic burden of financial mitigation, consume less of the world’s resources and reduce their contribution to global warming. To ensure climate change and development, the book distinctly mentions three elements: technology, finance and knowledge . Climate change negotiations and sustainable development discourse carried over various conventions have been unsuccessful in fully addressing climate governance. The authors have thoroughly covered the governance of cyberspace. They discuss the birth of the internet, inextricably linked to America’s unipolar prominence, framed in democratic and market-centric terms, in line with the American vision of international liberal order. Emerging technologies are becoming the centre of a global contest for leadership and dominance. Following the Snowden episode, China rallied against America’s perceived domination of the internet by demanding the return of the state and the expansion of ‘cyberspace sovereignty’. Undeniably, China has a ‘de facto control over the internet’ , with its two sole objectives being information censorship and eliminating the use of foreign technology companies to ramp up its own technology companies. The concluding chapter recapitulates the liberal international order and the norms that set up the international institutions, including the UN and its agencies . India has taken several initiatives, globally and regionally, to hedge the adverse consequences of the changes underway. India has made efforts for creating an enabling environment for digital innovation, peacekeeping, or forging cooperation and mutual support in multilateral fora. Five major attributes are given on an ‘Indian Imperative’. India seems to take on this leadership role, first, given its democratic credentials which are non-western in nature and based on a free market ; the second component is India’s strategic geographical expanse ; the third feature is India’s unique cultural ethos followed by India’s role in global governance and development; and lastly, India’s affirmative position to greater international equity . Amid unalloyed geopolitical and technological turmoil, this work is a crucial combination of the most important transformation of our time, as the centre of gravity shifts towards emerging multipolar world order, especially in Asia. The option left for India in an unpredictable world is to retain a “truly global vision” and robustly offer its competence in the area of technology, cyberspace and outer space as a tangible evidence of its potential as a leader. P.P.Ramachandran. 20/12/2020.

KONSAM HIMALAY SINGH ********************************* image.png Making of a General by Lt.Gen.Konsam Himalay Singh: Published by Konark Publishers ; Pages 230; Price Rs 800/- ************************************************************** The Occident teems with books on military affairs, including autobiographies and biographies of Generals. We all grew up reading the memoirs of Eisenhower,Patton, Montgomery, De Gaulle, Rommel,General Slim and Wavell. However there has been only a handful of books of this genre in Asia. In India we have books of Brigadier Dalvi ,Gens.J.J.Singh,J.N.Chaudhuri. In view of this absence of authoritative books, we welcome the book “The Making of a General” by Konsam Himalay Singh. Konsam Singh is the first officer from northeast India to become Lieutenant General in the Indian Army and the first military officer from Manipur to reach the ranks of Brigadier and Major General. He was the Chairman of Manipur Public Service Commission and is presently a member of the Consultative Committee of Manipur Government on Naga Peace Talks. He is also a visiting faculty member of Manipur University. Singh was born in Charangpat village in Manipur. He joined the National Defence Academy in Poona. He holds a Post Graduate degree in Defence Studies, and an M Phil in Strategic Studies. He has completed a postgraduate degree in management studies and earned his PhD from the Jammu University. Singh was commissioned into the 2nd battalion, Rajput Regiment in 1978. He commanded the 27th battalion, Rajput Regiment between 1998 and 2000 on the Siachen Glacier and commanded his battalion during the battle of Point 5770 in the Kargil War in 1999, for which he was awarded the Yudh Seva Medal . Singh has been awarded the Chief of Army Staff's commendation card three times during his career. Singh is also a graduate of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, and the National Defence College, New Delhi. He was awarded the Param Vishist Seva Medal, Uttam Seva Medal and Ati Vishist Seva Medal. He has vast operational experience in counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir , where he served five tenures within 35 years. His experience included counter-insurgency operations along the Line of Control and HAA (High Altitude Area) environments. He was the commandant of the Infantry School, Mhow after becoming the General Officer Commanding . Singh is married to a physician working with the Central Government Health Service, Delhi, as a Chief Medical Officer. The couple have two daughters. Singh hailing from Manipur has crucial and critical comments on his State based on his experience. He writes, “Looking back now, I regret to remark that our leaders failed the future generations by their omission to address the ethnic tensions that were building up over a period of time soon after the merger of Manipur with the Indian Union. The 20 year transition period from the time of grant of statehood in 1972 to the 1990s has been a rather tragic period. The management of change in the society had not only failed, but a regressive culture in many spheres was noticeable.” Bitter words but true.More on similar lines. “ I found that our world in Manipur and in the region was in constant struggle between modernity and antiquity, between the haves and have-nots, between newly evolving democratic values and the values of the past. Not to mention between Pride and Prejudice !.The way forward appeared to me was to stress on more and more education, cater to spiritual and emotional needs of the people and of course the governance of the day.” What Singh writes on Kargil assumes great importance in view the significant part he played in the Kargil conflict. He explains ‘Operation Meghdoot’--the race to occupy the Saltero Ridge.The attack on Point 5770 is analysed at considerable length. It was a major victory for 27 Rajput.This was one attack in the entire Kargil war where no artillery guns were used and no casualties to own troops occurred inspite of the most unfavourable terrain and challenges of nature besides the vantage position of the enemy. In the words of Maj.Gen Ahok Verma,the capture of the Point 5770 by 27 Rajput under Singh’s command was “perhaps the most incredible action of the Kargil War”. Singh was an intrepid mountaineer and Kanchenjunga called him. We have a thrilling narration of the expedition led by Maj.Gen P.L.Kukrety. What inspired him?. “For me I climb mountains because it makes me feel the nothingness of life. I also wanted to prove to myself that I could do it.”. Singh was in the jaws of death, when he slipped inside a yawning crevasse on Zemu Glacier. The height was 16,000 feet .He was dangling about 20 feet inside the crevasse with the possibility of the ice pitons giving way due to melting ice. Three mountaineer colleagues rescued him from the mouth of the bottomless yawning crevasse .A second birth, indeed. Writes the author “The half hour struggle for life inside the crevasse taught me of the ‘Nothingness of Life’. An item of significance is the unseemly controversy that erupted over the age of the then Indian Army chief, General V.K. Singh, with the Supreme Court having to finally settle the matter by refusing to let him reduce this by a year so that his tenure could continue till May 2013 instead of ending in May 2012. The author declared that he had held back information as this "might have further complicated the relationship" between the then army chief, General Deepak Kapoor, and Lt. Gen. Singh, who at that time headed the Kolkata-based Eastern Command. I felt it right to withhold some documents which might have further complicated the relationship between the two." Lt-Gen. Konsam Singh writes : But it is painful that many in the country still harbour a wrong impression that Gen.V.K. Singh tried to manipulate his age to extend his tenure as the COAS. The only document with the Army Headquarters held against him was where he had possibly entered his date of dirth (sic) wrongly at the time of filling up the documents for his entry into the National Defence Academy in 1966. That this semi-legal document which he had signed over 40 years ago as a school boy had primacy over all other legal documents appears unjust," When the was author was asked what exactly was the information withheld and did this not amount to insubordination, he said-- "The concept of insubordination is about whether one disobeyed a 'Lawful Command'. There are, in every officer's journey, many a situation where one has to judge for himself about his own actions and be prepared to face the consequences." This is an extremely interesting book on the journey of a village boy who served his country in a distinguished manner especially during the Kargil War. Compulsory reading for all students of Indian politics, history and members of the military force. P.P.Ramachandran. 13/12/2020.

