A round table discussion was held at the VIF to discuss the various aspects of Election 2019. Dr A Surya Prakash, Chairman Prasar Bharti, led the discussions.
In an endeavour to introduce foreign diplomats posted in India to the conceptual frameworks and thought processes in the light of India’s cultural moorings and traditions that go into crafting of foreign and security policies, 47 foreign diplomats were briefed on India’s foreign and security policies, cultural ethos and historical and civilizational roots that goes into forming India’s world view.
Prof Vaidyanathan’s book, Caste as Social Capital, challenges several myths relating to the working of the caste system in India. Noting that while caste is commonly identified with oppression and discrimination, he points out that it also has positive aspects which have not been researched adequately. The main argument of the book is that “the jati or community or caste plays a major role in entrepreneurship and also facilitate the upward mobility of the whole caste rather than individual.”
Science and innovation have been long-embedded in India’s civilisation and culture. Today, they are playing an important role in shaping the country’s future in an increasingly globalised world. The current pace of technological change across the world is unprecedented and is opening
… a Task Force to review the IWT is a good move and hopefully it will help India in creating adequate water management infrastructure in a time bound manner so that she is able to utilise all the waters that she is entitled to harness. The unending debate over ‘Rights of Pakistan vs Needs of India’ may be left to continue without having to abrogating the IWT …
… skill development programmes must begin at the primary school level … vocationalisation of education should be introduced to prevent drop-outs … curriculum of vocational education must take into consideration the local resources and natural skills of the region … assessment of the human resources and career counselling must begin very early in schools and integrated manpower planning at the district level should be encouraged …
The Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) organised a book release function for the release of the book, ‘Who Should Say Sorry For Two Millennia of Injustices’, penned by Ambassador Surendra Kumar, who has served in Indian missions in Libya, Mozambique, Kenya, Malta etc. and is an eminent political commentator. The VIF was honored to have Mrs. Sonal Maan Singh, MP from Rajya Sabha, as the Chief Guest to unveil the book. Dr. Arvind Gupta, Director VIF, welcomed the Ambassador to the interaction that was attended by former diplomats, military officers and scholars.
Shri RNP Singh’s book “Sardar Patel, Unifier of Modern India” was launched by Shri Ajit Doval, KC, National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister of India, on the 4th of September, 2018 at the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF). The book chronicles the remarkable contributions of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel to the post-Independence integration of states into the Indian Union. Although it describes only five years of the stalwart’s life, the book is an indispensable read for every Indian to comprehend how India came to be a unified nation.
Vallabhbhai Patel (1875-1950) left his mark not only on the map of India but also on the minds of her people. He is said to have bequeathed the idea of an integrated India to the nation, and is often called the ‘Iron Man’, with an uncanny foresight and a clear vision of where independent India’s future lay.
Published in Defence Monitor August September 2018