© 2007 Institute of Current World Affairs
The Institute awards long-term fellowships to develop a deep understanding of an issue, country, or region outside the US and to share that understanding with a wider public.
Institute of Current World Affairs - Home Page

Below is a hobbled text version of a PDF document.
In order to read the actual document please click the link below and register if necessary.
(One-time registration is free and very quick.)
Read article

12/1/1997 - Looking Back...And Ahead by Pramila Jayapal

Looking Back AndAhead SEATl LE Washington December6 Transcriptofaspeech deliveredat theMembersandTrustees meetingoftheInstituteof CurrentWorldAllah Washington DC December6 ByPramilaJayapal It sbothwonderfulandsadformetobeheretoday wonderfulinthatIhave chance sharesome ofmyincredibletwo years Indiawithyou thatit sarealizationthatmyfellowship really trulyhascometoanend I vetried tostretchitoutasmuchas Ican takingninemonthstoleaveforIndia andthen waitingsixmonthsafterreturningtogivethis final presentation Isuppose I haveto accept thatit stime tomoveonto fellows I vebeengivenhalfanhourtotalktoyoutoday andgiveneverythingthatIsaw inthepasttwoyears IfeellikeI mtryingto stuffanelephantintoarickshaw I tpossiblycovereverythingIwantto I lljustsharewithyouafewissues Ifoundparticularlyinterestingin thischangingmodernIndia Indiaistrulya societyintransitionrightnow Asyouprobablyknow President KocherilNarayananjust dissolved Parliament called formid tions March This third coalition government collapsed thantwoyears anditpresentsanenormouschallenge forthe country Economi cally theprocess ofeconomicliberalization startedin remainscontroversial socially Indians battling inmanydifferentways effects oftradition collidingwiththemodemworld ThethreefacesofIndia stransitionarenoteasily separated Thepoliticianswhodenytheirconstituentstherighttobasiceducation forexample propelthepoor whoaremostlikelytobeleftoutofamodern eraleconomy furtherintotheabyssofunemploymentandpoverty Wherespiri tuality community provide people carried through difficult times these values arenowbeing spurned leavingmanyIndi answithoutananchor I startbytalki littleabouteconomicliberalization Therehasbeenplenty written about liberalization macro economic policy standpoint I wanttosayafewwordsabouttheimpactofliberalizationonsocietal development andthe daily livesandviewsofthemasses WhatstruckmethemostinreturningtoanIndiathathasjoinedintoday baleconomywastheexpansionofthemiddleclass Bythis Idon tmeanjustthe numbersofpeoplewho intothemiddle classcategorybecauseofincome thenumberofpeoplewhoare striving tobemiddle classandhaveadopted middle class values which often include embracingconsumer products nomicand social mobility forexample Inmanyways liberalizationhashelped promotea setofvaluesthat areverydifferentfromtraditionalIndianvalues Last controversies Kentucky Fried Chicken Coca Cola about chickenandsoft drinks butaboutwhattheysymbolize ofachanging Coca Colaculture associalscientistAshishNandycallsit TheCoca Cola culture Nandy words homogenization diverse Indian peoplewhohavegrownmadwithconsumption This consumption frenzy clearest large cities DelhiandBombay where people shell outthousands dollars expensive foreign which handle Indian roads nearly Indian Ambassadors luxury hotel member ships HolidayslikeDeevali traditionallyamorereli gious holiday turned massive advertising promotion campaigns commercialized along iflesser linesasChristmasinAmerica Butthecon sumptioncrazeisalsovisibleinsmallercitiesandevenin villages IfeltlikeIactuallysaw beforemyveryeyes manysmallexamplesofthetransitiontakingplace When IarrivedinIndia therewasessentiallyone internation branded shampoo Sunsilk priced quite about forasmallbottle Almostovernight adozenin ternational brand shampoos Revlon Estee Lauder appeared pricedanywherebetween A Gillette razors costs while Kraft parmesan cheese costs To perspective povertyline isfixed 50permonthinurbanareasand 50permonthin ruralareas Theproliferation ofthese pricedconsumerprod atellingindi cationthattheagendaofliber alizationwillneverbe focusedonthe economic social prioritiesofthecommonperson Multinationals aregoing continue invest profit marginventures drinks better elite market rather saferdrinkingwaterorbetterbuses In liberalization poised marginalize million peoplelivingbelowthepovertylinethantoincludethem Thegovernmentneedstopay equal ormore attention socialandeconomicupliftment ofIndia s400million people liberalization unfortu nately sjustnotthe casefoday Theissuetomeisnotwhetherliberalizationisneces rather whether sufficient addressing India societaldevelopmentissues Certainly liberaliza provided stage necessarynew dialogue betweentheWestandIndia ithasprovidedjobopportu nitiesforsomeIndians albeitmostlyintheeliteand middleclasses andithasallowedIndianstogainaccess tonewwaysofthinkingaboutissues values opport Butbyandlarge thesebenefitsdon taccruetothe80 85percentofIndia spopulationthatlivesbelowornotfar abovethepovertyline Ihaveoftenwonderedwhether eventhemiddleclassbenefitsfromchangesthatprovide glimpse dream nightmarethat stripsthemoftheirtraditionsandsupport structures Time again I people ideas aboutwhattheir should change often result advertising other influences without ensuingchangeintheircircumstances Inthechangingof oneandthestagnation sometimesevendeterioration ofthe other thereisahugegap agapthatcauses inits times determination strive better andinitsworsttimes