VISWANATHAN ANAND **************************************************** image.png Mind Master: Winning Lessons from a Champion’s Life by Viswanathan Anand with Susan Ninan; Published by Hachette; Pages 274;Price Rs 599/- ********************************* Anand dedicates his book to his mother by mentioning her at the beginning of the book-For my mother, who told me to always write down my thoughts, good or bad. She said, 'One day you will read them and realize how beautiful they are.' A few decades ago, a young Viswanathan Anand was asked by an elderly gentleman what he did for a living while on a train journey to Kerala. Anand, having just turned pro, replied that he played chess. "But that's not a secure career choice," the gentleman muttered before pausing and adding, "Unless you're Viswanathan Anand." The book under review Mind Master: Winning Lessons from a Champion’s Life (with Susan Ninan) is not a simple autobiography. It is a compendium of life lessons based on his own experiences of becoming a chess player and, thereafter, a world beater who will forever be known as one of the greatest to have played the game. The book lists lessons learnt while playing sport at the highest level and how the mind-body synergy is key to becoming the world’s best chess player. Mind Master documents the trials and tribulations in the course of Anand’s journey. “It is biographical but in a slightly different format. Instead of documenting my life story chronologically I have tried to document the lessons I found most important, the learnings from them and what impact they had on me. That’s how the book flows....I have mentioned that my growth in chess has been very natural, very spontaneous without the kind of template a trainer would have for an aspiring player. And when I look back at my own story and my early growth as a chess player till the time I became a grandmaster, I see that it isn’t a conventional story in any sense. I wasn’t coming out of a tradition and that’s why I could experiment the way I did. I also talk about how spontaneity and the whole experience of enjoying chess helped me absorb a lot of useful lessons. Of course there are chapters on disappointments like New York and joy when I beat Kramnik playing the best I ever have.” The book will appeal to chess aficionados and sports fans. Anand’s emphasis on physical stamina is fascinating. According to him, “The most important thing is stamina. You want to be able to handle 6 hours of focussed attention and need your brain not to get tired. When you get tired you tend to forget things and that’s when blunders happen. It is no use playing 5 good hours and then losing out. So during all my matches, in the morning, my team and I would meet up, I go for a run, climbing or whatever it is that could really raise the heart rate. This is good because chess builds up tension, you are constantly lost in your thoughts. You get a lot of positive and negative emotions sitting inside and they are knocking around in your mind. I have often wondered if the physical training you do is to get rid of tension or build your ability to sustain pain. I feel that the one hour spent by myself, running or lifting weights, is the one hour you are not thinking about chess and that’s the main value.” Anand sparked a chess revolution in India by taking it from a hobby to a mainstream sport. Moreover, doing it by himself, at a time when the sport was the domain of Soviet Union-backed chess players like Anatoly Karpov and Vladimir Kramnik The book reveals how he prepared for the world championship match against Russian Vladimir Kramnik and how he felt at one point that the match was being thrust upon him by Kramnik and his team. That it was all done to suit Kramnik may have prodded Anand to reserve his best for this contest. The other thing that helped was Kramnik’s comment saying Anand had no strategy, and that’s what cost him the title. “It did play in my mind. There is no debate Kramnik is a very good player and we had played each other long enough to know of each others’ games. That’s why I needed to be different. Try something I have never tried. For a year we planned it and must say the execution went perfectly to plan.” Anand explains why he lost to Garry Kasparov in 1995 and is forthright in saying he continues to play chess because he enjoys it. It isn’t only about winning tournaments or matches and proving to the world that one is still the player one once was. Vishy Anand is sans doubt one of the greatest Indian sportsmen and the book is a true picture of the Champ. From the time he learnt to move pieces on a chessboard as a six-year-old, Anand has bagged several awards. He was the first World Chess Champion from Asia; he became World No. 1, annexed five World Championship titles. He is a man for all seasons in the world of chess and his is a respected names . These are just some of the nuggets Anand touches upon with characteristic wit, easy wisdom and disarming candour in Mind Master – a delightful and invaluable exploration into the self that will thrill, inspire and motivate readers as few books have done before. The book has nuggets about Anand's quirks ― such as his habit of signing only a particular square should a fan ask for his autograph on a chessboard, or his habit of letting his mind wander to scenes fromYes Minister or Monty Python and the Holy Grail when he's caught in a troubling position. The book is a collection of moments that stand out from the career of Anand. Anand whose profession sees him remember thousands of intricate patterns and lines on the chessboard, but also one could have such poor memory that he once forgot his own wedding anniversary and admittedly needs to flip through Facebook profiles of his friends before school reunions to remember their faces and names. The book also wonderfully captures the drama and intrigue that can surround chess, especially when it comes to the World Chess Championship. Kasparov flits from being a rival in 1995 to ally during the 2010 World Championship tie in Sofia against Topalov (where he would help Anand via Skype) to being a rival again by the time Anand faced Boris Gelfand for the World title in 2012. Kramnik also helped Kasparov out against Anand during their PCA World Championship match in 1995, but almost became a second for the Indian during his 2010 World's title bid. Anand's recollections about the 2010 Sofia game are the highlight of the book simply for the surreal nature of the chain of events. There was a volcanic eruption that shut down flights, and a consequent 2,000-km roadtrip traversing Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania to get to Bulgaria. To pass the time, Anand and his team of seconds watched the popular TV show House and Lord of the Rings. Incredulously, at the end of the 40-hour road-trip and with a World Championship clash looming, Anand and his team took two rounds of their hotel in their car just so they could finish off the LoTR trilogy. While Carlsen, Kramnik, Kasparov switch roles from friend to foe, the one constant aide Anand had by his side was his wife Aruna. The book offers a glimpse into the growing presence of Aruna, who when they got married couldn't tell if Anand had won or lost a game, but would later go on to negotiate terms with Kramnik's team ahead of the 2008 World Championship and have the brainwave of using a 'force majeure' clause to force a postponement in the 2010 World Chess Championship game with FIDE. The book offers glimpses into the mind and ― more importantly ― the heart of Anand. The agony of losing to Kramnik, the self-awareness that his career is on a downward spiral by the time the World Championship clash with Carlsen in Chennai came about, and the mild pangs of regret at not having been more confrontational throughout his career. Anand also uses the book to address his perception as a 'bland nice guy', to the point where rivals thought of him as a pushover. His career is proof that he wasn't. He's been dismissed as a coffee house player by Soviet Union players. The chess community was dismissive of his World title at Tehran in 2000. Karpov deliberately arrived 40 minutes late for a game against him in 1997 to get under his skin. Kasparov tried to rattle him ahead of the World Chess Championship tie by banging his pieces on the board and slamming the door as he left the room after a move. Topalov tried to unnerve Anand during the 2010 World Chess Championship by employing 'Sofia Rules', where he would not talk to Anand at all, even if he were to offer a draw during a game. All through it, Anand kept his composure and grace . Along the way, he changed the perception of the sport back home and collected five World Chess titles. Anand is an astronomy buff, and an avid reader on maths, economics and current affairs. He loves to travel, particularly on wildlife safaris. He supports many charitable causes, chief among them being that of children with cerebral palsy and other neurological disabilities. Susan Ninan is a sports writer with ESPN and is based in Bengaluru. She has previously worked with the Times of India and has covered major sporting events like the Commonwealth Games and the World Chess Championships. If you want to know the journey of 'The Lightning Kid' becoming 'The Madras Tiger' then you have to read his book. P.P.Ramachandran.

