India is the flavour of many books in recent years. Though various aspects of the country are covered, the favourite theme is economic prospects for India and its increasing global significance. Most of these books are authored by serious academics, India watchers of foreign origin, and very successful entrepreneurs, in addition to a couple of foreigners almost settled in India. This book may, at first sight, appear to be in the same genre, but it is different in many respects. The author was born and brought up in rural India, but has been intimately exposed, as a professional fiscal expert in the International Monetary Fund, to economies of many countries. His long international exposure was preceded by working in critical national-level public policy bodies in the Government of India. The theme of the book, however, is not directly related to his expertise at national level or global level, but the exposure provides him with a unique perspective on India. The book is an outcome of field observations of his native surroundings over several months supported by a thorough knowledge and understanding of Indian society, economy and institutions. It is in many ways the only first-hand account of both India and Bharat in one sweep from someone who lived in and experienced both the worlds. It is not confined to the area of economics, but captures economic change in a broader sense, while displaying simultaneous appreciation of the interplay of macro and micro aspects by way of interactions between society and governance.
The first chapter titled “Manu Redux: Perpetuation of Degeneracy” provides a detailed account of the determining characteristics of Indian society as it evolved. The constitutional provisions, legislative initiatives, executive actions and judiciary’s doctrines are viewed in a harmonious fashion to appreciate changing ethos and patterns of institutional dynamics. Observing that society in rural areas continues to be divided and spatially located in terms of caste, Chapter 2, “The Urban-Rural Divide”, states that the major escape mechanism available to the disadvantaged caste is migration to urban areas and urban suburbs. This dynamic has increased the bargaining power of labour in some rural areas, and has also encouraged recourse to mechanisation by the larger farmers. The rural farmer, the author observes, is far more circumscribed by society and works in a system in which he has little control over the inputs, outputs and above all, nature. These observations are in sharp contrast with the prevalent view that well-to-do farmers in India are a pampered lot.
Chapter 3, “NRI: The Neo-Change Agent”, in the view of the reviewer, is a very valuable original contribution. Phases of migration are identified and both the macro economic implication and impact on sociological factors, including politics, are described in detail. Chapter 4, titled “U and Non-U Classes”, divides society into three categories — upper class, non-upper class and those below the poverty line. The non-U class and those below the poverty line, it is said, tend to treat government as a friend that is not fulfilling its full potential, while the U class sees the government both as an ally and an over-eager adversary. Chapter 5 on “Resurgence of Religion” makes a somewhat disturbing reading, especially in dealing with what is described as the divine commerce.
Chapter 6, titled “The Juggernaut and its Discontents”, sets out an ambitious agenda of simultaneously addressing critical issues in governance, viz, decentralisation, regulation, empowerment of people, civil service reform, delivery of services, transparency, etc, and surprisingly it makes a very convincing reading. The coverage includes judiciary, audit, defence forces, etc. The exposition of theories relating to public policy and its relevance to the evolving situation in India is of particular value.
Chapter 7 on “Patterns of Corruption and Civic Life” has less of history and more of contemporary scene, and contains a revealing account of the patterns of corruption. Chapter 8 is aptly titled “The Myth of Law and Order”. The worrying conclusion of this book is “the people, for their part, are not ready as yet to extend trust to the police forces” (page 308). Chapter 9 and 10 titled “Confrontation Politics and Policymaking by the Public” and “Trusteeship: Case of Public Lands”, respectively, are brief essays pointing out essentially the current tendencies and their backgrounds.
This book projects a non-conventional view on several issues and prompts the reader to ponder over the complex realities that an insider-cum-outsider to India and Bharat narrates. It is possible to agree with most but not all the generalisations made, but knowledgeable and well-considered statements cutting across several disciplines in social sciences are refreshing and thought-provoking. However, the reader will be rewarded only if she has patience, is serious and is sensitive about India in terms of all its societal and institutional complexities.
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The book’s limitation is that it is based on a study of a few villages in a short period of time and these villages happen to be part of a very prosperous region of the country, but in a state which has witnessed impressive social economic change in recent decades. Yet, those who miss reading this book will miss a lot that is extremely valuable and not available anywhere else.
The reviewer is a former governor of the Reserve Bank of India
CONTEMPORARY INDIA: SOCIETY AND ITS GOVERNANCE
A Premchand
Transaction Publishers, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
346 pages; Rs 1,799