Reflections on Nation Building : A Gypsy in the World of Ideas

Contents Preface 1 Gypsy I Inspiring thinkers and their praxis 2 Remembering Gandhi 3 Nehru a critical tribute 4 Sufferings and sacrifices towards emancipation biographical essence of Tilak and Mandela 5 Self realisation through devotion to work reflections on Savta Mali II Understanding history and reflections on traumatic historical events and processes 6 Critical reflections on daunting issues in the study of history 7 Post-war partitions a reappraisal 8 The Berlin wall as a construct and a metaphor 9 Alienation in the emerging and post-industrial world III Perspectives on education global and anti-colonial 10 Rethinking J Krishnamurtis ideas on education 11 Revisiting Frantz Fanon race and the colonial world in Africa IV Institutionnation building in India 12 Working for a bright present 13 Consolidating Democracy and India through discourses on duties 14 Healing fractured India by nurturing young minds 15 Rising like a phoenix by energising the youth 16 Bringing India back home in the universities 17 Resurgent youth as active agents of change 18 Globalising world and universities in India 19 Recasting Indo-African partnership in the 21st century 20 Golden threshold Bibliography Index This unusual collection of essays dwells upon a wide variety of themes that essentially reflect overtly or subtly on the processes of nation building As a result the author traverses like a gypsy in the world of ideas to allow his soul to express itself before his readers In this process the book reveals authors ever maturing understanding of a few memorable poems the role of inspiring leaders metaphysical essence of life and society traumatic events and processes in history the human quest towards institutionnation building and the likely role of younger generations in shaping India of tomorrow A gypsy that is hiding deep down in the authors mind continuously makes him restless within the narrow confines of the known world and wandering in the world of ideas appears to be an obvious outcome of his restlessnessIn the context of nation building the book sheds a new light with some personal touch on the contributions of leaders like Gandhi Nehru Tilak and Mandela Subsequently it moves on to grasp an essence of life through the teachings of Savta Mali a thirteenth century saint poet with metaphysical depth from Maharashtra In addition to exploring the daunting tasks in understanding and interpreting history the book analyses traumatic events and processes in history like partition and erection of the Berlin wall While perceiving any trauma across time and space the author unveils the significance and impact of the notion of alienation in emerging and post industrial society by discussing a moving poem of Kusumagraj in Marathi on the one hand and writings of a few celebrated existentialist thinkers like Albert Camus on the other handAfter highlighting the global and anti-colonial perspectives on education of J Krishamurti and Frantz Fanon respectively the author handles themes related to institution and nation building He underlines the significance of duties his vision of India challenges before younger generations amid growing frustrations on account of mounting socio-economic inequalities the state of higher education in the global sing world and changing requirements of foreign policy in the process of nation building The book ends with a semi autobiographical essay that virtually sketches a partial biography of two major educational institutions namely universities of Hyderabad and Allahabad Owing to its varied intellectual concerns and lucid style the book is eminently readable Every thinking and sensitive mind especially  students of literature philosophy and social sciences would be benefitted by reading it jacket 175 pp.…