Rethinking Good Governance by Vinod Rai ; Published by Rupa ; Pages 278 ;Price Rs 595/- ************************** It is an internationally accepted norm that Critics are not exactly admirable; in fact they are more reviled the more exalted their station in life is. We deal with one such Critic in the book under review. He is Vinod Rai who needs no introduction. An IAS officer from the 1972 batch, he held several significant positions all through his illustrious career. He started with the post of Comptroller and Auditor General of India followed by the chairperson for Banks Board Bureau ; presently he is the Chairman of the Committee of Administrators of the BCCI appointed by the Supreme Court . Rai was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2016 . He has written two books, one where he shares ideas and reflections looking back at seventy years of freedom and second where he reveals his diary, as the nation’s conscience keeper---as a symbol of the anti-corruption movement in the country. In 2010, when the CAG came up with the startling revelation about the loss of Rs 1.76 lakh crore in the 2G spectrum auction, it sealed the fate of the UPA government, already besieged by a series of scandals, including the one surrounding the Commonwealth Games in Delhi. However, nine years down the line, the charges around the 2G scam seem to have diluted, especially after the CBI trial court acquitted A. Raja and M. Kanimozhi, along with 15 others accused in the case. However Rai, who was CAG at that time declared . “Considering the fact that the 2G auction documents have not changed, and basing on those records, we would reach the same conclusions even today.” He blames the investigative agency--- the CBI, for not doing enough to prove the charges. “In his order, the trial court judge had expressed his dismay that he kept waiting for the CBI to bring evidence and witnesses, but that never happened… The judge also questioned the quality of the investigation.” A new book by the former CAG ought to turn a floodlight on public institutions in the country and how they should support good governance to ensure the welfare of the citizen. Written with the razor-sharp insights of a conscientious civil servant, this illuminating book offers a thorough analysis of the country's key accountability agencies -- from the parliament to temple administrations -- whose functions impinge on all aspects of our daily life in India. According to Rai, these public institutions are the pillars on which rests a "robust and vibrant democracy".He highlights the strength of each of these pillars. They are like the guardians of the country, the very pillars on which it stands proudly. He analyses thoroughly the circumstances that led to their weakening, resulting in the foundation of our democratic fabric being somewhat shaken. The book reveals the working of public institutions. Rai lucidly explains what he means by ‘Holding to Account’ and according to him the most vital bond between people and government is “Trust” . It is these “accountability institutions” that engender and help maintain that trust. The transparency and openness seen in any society, the readiness with which it can indulge in creating disruption, and the ease with which the rule of law is permitted to prevail are important indicators of an able administration. Rai explains clearly the functionalities and the impact on the society of the Parliament, the Supreme Court, the Election Commission, the Reserve Bank of India, the Comptroller and Auditor General, the Central Bureau of Investigation, the Civil Services and the Central Vigilance Commission. Specially emphasised is the necessity of the Central Bureau of Investigation maintaining an ‘arm’s length’ relationship with the government of the day. “The CBI seems to be becoming a ‘handmaiden’ to investigate, if not intimidate. The onus is now squarely on the government to cut its losses, and, wielding the hammer, set about ensuring that it is not held guilty of allowing the credibility of these institutions to hit rock-bottom during its tenure.” . Rai also has desired that the Parliamentary Action Committee (PAC) should hold frequent meetings which would be highly effective to rein in the government under constant scrutiny and bring it to book when there are ‘signs of laxity, wastage or malfeasance’. The book stresses the importance of institutions like CBI, PAC, CAG amongst others and the role they serve as the pillars supporting the foundation of democracy. Also crucial is the “Right to Information” along with the sports and temple administration. Rai also wrote that the role of prosecutors in the probe agency requires an overhauling because the track record of high profile cases proves that the role of the prosecutor is not very encouraging. “Often, the director of prosecution plays a secondary role and gets swamped by the same political allegiances that bedevil the director of the organisation, especially when the director gets the appointment after lobbying and hence ab initio starts with an ‘I owe you’ tag” . According to Rai, accountability institutions that form the foundational pillars of any democracy seem to be losing their structural strength. “That is probably the reason an otherwise decisive government did not see or, if it saw, did not act on early warning signs.” Rethinking Good Governance is an important book as it shows us the strengths and weaknesses of these institutions and that too from an expert’s perspective. An interesting Epilogue emphasises our sterling attainment — democracy and how we should all strive to keep it intact while working in tandem with the government to make our country a successful one. The book helps the readers who seek to comprehend India and its functioning at its best.Rai offers insights into efforts for tackling crisis made by these institutions and deals with prospective amendments. The book which has the precision of a textbook is highly informative and analyses the many corrective steps and accomplishments of accountability institutions. P.P.Ramachandran. 29/11/2020.

Azim Premji by Sundeep Khanna and Varun Sood ; Published by Harper Business ; Pages 225; Price Rs.699/- ****************************** The day was 13 March 2019. An Indian business legend had chosen to warm the hearts of millions across the country by an act of munificence that was unparalleled and unequalled . Azim Premji announced that he would gift shares worth Rs.52,750 crore or $ 7.5 billion to his philanthropic foundation, whose corpus now totalled Rs 1,45,000 crore or about $ 21 billion and included the 67 per cent of shares held by the founding family. By this single act he had moved into the ranks of the world’s biggest donors. Forbes magazine ranked Premji’s donation as the world’s biggest for the year 2019. The book under review “Azim Premji: The Man Beyond the Billions”, is perhaps the first authoritative biography of the great man and brings out how Premji is a philanthropist at heart and a businessman by choice – a man who wanted to give away his billions but realised quite early that he would first have to earn them. The biography portrays Premji’s life while recounting his professional and charitable work . The volume is brought out by Sundeep Khanna and Varun Sood—two renowned contributors to financial journalism. They have conducted extensive interviews with several Wipro executives---both past and present-- who were close to Premji. They have roped in Premji’s competitors, analysts, family friends and other associates. They began in earnest to probe into the life of the man who fiercely guarded his privacy as also of his closely knit family, viz., his wife Yasmeen and sons Rishad and Tariq. The 75-year-old business magnate does not at all live up to our conception of the structure of a billionaire. He turns out far different from a stereotype---nibbling chocolates any time of night or day. He indulges in the luxury of street food be it Mumbai,Singapore and New York. He has acquired characteristics of a Charles Dickens character from Christmas Carol—the prince of parsimony-- Uncle Scrooge—of the business world. Totally unlike Scrooge he donated 75 per cent of his wealth to charity. This amounts to about $21 billion which he donated to the Azim Premji Foundation, which is a non-profit organisation focused on education. This catapulted him into one of the top philanthropists of the world. From battling to save his family’s debt-ridden fledging oil company in Amalner to establishing a bonafide conglomerate with more than $10 billion in revenue, the book reveals the half-a-century adventurous sojourn of Premji. Taking over his family business of vegetable oils at a young age after the passing of his father, he built one of India's most successful software companies and a multi-billion-dollar conglomerate. As of 2019, he was the tenth richest person in India with an estimated net worth of $7.2 billion. In the beginning, he had but little grasp of the IT industry, but over the years his company became part of the triumvirate of IT start-ups (Infosys, Wipro, TCS) that put India on the global software services map. It is a matter of pride that Wipro was the first Indian IT company to be listed on the NYSE. What makes Premji click was adumbrated towards the end of 1971 by him as he wrote down the principles — integrity, respect for people and customer centricity — which were his articles of faith by which he would do business. The company is a firm adherent to these values. Nandan Nilekani, non-executive chairman of Infosys, described Premji succinctly, “He is an unusual man.” Truly so. He doesn’t travel first class. He believes in buying “Made in India” products. Premji gets into the nitty-gritty of every tiny issue. He carries his famous yellow pad in which he takes meticulous notes. His respect for resources defines his frugality. When he goes around switching off the lights and fans after everyone has left or insists that both sides of a sheet of paper must be used for photocopying, or when he insists on paying from his pocket for the personal calls he made at work, he sets a precedent for all to follow. Major personal milestones, including his wedding as well as that of his son Rishad, have been low-key affairs with barely 100 guests invited on each occasion. The book also takes into account the many wrong steps the company took, and how it ran into rough weather after it took many wrong decisions. Yet, the one facet that has overshadowed even his business achievements is his altruism. His commitment to the Azim Premji Foundation, a non-profit focused on education, totals around $21 billion, making him one of the world's top philanthropists. Premji inherited his generosity from his mother Dr. Gulbanoo Premji, co-founder of the Society for Rehabilitation of Crippled Children, Mumbai. When Covid-19 knocked on the doors of the country, the Wipro conglomerate donated Rs1,125 crore, the largest amount by an Indian company, besides distributing millions of meals and hospital beds. The twin decisions in 2019 of giving a substantial portion of his wealth to philanthropy and stepping down as Chairman of Wipro were part of Azim’s manifest destiny. It was the ultimate act of kindness by a man who had once been labelled selfish for refusing to dilute his family’s stake in the business to below 80 per cent. To be able to give over $21 billion to philanthropy, one first needs to make that kind of money. His abnormally high stake in the company he had built allowed him to do just that. The book recounts the poignant story of the exit of two CEOs Shri.Paranjape and Shri.Vaswani. They were the heart and lungs of Wipro. Even as they were waiting outside the boardroom Premji announced the appointment of Kurien as the new CEO. At a lecture to Stanford business school students, Premji’s lecture in Stanford affords a clue to his celebrated successes and failures in his career: “It is impossible to generate a few good ideas without a lot of bad ideas. Failure should be forgiven and forgotten completely.” Anecdote---One The book is bursting with absorbing anecdotes such as the one in which his friend and business leader Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw narrates how he disguised himself with a hat and a fake moustache when he wanted to buy some artwork. His reasoning: “The moment they know I’m Azim Premji, they’ll charge me too much.” Anecdote Two "For a billionaire, Premji has a unique relationship with cars. He treats them as no more than a necessary tool whose brand is unimportant. But virtually everyone we spoke with had a story about Premji and his cars. They all boil down to the same thing - he hates spending on them. When he was buying a secondhand car from one of his colleagues he haggled till the last 10% of the price ultimately giving in only because it was for a loved one in the family." P.P.Ramachandran. 22/11/2020.

