Vinod Rai - Seven Decades of Independent India

P utting together a volume on seven decades of independent India might appear a far-fetched notion given the depth and range of issues that the task would entail. As editors, therefore, we began with the assumption that however hard we tried we would not be able to do justice to the scale. Several subjects of significant importance for India would be left untouched by the book as would diverse opinions on the subjects that are included. As we pen these words, we realize the gaps that we were not successful in filling up. We hope there would be more opportunities for us to look back at India and the wonder that she is.

At the same time, we found the journey exciting and pleasant. As we went through the contributions, we realized the richness of thoughts that we have been able to gather. Rarely can one hope to achieve the unique blend of scholastic opinions with practitioner insights that the pages to follow would reveal. We feel elated at having been able to gather expertise across a vast spectrum of subjects for reflecting on how India was, is, and might be, after seventy years of its independence.

The book has deliberately been developed with a broad perspective on the subjects covered. But we had to do justice to a core theme within the broad canvas. As the reader will realize, public policies and institutions have been the implicit, if not the explicit, context of the entire book. All contributors have examined policies and their applications, notwithstanding whether they have been written on economic, social, political, external relations or governance issues. While we expect the book to generate interest among all readers given the issues it covers, we are certain about its contribution to the discourse on policies and institutions in India. Our effort has been to ensure that policy enthusiasts on India should get to consume insights and ideas from a group of experts whose views are not only much sought after, but also unique given their vast experience and knowledge on what they have written.

The idea of this book began from our conversation with Ambassador Gopinath Pillai, chairman at the Institute of South Asian Studies (ISAS) in the National University of Singapore. The book can be rightfully called an ISAS product. As research faculty of the ISAS, we would like to thank all our colleagues at ISAS for their invaluable help that we received at various points in time during the work on the book. Specifically, we would like to thank Ambassador Gopinath Pillai, Professor Subrata Mitra (director, ISAS) and Hernaikh Singh (senior associate director) for their unfailing support and encouragement at all stages. Quite a few of the contributors in the book are either with ISAS, or have been associated with it at various stages. The book is an example of the excellent scholarship and commendable expertise on India and South Asia that ISAS has cultivated over the years and the contribution that it would continue to make in this regard.

We can hardly thank the distinguished contributors of this volume enough for their time and effort. They have been most supportive, diligent and patient in all their responses and communications to our repeated queries. We cherish the experience of working with a wonderful team of authors. We have learnt a great deal from what they have written for this book and we are sure that the readers would benefit as much as we have from their writings.

As editors, we owe large debts of gratitude to some without whom this book would not have been seen the light of the day. Our colleague Faiza Saleem, research assistant at ISAS, has worked on the manuscript with precise care. Her rigour and attention has gone a very long way in giving the book its final shape. Indrani Dasgupta, copy editor at Penguin Random House India, has been prompt and detailed in scrutinizing the book as thoroughly as possible. Last, but not the least, in our list of those to whom we are deeply grateful is Lohit Jagwani, commissioning editor, Penguin Random House India. Right from the beginning, Lohit has tended the book with great affection and has spared no efforts to ensure its timely evolution and progress. Finally, like in all our other endeavours in life, this work too, would not have come to fruition without the support and encouragement of our respective better halvesGeeta and Parama. All the lapses and lacunae in the work remain entirely ours.

Vinod Rai and Amitendu Palit