The importance of EQ over IQ for politicians

Humility, not hubris, should be the middle name of any Indian politician who wants to achieve his goals

Last month saw the rise of a new star among state finance ministers, Palanivel Thiaga Rajan (PTR) of Tamil Nadu. For his erudite and forceful interventions at the recently-concluded Goods and Services Tax Council (GST Council) meeting on May 28, he has been widely hailed by the English-speaking media.

His GST Council speech was bang on. Among other things, he pointed out that GST has not lived up to its promise and now needs a root-and-branch overhaul. He called for more fiscal powers to states and said that the money devolved through the reports of finance commissions had been quietly neutered