Portraits of Power by N.K.Singh ; Published by Rupa ; Pages 384 ; Price Rs 595/-- ***************************** As we read this book under review--- the fascinating autobiography of Shri.N,K.Singh (NKS hereafter) we are stunned to read the wealth of talent in the NKS family from the beginning. His father Shri.T.P.Singh was a member of the ICS. He had six children. NKS was the first son who passed both IAS and IPS. Two sisters also got into IAS. A veritable gathering of civil servants! .The patriarch Shri.T.P.Singh ,who was the first full time Secretary of the Planning Commission, served as Finance Secretary during the electrifying time of bank nationalisation. However, he left no record. His distinguished son more than makes up. The volume offers us an opportunity to comprehend the mysteries of the functioning of Government of India from the 1970s till the early 2000s. We have brief glimpses of the preceding years through the occasional writings of the elder Singh. The book starts with an eloquent recounting of his roots – the migration of his ancestors from Rajasthan to Banka in Bihar’s Bhagalpur district, where his paternal grandfather was a school headmaster. The difference with his maternal side was stark as his maternal grandfather was one of the richest zamindars in north Bihar. The book is bursting with interesting anecdotes. Three are given at the end of the review. NKS was a brilliant student. Immediately after he obtained his Master’s Degree at the Delhi School of Economics, he joined St Stephen’s College as a lecturer. However, his family compelled him to appear for the civil service examinations. He got selected for both Indian Foreign Service and Indian Administrative Service at 23 in 1964. He chose IFS, but the family once again ensured that he opted for IAS. His marriage in 1967 was simply stepping into wealth. He tied the wedding knot with the granddaughter of the Maharaja of Jodhpur, Umaid Singh, Prem Kumari. For the princess the change from vast riches of the Jodhpur palace to the rugged terrain of drought-prone Danapur in Bihar, where NKS was posted, was quite a tough transformation. More intensely shocking for the bride was to learn one day that her husband’s monthly salary was a measly sum of Rs 750/-. Her junior assistants in Jodhpur palace drew many times more than that measly amount !. Life altered quickly as NKS got appointed as undersecretary in the Ministry of Commerce and the young couple moved to Delhi. From there, NKS went pursued a phenomenally successful career in civil service, culminating in his appointments as Secretary in all three departments of the finance ministry in existence at the time: Economic Affairs , Expenditure and Revenue . The crowning glory was his final appointment as Secretary to Prime Minister Vajpayee. NKS had a glorious term as the Economics and Commerce Minister in the Indian embassy in Japan. He helped bring about successfully the Maruti-Suzuki NSE -1.15 % collaboration. The Japanese held him in total awe and conferred on him one of their highest honours, the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star. The critical years of economic reforms in India were from 1990s to early 2000s and during this crucial time NKS fully used his talents in diplomacy, knowledge of economics, and training as a bureaucrat . The most gripping chapter of the book is “Vajpayee, As I Knew Him”. NKS provides a succinct analysis of how, assisted by an able team, Vajpayee navigated the complex telecom sector reform, ensured his signature Golden Quadrilateral road project was cleared , and made a sea-change in India-US relations by undertaking the nuclear tests quite early in his term. NKS is famous for his infinite capacity for hard work , tenacity and drive. He laid down his Office as Secretary to the PM and promptly went on to serve as Member, Planning Commission; Member, Rajya Sabha; Chairman, Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Committee; and presently he is Chairman, 15th Finance Commission. For nearly two decades,he played a commanding role in the annual conference on Indian economic reforms at Stanford University and his was an undisputed position in Davos. Since all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy NKS turned into an accomplished photographer, cultivated an ear for classical Indian music and practises homoeopathy as a hobby. It is pertinent to quote a scintillating paragraph from the Epilogue to the book : “This will be a decisive decade both for India and the World. The ongoing pandemic triggered by COVID-19 has few parallels in history. Apart from inflicting incalculable human misery and death, it has significantly altered, perhaps forever, several important paradigms; the nature of social behaviour, the pattern of economic activity and the acceptance of technology more decisively in the future conduct of our lives. Nations that master these challenges are destined to both guarantee greater prosperity to their people and become important stakeholders in the global recovery process.” The autobiography brings out the multi-faceted personality that is NKS-- a successful bureaucrat, economist, politician and author. NKS has provided a remarkable account of India’s political-economic history during the last 75 years. This is one of the finest autobiographies to emerge from the Indian sub-continent. Anecdote One How rich the Singhs were becomes clear from one anecdote. NKS recounts the incident of how his maternal grandfather was taking Jawaharlal Nehru on a tour of Purnea and the adjoining districts in Bihar in his Pontiac. When the tour began, Nehru asked who the owner of the vast land around them was. Grandpa declared that he was the owner. As the tour progressed, Nehru dozed off and, waking up a couple of hours later, repeated the question. To his horror, he got the same answer. That led Nehru to resolve then and there that he would impose a ceiling on land holding when he came to power. Anecdote Two-- A classic one is the instruction to NKS by a superior to create grand confusion in the brief on commerce-related issues for the NAM summit in Zambia: “Till you create enough confusion, there will be little scope for me to sort out the mess!” Anecdote Three I was appointed additional finance commissioner on 1 January 1986 and was to take over from my younger sister Radha, who was moved up as divisional commissioner at Chotanagpur. She,in turn,took over the assignment from my brother-in-law,N.P.Singh who came back to the Education department, even while my other sister, Krishna,continued to stay as commissioner of the Patna division.The local newspaper headlines read “Cabinet Meet to Decide Singh Family Posting”. P.P.Ramachandran. 15/11/2020.

