Has democracy in India fulfilled the aspirations of its people? Have
institutions delivered? Have public policies succeeded in making
substantial differences to living standards? Is the country secure on
its external borders? Would the country become an economic powerhouse?
And can India be a leading power in the years ahead?
All these and many more questions loom large as India completes seven
decades of independence. Major challenges persist on the economic front
and in providing adequate and quality healthcare, education, food,
sanitation and drinking water. Regulatory preoccupations persist as
policymakers continue to search for optimal solutions. The task is made
harder by a socio-political environment shaped by various complexities.
These include an expanding young workforce, a demanding citizenry,
intense social media campaigns and a difficult neighbourhood.
Seven Decades of Independent India, edited by Vinod Rai and Amitendu
Palit, reflects on the India of yesterday, today, and tomorrow, by
gathering rare and candid insights from some of the most distinguished
experts, practitioners and scholars on India. These include D. Subbarao,
ex-governor of RBI; Rajiv Kumar, vice-chairman of NITI Aayog; S.Y.
Quraishi, former chief election commissioner; Shivshankar Menon, former
national security adviser; Ashok Gulati, professor ICRIER and former
chairman of Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices; Sumit Ganguly,
professor of political science, Indiana University; A.K. Shiva Kumar,
director, International Centre for Human Development; Poonam Muttreja,
executive director, Population Foundation of India; Tan Tai Yong,
president and professor (humanities) Yale-NUS College, Singapore;
Dipankar Gupta, sociologist and former professor, JNU; Pronab Sen,
former chief statistician of India and many others.
