Transitional Puzzles : Reflections on Social, Economic and Political Issues

by Amlan Datta

• ISBN13: 9788178298832
• ISBN10: 817829883X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-01-06
• Publisher: SAGE Publications Pvt. Ltd
• More Book Details

Summary

Transitional Puzzles: Reflections on Social, Economic and Political Issues is a collection of essays on India. Remarkable for its jargon-free clarity, the book is intended for the common man who seeks to understand the India he lives in. The articles offer simple analysis of complex policies, dealing with varied and vast issues such as values in a shifting Indo-Western scenario, education and industry in times of political changes, sustainable growth, industrialization and social reconstruction, alternative economic order, higher education in India, Gandhism, human values, and Indian democracy. The discourse also introduces original concepts such as Life-World and Neo-Radicalism.This collection will be an invaluable source of knowledge for a wide readership; the average informed reader will find the content most enriching. Besides, it will also hold the interest of those involved in the studies of Sociology, Politics and Economics.

Author Biography

Prof. Amlan Datta is a well-known economist and educationist. He has been the Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Calcutta, Vice Chancellor of University of North Bengal (1974-77), Director of Gandhian Institute of Studies and Vice Chancellor of Visva Bharati University, Shantiniketan (1980-84). He received the Vidyasagar Award in 1999. A prolific writer, some of his books are For Democracy; Perspective of Economic Development; An Introduction to India's Economic Development Since the 19th Century; Socialism, Democracy and Industrialization; Beyond Socialism; In Defence of Freedom: Exciting Times and Quiet Meditations. His articles in newspapers are widely popular.

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. ix
Our Ever-Increasing Family	p. 1
Unity Today	p. 8
Transitional Puzzles	p. 21
Economics of Urban Agglomerations	p. 29
Sustainable Growth	p. 39
Industrialisation and Social Reconstruction	p. 43
Beyond the Short Run	p. 47
The Great Transition	p. 50
Towards an Alternative Economic Order	p. 59
New Perspectives of Economic Development	p. 79
Democracy, Rural Reconstruction and Humanism	p. 85
Higher Education in India: A Dilemma	p. 98
Education, Science and Economic Development	p. 104
Tagore's Philosophy of Education	p. 118
Power of Religion	p. 125
Ambedkar: A Rebel with a Cause	p. 134
On Gandhism	p. 140
What Gandhi Meant by God	p. 148
Kumarappa's Critique of High Industrialisation	p. 156
Life World: Private and Public Domains	p. 163
Beyond the Clash of Civilisations	p. 167
The Problem of Corruption	p. 173
Atheistic Idolatry	p. 181
The Decline of Communism	p. 186
Reason, Revolution and Social Progress	p. 192
The Limits of Hedonism	p. 199
Beyond the Welfare State	p. 204
The Future of India's Polity	p. 210
People's Power	p. 216
The Spirit of Indian Democracy	p. 223
Quest for the Ideal	p. 228
A New Radicalism	p. 233
Socialism Reviewed	p. 241
The Liberal Approach	p. 252
A Finer Humanism	p. 273
Index	p. 277
About the Author	p. 288
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