Venkat Forever; Edited by T.P.Sreenivasan and James.M.Peck ; Published by Konark Publishers; Pages 217 ; Price Rs 595/- ************************************************************* When the definitive history of the Indian Administrative Service comes to be written Shri.A.P.Venkateswaran (APV hereafter) will be accorded a place of pride. William Shakespeare –in “The Twelfth Night” wrote-- “Some are born great ; some achieve greatness; some have greatness thrust upon them”.Perhaps this applies to notoriety too! Notoriety was thrust on APV. Rajiv Gandhi had in his arrogant way belittled him—announcing in a Press Conference----in a seemingly casual way APV’s removal. “You will see a new Secretary next week.”,he said. APV resigned within hours before Rajiv got a chance to put his pronouncement in paper. The Indian Foreign Service Association in an unprecedented move criticised the Prime Minister’s action. APV declared with his bubbling sense of humour, “I was a distinguished diplomat once ; now I am an extinguished diplomat.” The book under review has two Editors. One is Shri.T.P.Sreenivasan,ex-Ambassador and a distinguished IFS Officer currently busy with a Think-Tank.The other Editor is APV’s son-in-law Mr. James Peck,an international oil explorationist. APV’s father Shri.A.S.Panchapakesa Ayyar was himself an ICS Officer who became Chief Justice of Madras and was noted for his sense of humour. Two examples. At his ICS board interview the British members wishing to rattle him asked, “If a lion chased you, what steps would you take to save yourself?”. Without batting an eyelid Ayyar said, “Long Steps!”. It appears that when he was watching the Travancore sisters—Lalitha,Padmini performing Bharat Natyam, before a foreign delegation, the wife of a dignitary asked Ayyar “why the ladies on the stage were lifting their left leg and then their right leg” during a dance. With a straight face Ayyar told “Madam,if they lifted both their legs together, they would surely fall on their bottoms’ . APV’s son-in-law James Peck described the ceremony in connection with Venkat’s ashes which were immersed in a strong current of three swollen rivers. True to his nature, the ashes initially travelled upstream against the current. After that brief act of mischief the ashes cajoled by the currents,sashayed along the water’s surface toward the sun”. The book ,under review,perpetuates APV’s memory by compiling the extensive folklore of his anecdotes ,witticisms and pithy statements which remain green in the minds of his colleagues . Books by retired civil servants—the IFS -- like K.P.S.Menon,B.K.Nehru--are well-documented records of India’s relationships with countries and regions, different social, political and cultural settings and are rich in limning commanding Indian and foreign personalities. A book of this type is unusual since it is dedicated to one individual , who served with distinction in the IFS and occupied its highest office. It could be the first of its kind. Some of the contributors are contemporaries of APV and they reveal the quintessential diplomat. Shri.K.S. Bajpai, APV’s batchmate contributes an illuminating Foreword. Bajpai was ambassador of India to China and the United States,High Commissioner to Pakistan and a secretary in the ministry of external affairs. He refers to Venkat’s unflagging sense of humour, “the ready aptness of his sallies being born of a sharp mind quickly focusing on what mattered” and informed by a wide range of knowledge. He adds, “We have had many clever people in our service, but few could match Venkat’s gifts”. The chapter titled "A life lived well by the family"--by Usha(wife),Kalpana(daughter) and Peck(son-in-law) recounts APV’s life from his youth. A graduate in chemistry from Madras Christian College, he took his master’s in economics from Presidency College, stood first in his class and got a Tata scholarship to pursue further studies at the London School of Economics. However, A.S.P. Ayyar compelled him to attempt the civil services examinations where he succeeded and joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1952. In those years, entrants to the service were sent to either Oxford or Cambridge for courses in foreign languages, international relations, economics, etc. APV learned Russian. After seven years in the service, he married Usha, an accomplished Bharatanatyam dancer and choreographer. Their first posting together was in Ethiopia. Here, Usha proved to be the genuine asset she was in showcasing the fine arts from India . Fully supported by her husband , Usha became well known and admired in various posts in Moscow, Fiji, Washington, Geneva, Beijing and Damascus. One could take the Indian Foreign Service out of Venkat after his voluntary retirement, but not his deep passion for India’s domestic and external policies.Towards the late ’90s, Usha and Venkat decided to move to Bengaluru from Delhi. Here he founded the Asia Centre along with like-minded people in 1996. It became, under his guidance, a respected institution with thought provoking debates on contemporary issues of national and international importance. APV’s inputs inspired the next generation of officers to be fearless, patriotic and widened their horizons to look into the future. Former foreign secretary Sujatha Singh points out that “through his participation in the IFS email group, he allowed many younger colleagues, who may have never had the opportunity to meet him in person, to benefit from his wisdom and experience.” The book is enriched by APV’s recorded oral history, where he frankly expands on the various stages of his career to his interviewer who is also a distinguished diplomat--Ambassador Kishan Rana. Students of politics, international relations and India’s external relations would find this section hugely rewarding. The book has good photographs of APV in the company of leaders from India and abroad, and some pleasant family portraits. The book is highly recommended to all interested in diplomacy. It has a detailed account of a major contretemps by a former Prime Minister by well-known journalists. There is a section of ‘Venkatisms’ like the reference to Rajiv Gandhi, under whom he served, that one can inherit good looks, also intelligence, but not experience. The tributes occupy well over half the book, ranging from a two liner which describes him as caring and hospitable, to much longer ones which recount in some detail what it was like to work with him with greater or lesser closeness, to know him socially, to enjoy his hospitality and, in more than one case, to encounter him in other circumstances. Some of the contributors knew him well, others hardly at all.The keenness of his intellect and the sharpness of his wit are the qualities that come in for most attention; one after another, the tributes refer to his humour, his capacity for quick repartee. An enjoyable read,indeed. P.P.Ramachandran 8/11/2020.

'Tharoorosaurus' by Shashi Tharoor ;Published

by Penguin / Viking ; Pages 319;Price Rs.399/-

                    ****************************

In a celebrated literary anecdote Oliver Goldsmith admonished Samuel Johnson-- “If you make Fishes talk they will talk like Whales”.This applies in equal measure to that Enfant Terrible Shashi Tharoor whose latest concoction is an unabashedly “Wordy” book and deals with interesting words from every letter of the alphabet.

 Tharoor has acquired some notoriety for employing obscure words .He has debouched the book under review to to share words, both long and short, with those fascinated by language. 

Tharoor begins the book by acknowledging his debt to his father.His fascination for words had to rub off on his eldest child .The words include everything from an oft-used Apostrophe to a bit archaic Panglossian. I’ve never had any sort of systematic approach to trying to learn new words; the best way to expand one’s vocabulary is through reading, and I would say that that has held true for me all through my life. In this book, there was no particular reason for the choice of words — they were either words I’d recently used  or words that the country was suddenly using a lot more often than usual (like “pandemic” and “quarantine”), or words in the news (like “impeachment” and “apostrophe”), or sometimes just words that I could tell interesting stories about (like & “curfew” and & “defenestrate”). 

