Backstage is perhaps one of the best narratives, I have read on the economic reforms in India in the context of a very volatile political environment.
Mr. Ahluwalia started in the World Bank after a stellar educational track record in India and Britain. He is perhaps one of the few highly qualified Indians who chose to return home in order to build a career and contribute to the growth of his home country in the late 1970s. He dedicated his life as a civil servant who came through lateral induction. An outstanding case study for opening the civil services to subject matter experts, technocrats and professional in the private sector.
The book has touched upon all the key reforms from the 1980's that were undertaken by government, the underlying political will for change from socialist infrastructure to a more liberalised economy. The economic precipice at which we stood as a nation, when gold was air lifted to London in lieu of a loan, on account of the balance of payment crisis that the country had faced in the early 1990.
The build up chapters refer to the foundation for many reforms such as the precursor to GST and VAT was the MODVAT. It is little acknowledged that it was initiated during the tenure of former PM VP Singh. There was plenty of will and support for similar change across the political class.
The major change or the black swan event was the end of the license raj at the start of the 1990s which has been supported by the opposition and continuity maintained through all governments after the Congress. Governments led by National Front, BJP, UPA and presently NDA have maintained the change direction improving and building upon reforms to build a more liberal economic.
Mr. Ahluwalia has been very straight in identifying the challenges that hobbled reforms, political pressure that governments had to go through and challenges the permanent bureaucracy has to continuously endure. He is poignant in narrating the causes of the issues that plague our economy presently. The issues and causes associated with NPA crisis in the banking system, the telecom and coal debacle. Numerous other scams and difference in opinion with CAG have also been highlighted.
He has been a pillar of continuity for the civil services and a voice of reform. His voice would be sorely missed and the absence of his influence on the negotiating table especially when it comes to multilateral agreements like RCEP and trade deals. Further liberalisation and disinvestment had been stalled at the behest of the left wing influence and the Swadeshi lobby within the BJP and RSS combine.
The book is a fine narrative on the build up, role and demise of the one of the leading Institutions, the Planning commission. He has spoken clearly of the learning, needs and reforms required for Institution building. All that Niti Ayog must do to maintain the continuity of the best from the commission era and bring in new best practises to supplement it.
In my view, he has made a tremendous contribution as an economist to the growth of the country. He has been a quiet shadow to Dr. Manmohan Singh and core part of his think tank. Together the duo achieved a lot over decades of working together in embracing the libertarian view of the world for India.
In due course, history would remember Mr. Ahluwalia well. His mediations as a civil servant should be mandatory reading for permanent bureaucracy and anyone involved in the reforms process.
The one phrase that stands out in the entire book is "unrelenting optimist", an attitude that we must embody in our national character. We must persist in spirit and deed towards uplifting the remaining who have been left behind in the early stages of reform.
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Mr. Ahluwalia started in the World Bank after a stellar educational track record in India and Britain. He is perhaps one of the few highly qualified Indians who chose to return home in order to build a career and contribute to the growth of his home country in the late 1970s. He dedicated his life as a civil servant who came through lateral induction. An outstanding case study for opening the civil services to subject matter experts, technocrats and professional in the private sector.
The book has touched upon all the key reforms from the 1980's that were undertaken by government, the underlying political will for change from socialist infrastructure to a more liberalised economy. The economic precipice at which we stood as a nation, when gold was air lifted to London in lieu of a loan, on account of the balance of payment crisis that the country had faced in the early 1990.
The build up chapters refer to the foundation for many reforms such as the precursor to GST and VAT was the MODVAT. It is little acknowledged that it was initiated during the tenure of former PM VP Singh. There was plenty of will and support for similar change across the political class.
The major change or the black swan event was the end of the license raj at the start of the 1990s which has been supported by the opposition and continuity maintained through all governments after the Congress. Governments led by National Front, BJP, UPA and presently NDA have maintained the change direction improving and building upon reforms to build a more liberal economic.
Mr. Ahluwalia has been very straight in identifying the challenges that hobbled reforms, political pressure that governments had to go through and challenges the permanent bureaucracy has to continuously endure. He is poignant in narrating the causes of the issues that plague our economy presently. The issues and causes associated with NPA crisis in the banking system, the telecom and coal debacle. Numerous other scams and difference in opinion with CAG have also been highlighted.
He has been a pillar of continuity for the civil services and a voice of reform. His voice would be sorely missed and the absence of his influence on the negotiating table especially when it comes to multilateral agreements like RCEP and trade deals. Further liberalisation and disinvestment had been stalled at the behest of the left wing influence and the Swadeshi lobby within the BJP and RSS combine.
The book is a fine narrative on the build up, role and demise of the one of the leading Institutions, the Planning commission. He has spoken clearly of the learning, needs and reforms required for Institution building. All that Niti Ayog must do to maintain the continuity of the best from the commission era and bring in new best practises to supplement it.
In my view, he has made a tremendous contribution as an economist to the growth of the country. He has been a quiet shadow to Dr. Manmohan Singh and core part of his think tank. Together the duo achieved a lot over decades of working together in embracing the libertarian view of the world for India.
In due course, history would remember Mr. Ahluwalia well. His mediations as a civil servant should be mandatory reading for permanent bureaucracy and anyone involved in the reforms process.
The one phrase that stands out in the entire book is "unrelenting optimist", an attitude that we must embody in our national character. We must persist in spirit and deed towards uplifting the remaining who have been left behind in the early stages of reform.
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