The eminent and highly respected Civil Servant, Dr. Mahesh N Buch gave a very spirited talk on the Importance of Governance in India’s Future, at the VIF Auditorium on 30 Aug 10. He highlighted the role of decisive leaders like Margaret Thatcher who displayed the will to govern. He lamented that in India, slogans have replaced programmes. He spoke of his extensive stints as an Administrator in the tribal Bastar regions and highlighted the painful lack of delivery and development.

“To stem out corruption, the anti-corruption bodies should be empowered and the investigating agencies freed from executive control”, suggested B R Lall while delivering the monthly talk Vimarsh at VIF on the ‘Role of Investigating Agencies in Combating Corruption’. Noted columnist S. Gurumurthy gave an overview of the level of corruption in the Indian system and presented a detailed account of the ‘2G Spectrum Scam’ involving senior ministers, bureaucrats and private companies. He claimed that a systemic deficiency in pursuing corruption is on account and it is the manifestation of power of the corrupt and corruptor on the entire system. Political corruption, Gurumurthy added, can be reduced if politicians maintain honesty and probity in public life for which they can be accountable, thereafter.

A very interesting and thought provoking session on "How to develop National Consensus on Critical National Issues" was held on 10 May 2010 at the VIF.The two speakers were Mr Manish Tewari, the articulate Member of Parliament from the Indian National Congress (Party spokesperson) and Dr. Chandan Mitra, former Member of the Rajya Sabha , Editor and Managing Director Pioneer and member of National Executive of BJP. Mr Mitra highlighted the need for consensus building in three primary areas - National Security, Foreign Policy and Macro-Economic Issues. He felt that the structure of Indian politics had become bipolar. The two main national parties must devise mechanisms for consensus building in these key areas. Ideological differences however would remain. Manish Tewari of the Congress presented the contra argument. He felt that the essence of democracy was plurality of opinion. It went beyond listening to a dogged majority but allowed space for a creative minority. That said, he felt there is a congruence on major national issues even though we may quibble on issues of tactics/ execution.

His Holiness Dalai Lama addressed a packed gathering of diplomats, intellectuals and eminent citizens in the auditorium of the Vivekananda International Foundation on 20 March 2010. In the talk, jointly organised by Vivekananda Internaitonal Foundation and the Association of Indian Diplomats, Dalai Lama covered wide range of subjects like ecological degradation, India's civilisational heritage, Non-Violence as an instrument of state policy, problems faced by Tibetean people etc. His Holiness in his most captivating style also responded to a large number of questions fielded to him after the talks.