 

It all began with the delightful correspondence Tharoor had with fellow writer Chetan Bhagat who asked the word wizard to praise him using "big words".Much to the delight of Bhagat, Tharoor the diplomat-turned-politician replied,

"Sure, @chetan_bhagat! It's clear you are not sesquipedalian nor given to rodomontade. Your ideas are unembellished with tortuous convolutions & expressed without ostentation. I appreciate the limpid perspicacity of today's column." For the unversed, 'sesquipedalian' means a word being polysyllabic, 'rodomontade' is boastful, 'convolutions' means complex, 'ostentation' means being pretentious, 'limpid' is clear and 'perspicacity' is to be shrewd.

Shashi bandied in Twitter and praised Bhagat for his article in Times of India, titled "The youth need to shut their phones and ask about the economy".Shashi termed Bhagat's opinion piece as "superb" and one with a "clear message".

The book has 53 words with definitions and the history of the word and also an Indian context in some. The copious details and choice of words make this an unusual compilation . He repeats some words but offers them a different meaning.

Any word lover will love this work of love for language and the way it constantly evolves.

Sashi is noted for his recondite scholarship that makes one chase a lexicon. The author and politician has a vocabulary that has been admired for how expansive it is. It has also inspired countless memes. Tharoor, however, has always been the first to laugh at himself. An evidence of this is his new book.

Tharoor’s mind-boggling plethora of uncommon words have forced the common man to become astounded and even aghast!.

In 2017, Tharoor's tweet, with words like "exasperating farrago of distortions", made headlines and became the buzz word of the Internet.

As an asthmatic child, often confined to the bed, Tharoor  took to the comfort provided by books. This was in the era of fewer distractions. There was no television, mobile phone, PlayStation, or the Internet. "They [books] were my entertainment, my escape and my education. I would read copiously and indiscriminately," he shares. When he came across the same words in different books and in various contexts, he quickly learned "how they are used, their meanings and nuances". "As a result, my vocabulary naturally expanded," Tharoor added.

The idea for the book was born out of a column that Tharoor used to have in a Sunday newspaper, till recently, where he would discuss a new word, every week.

There was no particular reason for the choice of words he included in the book. "They were either words I'd recently used in a tweet (like 'farrago' and 'kakistocracy'), or words that the country was suddenly using a lot more often than usual (like 'pandemic' and 'quarantine').

Defenestrate is also a word that he is "overly fond of" and goes back to his college days at St Stephen's in Delhi. "The word literally means 'to throw out of a window', and while opportunities for its literal usage are limited in our civilized times, its metaphorical possibilities are limitless! Especially for an Opposition MP trying to defenestrate the ruling party," he quips. A word, he feels, Indians should be using more often is "agathokakological," which means something or someone made up of both good and evil. "We see so many examples of agathokakological people, situations, and stories in our daily lives in India."

What Tharoor finds most amusing is when people ask him, which dictionary or thesaurus he refers to, to improve his vocabulary. "People think I am some sort of nutcase who studies dictionaries all day long, but the reality is that I have barely opened a dictionary in my life."

 The book displays his famous wit. Select the word ‘Goon’ .Shashi writes, “The goons who assaulted students at Jawaharlal Nehru University could not have entered and left without the complicity of the police.” . It would feel almost disingenuous, especially in my profession, to write without reference to the terribly unjust times we are living in. Those who committed the violence at JNU most certainly exemplify the word “goon”.

 The love of learning is self-reinforcing — the more you practice it, the stronger it becomes. That has certainly been true in my own experience. In a multilingual polity like ours, familiarity with usage is often a challenge, and wit and humour, in particular, can often be lost in translation.

Shashi like Amitabh in Namak Halal, can leave the ‘Angrez’ behind. He can talk English, he can walk English, he can laugh English, and it’s that last characteristic that turns his new book a huge entertainer --indeed a minor achievement.

The origin of the words and the process by which they evolved into their current avatar are limpidly clarified . Tharoor is a great yarn spinner with a Wodehousian sense of the comic!

Tharoor is an accidental artist of the long word. Indeed, his early forays into this domain were not quite distinguished . The number of Tharoor-isms has increased, and their adoption by a vibrant social media soon made him the Pope of the spoken word.

Shashi does not cloak his political leanings . So often there is more swipe than required of Narendra Mody and this does pall. Perhaps a more uncommitted wordsmith would have been equally critical of the Dynasty. Sans doubt Shashi has his prejudices,likings but these are the warp and woof of life.

The charm of the tome is redoubled by the deligh tful illustrations of Mihir Joglekar. Sashi’s book is not exactly un-put-downable but surely is engaging,entertaining and occasionally elevating. With Tharoor around there is a promise of there being not dull moment after the diplomat –lexicographer’s landing in God’s own country.

                                

                                                  Shashi Tharoor

P.P.Ramachandran.

01/11/2020.

Overdraft by Dr.Urjit Patel ; Published by Harper Business; Pages 195 ; Price Rs.599/- ************************* Dr.Urjit Patel was the 24th Governor of R B I and resigned on December 11, 2018.He was the first Governor to state personal reasons as a driving factor for his resignation. He is the Fifth RBI Governor to have resigned before the end of his term. In his new book, “Overdraft: Saving the Indian Saver”, he gives some insights on what led to this unprecedented resignation. Dr. Patel’s book is focused on the massive Non-Performing Assets problem, its effect on the economy and financial stability and the way forward. This book adopts the path laid down by predecessors like Raghuram Rajan compiling a book of speeches with introductions and epilogues. Patel’s book banks heavily on his previous academic work, and lectures at various universities in the US and India after he laid down office. It is very meaningful while analysing the bad loan situation in banks and examining solutions to the problems. It serves as a stern warning which ,one hopes the Government would consider carefully. Patel does not spare any stakeholder and clearly points out that everyone has been responsible for the mess including the government which failed to question excessive lending by the banks it owns, and regulators who woke up late to problems and then told themselves, “this time it is different” to the financial media which applauded lenders who had been upbraided by the RBI. According to him RBI supervision teams felt the “Stockholm Syndrome” and came “up with mitigating explanations for not recommending apposite strictures and penalties commensurate with transgressions that have been brought to light”. Three parameters have been highlighted and these are “Fears of the 3Cs (the Central Bureau of Investigation, the Central Vigilance Commission and the Comptroller and Auditor General) . Patel writes “The regulator fell short on several counts in the period leading up to 2014. It failed to challenge assumptions through, for example, more rigorous stress-test scenarios at bank level as well as sensitivity analysis on (demand assumptions) and sector (policy) risks.” A year ago Patel had adumbrated a trilemma in a lecture--- it is impossible for a) public sector lenders to dominate the banking system while having b) independent regulation and c) the government adhering to fiscal prudence. Thus, if the government wants to direct credit flow in the economy and stick to fiscal deficit targets (and not recapitalise banks), then the regulator will have to relax its norms. On the other hand, if the regulator sticks to its guns, and the government continues to do policy interventions through credit, then it has to necessarily recapitalise banks and say goodbye to fiscal prudence. Patel is convinced that independent regulation has taken the hit. Relaxation of norms over time and conferring ease on crony capitalists has become inevitable with objectives of Government being often different. According to the Governor an asset quality review on NBFCs and MSME borrowers was started in a quiet way in 2018 but that “seems to have been postponed”. Even in the case of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, Patel believes Government could have ensured better follow-up. Patel is unhappy with the current RBI dispensation diluting the central bank’s framework for bad loan resolution outside the bankruptcy code. He affirms : “Decisions in 2019 and early 2020 by the government and other stakeholders have increased the likelihood that long-drawn cases are here to stay. Periodic bailout by the government and official entities will likely continue, at least for some banks.” Government continues to lean heavily on the banking system to boost demand. At the same time, bad loans are estimated to shoot up by as much as 50 percent this financial year while regulatory forbearance has re-emerged. Patel sounds a note of warning “We have to be vigilant that U-turns don’t usher a serial bout of ever-greening and zombie borrowers; otherwise, victory over crony capitalism will, at best, be short-lived, and that the limited progress so far could turn out to be a false dawn." The most glaring omission in the book is the absence of a discussion on demonetisation. Patel was RBI Governor when the Modi government implemented the policy, and he received a lot of flak for remaining quiet, back then. But he continues to remain silent on the issue. As RBI Governor in September 2016, Patel worked out the ‘9R’ strategy, which he affirms would save savings, rescue banks and protect them from unscrupulous racketeers. His ‘9R’ strategy is divided into five steps. The first has 4Rs: Recognise, Record, Report and Recovery. The second step involves Resolution of bad loans under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC). In the third step, there is the 6th and 7th R aimed at legally enforcing Resolution and Recapitalisation commitment. The fourth step (8th R) focuses on cementing the change (Reset and Ring Fence) and the fifth and final step calls for Reform, aimed at restoring faith in government banks. Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) norms were relaxed to ‘graduate’ five loss-making government banks out of the PCA framework in early 2019. “Recapitalisation of these PCA banks helped them meet the criterion on net NPAs. Hardly anyone disagreed that this was to facilitate higher credit growth.” Patel talks of two other parties that are responsible. The first are various industry associations that have never criticised the defaulters. One of the reasons as to why banks maintain higher spreads on deposits is that they must provide for these NPAs, which, in turn, impinges on capital. Hence the cost is spread across all borrowers. India Inc cannot shun responsibility and just keep quiet, as it affects everyone. Patel does argue against farm loan waivers and supports agri reforms, which have a more long-lasting effect on the lives of farmers. We have a chapter on governance and less interference from the government when it comes to PSBs. Highlighted by Patel is a significant issue, of the RBI having no power when it comes to PSBs, which was making headlines even when he was Governor. This anomaly must be corrected if we are to show any improvement in this sector as regulation becomes difficult. The book is an essential read for students of finance, economy and commerce. For those entrusted with managing the banking sector, it is a valuable guide and a reminder of the pitfalls of falsehoods. P.P.Ramachandran. 18/10/2020.

Backstage by Montek Singh Ahluwalia ; Published by Rupa ; Pages 434 ; Price Rs.595/- *************************** Montek Singh Ahluwalia strode like a Colossus the Indian Economic Scene for over 30 years. He was held in respect and struck fear in equal measure. In him was an uncommon amalgam of intellectual brilliance, vision and propriety . Sans doubt Montek emerged as a world renowned economic policy maker. Only one of the two non--I A S Officers to become Finance Secretary, he dictated the contours of India’s fiscal liberalisation programme under Dr. Manmohan Singh and P.Chidambaram. Montek had many feathers in his Turban—always Blue---- Finance Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Commerce Secretary, Special Secretary to the Prime Minister and Economic Adviser, Ministry of Finance. He was Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission. He has been involved with economic policymaking in India at senior levels from 1979 till 2014, except for a few years of the Vajpayee regime.Montek was the architect of the country's 11th and 12th Five Year Plans and witnessed the economy's deep issues during the tumultuous years of 2009--14 when the Global Economic Crisis derailed the Indian economy and caused the NPA crisis which continues to haunt to this day. He was awarded the Padma Vibhushan and the Skoch challenger Award for Lifetime achievement, both in 2011. The book under review is an uncluttered chronicle of one legendary, brilliant, self-assured and suave economist participating in the momentous changes in India that mirrored his own career. It portrays the story of the Indian economy being catapulted from a middling performer to a growth dynamo post the reforms. The book gives a clear, step by step account of the key moments in that reform process and is particularly useful on the build-up to 1991. It provides for the researcher a preliminary draft that describes the transformation of the economy from a state-run mixed economy to a market-led structure. The book is utterly free of malice and is an object lesson in being nice and a successful effort in not making enemies. The book does not say a single negative thing about anyone. There is a mild indirect criticism of the Gandhi family for constraining Manmohan Singh. The Gandhis frittered away the party’s talents. The chronicle has several laudable achievements . One observes admirable consistency and clarity of intellectual outlook. Montek emerges as a truly detached stoic. The only occasion when Montek becomes emotional is when he recounts the anti-Sikh riots of 1984, when Arun Shourie had to drive Montek’s parents to safety amidst the carnage. Expectedly Montek has many heroes the most favourite being Manmohan Singh. However,the towering personality is Montek Singh’s father who was a clerk in the Defence Accounts Service. His commitment to his children’s education was remarkable. After Montek got a double promotion in primary school, and was just beginning class in the new school year, young Montek’s mother took him away for a week for a wedding in the family, and the father sat in his son’s maths class for that week, so as to be able to fill his son in on what he had missed. Before his last posting, he had a choice, either become a promotee officer in his service and take up a posting in some remote part of the country or decline the promotion and relocate to Delhi. So that his children might get a better education, the elder Ahluwalia chose Delhi over becoming an officer. The third hero is the author himself--- Montek who studies hard, wins scholarships and friends, puts behind himself, in succession, DPS , St Stephens, Oxford, the World Bank, India’s finance ministry, the Prime Minister’s Office, the Planning Commission, the IMF’s global evaluation office and finally the post of deputy chairman of the Planning Commission . Montek accords to Manmohan Singh credit for pushing through the initial set of economic reforms in 1991, in a manner that would make Singh blush. Montek says Singh once described himself as an appointed prime minister. Without Rao’s backing and political guidance, it is open to doubt if Finance Minister Singh would not have been booed out of Parliament in one day. The path-breaking industrial policy that did away with licences and permits and clearances from the Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Commission was not part of Singh’s reform budget. Reorienting India’s foreign policy away from its Westward bias and post-Soviet recalibration towards the East was Rao’s contribution, as was the decision to carry on with India’s nuclear programme.Ahluwalia stands squarely in Singh’s corner and even tries to recalibrate the historical weightage allotted to him. Montek is unwilling to locate UPA II’s unwinding in Singh’s own lack of control over the narrative. Montek has no hard answers.The charitable explanation is diplomatic restraint. Ahluwalia is unable—or unwilling—to pull his punches for the Left parties which had often publicly articulated their distaste for his policies. There is a side-swipe at the BJP’s duplicity in, first, opposing multiple strands of the reforms programme, then implementing the same agenda when in power and claiming credit for it. It is disappointing when Ahluwalia strenuously side-steps Singh’s inaction when corruption allegations and policy stasis undermined the United Progressive Alliance’s second term in Parliament, from 2009-14. One is surprised to note pretty little of Montek’s interactions with Narendra Modi, especially when he visited the Planning Commission as Gujarat’s chief minister, imploring the Soviet-style organisation for a higher allocation of Central funds and development grants. The book has a high autobiographical content, with either his role or his views invariably recorded for every major economic development in this period. Montek’s account is particularly valuable for its historical span, meticulous documentation and deft analysis. It is the first insider account of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA)’s decade in power, written by someone who served at the very heart of that government. There was a belief that Manmohan Singh was a weak leader and the country was yearning for a more decisive prime minister. “The performance of this government in the first seven of its 10 years was outstanding. The economy clocked an average growth of 8.4% in this period, the fastest growth rate ever”, writes Ahluwalia. “Pulling 138 million persons above poverty was hailed internationally as a major achievement.” The first problem was that the UPA responded inadequately, even incorrectly, to the 2G and “Coalgate” controversies. In the process, it allowed them to become scandals that shrouded its successes. Ahluwalia ends by revealing, “I have often urged Dr Manmohan Singh to write his memoirs but have had no luck so far.” The former PM is waiting for history’s verdict, confident it will be kinder than that of his contemporaries. Yet, that could be hampered by his refusal to leave behind his side of the story. One does look forward to the tale told by Manmohan Singh. P.P.Ramachandran. 11/10/2020.

A Ringside Seat to History ; An Autobiography by Pascal Alan Nazareth; Published by Konark Publishers ; Pages 256 ; Price Rs.800/- *************************** It is a matter of common knowledge that Indians are not famous for recording history and we can boast of few biographies and autobiographies. Happily post Independence we have a number of books of this genre. Retired ICS Officers wrote memoirs and these included the works of K.P.S.Menon.B.K.Nehru,Chintaman Deshmukh. Nazareth’s autobiography is a valuable addition. The ancient Chinese have a wonderful form of blessing—An elder person would say-- “May you live in interesting times.” Surely the author of the book under review has lived in interesting times, met interesting people and experienced extraordinary events in several countries. Two important people who were close to him are Mother Teresa and Zubin Mehta. At the end of this review I give two valuable anecdotes about them. The book is the riveting autobiography an ordinary young man, whose father earnestly wanted him to be a part of the coveted Indian Administrative Service , but the son got selected for the Indian Foreign Service . This in fact ,enabled him to witnesses historic events at close proximity in several parts of the globe and what is more also play a role in some of them. He was holding a Masters Degree in Economics from Madras University, when he cleared IFS. He learns of the Dalai Lama's crossing the Tibetan border into India, in Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's office; witnesses a Japanese politician being assassinated in Tokyo; handles the aftermath of military coups and bloody executions of Heads of State in Ghana and Liberia; relentlessly pursues a fraudulent and well-connected NRI shipping magnate, Jayanti Dharma Teja, in the US and Costa Rica and ensures he is repatriated to India; crosses swords with nefarious arms dealers in London; makes major economic gains for India in West Africa and Latin America and makes a vital contribution in projecting India as a 'Cultural Superpower. He and his wife Isobel played an excellent role in the aftermath of the devastating Peruvian earthquake. They also coaxed Mother Teresa to open a MoC home in Lima. His post-retirement years have been dedicated to reviving Gandhian ideals, promoting friendship and peace with Pakistan and lecturing on 'Blue Waters'. Struck with two major personal tragedies he sublimates them into socially impactful projects and spiritual self-transformation. This is the autobiography of Shri.P.A.Nazareth who in his 35-year IFS career has served in a number of India's diplomatic missions . Diplomacy is the conduct of relations between countries through negotiations and discussions, especially in an age when national interest is secured no longer through isolation but interaction. Diplomats, therefore, are a vital part of this arm of the nation-state, reaching out across the globe to further cooperation for their countries and salvaging the situation when the ties are in choppy waters. The writer, an accomplished diplomat, was part of an era in the Indian Foreign Service when the country carved a niche for itself in the global arena. He has served in India's diplomatic and consular missions in Tokyo, Rangoon, Lima, London, Chicago and New York and as India's High Commissioner to Ghana and Ambassador to Liberia, Upper Volta, Togo, Egypt, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador A Belize. Since retirement in May 1994, he has lectured at many prestigious institutions such as Universities of Bengaluru, Banaras, Delhi, Stanford, Yale, Columbia, Heidelberg, Uppsala and Peking. His book “Gandhi's Outstanding Leadership” has appeared in 12 Indian and 23 foreign languages, including Arabic, French, Mandarin, Russian and Spanish. Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev has written the Foreword for 12 of its foreign language editions. In 2007, Nazareth was presented the U Thant Peace Award for his 'Life Time of World Service'. Earlier distinguished recipients are Pope John Paul II, Mother Teresa, the Dalai Lama, Mikhail Gorbachev, Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu. Nazareth has delivered International Day of Non-Violence keynote addresses at the UN in New York in 2012 and UN Library in Geneva in 2017. His second book “Gandhi: The Soul Force Warrior” was published in 2018. Nazareth recalls how his batch of the IFS was taken to meet P.M.Jawaharlal Nehru .At that precise moment the PM was informed that the Dalai Lama had crossed over into the country from Tibet that morning. “These young officers will be dealing with today’s consequences,” was Nehru’s decision. History was being made and Nazreth was introduced to diplomacy. Delightful personal memories are shared of how his father did not allow him to get married before leaving for his first posting in Japan, but sent his mother instead for company.The reader is captivated by Nazareth’s utterly honest account of his partnership with Isobel,the sense of tragic loss when his daughter Seema died as also the great relief and joy at the recovery from cancer of his son Andy. During the 1982-85 period, when Mr. Nazareth was ICCR Director General, multifaceted Indian cultural festivals were held in Britain, USA and France, and international conferences on 'Buddhism and National Cultures' and 'India and World Literature', and a World Poetry Festival at New Delhi. An India-Greece Symposium organized during this period at Delphi resulted in the scholarly publication India and Greece'. Subsequently when Mr. Nazareth was Ambassador to Egypt and Mexico 'India and Egypt' and 'India and Mexico' were published, following similar symposia held in Cairo and Mexico City. He successfully handled the presentation in India of the Bolshoi Ballet,Paris Opera and NYPO. Mr. Nazareth retired in May 1994 and since then has been guest lecturer at National Institute of Advanced Studies, Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore and National Defence College, New Delhi. He has also lectured at or participated in seminars in several prestigious Universities all over the world. Nazareth is a founder and Managing Trustee of Sarvodaya International Trust which is dedicated to promoting the Gandhian ideals of Truth, nonviolence, communal harmony, humanitarian service and peace. Nazareth is the Chief of Gandhi Centre of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Bengaluru. He has conducted international conferences on India and World Literature in New Delhi and organised events where many scholars presented papers on how India has been projected in world literature and India’s contribution to world literature. This is a chronicle which is at once graceful and compelling and opens for the reader a new world of experience and enlightenment. It is difficult to disagree with Ambassador Rasgotra when he declares in his Foreword, “...There is much more in the book that will delight, inform,intrigue and enlighten readers about the ways in which Indian diplomacy engages with the world”. Two Anecdotes: Mother Teresa Andy, the author’s son has undergone a surgery for cancer in New York’s Sloan Kettering Hospital. Providentially Mother Teresa arrives there and goes to see Andy, pats him on his cheeks, prays over him intensely with her eyes closed for about three minutes, then makes him recite a short prayer to Infant Jesus and tells him, “You will soon be well.” Andy recovered very fast after that. According to Doctors,a very speedy recovery. Zubin Mehta On a visit to Jerusalem by car.Nazareth and Isobel arrived at the Erez border post and faced a problem.The Immigration Officers were friendly but after examining their passports courteously pointed Israeli visas, that though they had Israeli visas,their passports had been stamped “valid for all countries except Israel and South Africa.”. One of the Immigration Officers asked, “Ambasador Nazareth,Do you know Zubin Mehta?”. The author confirmed “I know him very well”.They established contact with Zubin who talked to the Israeli Foreign Minister who cleared the proposal and the author and his wife could enter Israel. Next evening they attended Zubin’s programme at the Mann auditorium and watched the show from Zubin’s box. P.P.Ramachandran 4/10/2020.