sadness discontentandanero PJ confidence Amanin slummaynow thinkmoreaboutdifferent stylesoflife perhapsbetrans ported therebywatching The Bold Beauti onTVorbuyingsoft drinks costtentimesmore thanhiscup ofteawould buthe stillworkingformini lwagesandlivingina shack In cities people endure incredible sufferinginorder their lives vague shadow ofwhat might seenon televi spend enormous ofmoney consumer items never would perceived needed justafewyearsago Invillages theyoungmen particular areboredwith Thebright lights ofthe cityseemexciting stabilityoftheir familiesmorelike chains support structures People describe selves aspoornowbecausetheyhavebeentoldtheyare Thewordhasbecome equated economicpov nothing Therewasahopeinthe earlyyears ofliberalizationthat somehow openingup economy multinationals privatizing important enterprises reducing reaucracy ofdoingbusiness inIndiawouldhelpbringin raise living standards masses In dianequivalentofthefamous trickle theory In disillusionment government ticularlyamongthe eliteormiddleclasses ledtoacom plete faithin beralization Butit samistaketothinkthat liberalizationistheultimatepanaceaforIndia sproblems Necessaryinsomeareas substitute forgovern mentactiononimportant societalissues Forexample liberalization reform agenda makes mention education human resources development spite globalization requires competitive levels education skill formation Some people higher payingjobs butrememberthat40percent ofIndi illiterate These people benefit liber alization theirneedsare stilltheonesthatthegovernment mustfocusonifIndia asacountry istoimprove The nalproofofthepuddingis eating Re statistics almost seven years after first liberalization reformswere undertaken showthat since themid 1980s percentage ofpeople livingunderthe povertylinehasincreased decreased realterms Thesecondarea wanttotalkaboutistheroleofnon governmentalorganizationsorNGOsindevelopment In early 1980sther ewerefewNGOsinIndia Caringfor theless fortunatewas withsomenotableexceptions government personal individualleveloftencloselytiedto religiousobligations WhenNGOsfirstbeganemergingin themid 1980s extremely powerful force They providednew energy society struggled problems seemedonly getbigger NGOsofferedhopethat national problems could tackledbybreaking themdowninto localproblemswithlocal solutions Thencamethe early 1990s whengovernmentsandin ternational donors suddenly latched theNGO movementanddeclaredtheirsupportfor Forinterna tional donors NGOswere awayto circumvent govern corruptionandbureaucracy awayto store their flailing reputations supporting somethingthatwasmoreofa people smovement For governments NGOswereeitherhelpingarmsor froma morecynicalperspective scapegoatsto accomplishwork thatthegovernmenthadbeenunsuccessfulat In India moneybegan flowing outside fromthegovernmenttosupportNGOs Today theIndian governmentaloneprovidessomewherebetween 60mil lionand 70millionperyeartoNGOs Addmoneyfrom foreign agencies andtheamountis probably triple Unfortunately funds available NGOsandthepushby governmentand donor agencies distributemoneytoNGOsled anenormous thenumberof organizationsformedmerelyon paperto collectfunds Interestingly manyNGOsarenow headedbyretiredgovernmentofficialswhohaverealized saprettylucrativebusinesstorunanNGO WhenI firstwenttoIndia ItrulybelievedthatNGOs promise answer India poverty Bythe endofmytwoyears Ihadbecomevery disillusionedby theworkIsawdonebymanyNGOs Manyhadbecome opted bythe government andwere essentially tensions government rather independent voicestheystartedoutas Itbecameeasyforthegovern mentto essentiallywashitshandsofcertainissuesbysay thatNGOswerenowin charge Even earnestNGOs given little suppo government required fulfill government bureaucratic requirements ended robbingthem spirit responsiveness thatmade successful firstplace Therewasnosystemtomonitororganiza tions recently hasworkbeendone establish national database thatwould track formation workofNGOs Asaresultofthislackofmonitoring sandsofNGOsformedalloverthecountry coincidentally inthoseareasthatweregettingthemostfunding InBihar forexample thereare 000registeredNGOsmandfew knowwhatexactlytheyaredoingtoreducepovertyinthe state Unfortunately manyofthe largeinternationalfunding agencieshavealsoindirectlycontributedtothecorruption oftheNGOmovement Manyoftheseagenciesdon ttake trouble understand capabilitied ofthe NGOsector particular before pouringmoney sector Caughtupbythe ofusing NGOstochannelmoney theseagenciesoftenrequirethe governmentto directfundstoNGOs Eveniftherea NGOsworkinginthearea ratherthangiveupthemoney thegovernmentwill setup shell NGOsthatlookgood onpaperbut tactuallydoanything Ialsofoundthat largeragencieshadtocomplywithpre writtenguidelines orcriteriaforaproject whetherornottheNGOs posedlytheirlocalguide agreedthatthesewereappro priate criteria Finally manyoftheNGOsfundedwith internationalmoneydon thaverealstandardsofaccount ability ItisveryappealingforNGOsandforthosewho workforthemto internationalfunding Theconven tionalwisdomaboutthis isthatyoucangetmoneywith outproducingmany results gettoworkinnice offices meetwithinternationalpersonalities possiblygo ontrips abroad Best monitoring endless stream ofpaperwork requirements coverupeventhemostinefficientofprograms Thereareseveralexamplesofinternationalfundsbeing thrown problems without understanding ofwhat theproblemsareorwhoisbestsuitedtotacklethem Iam goingto tellyou about afewexamples doing warily partlybecau seIdon twantyoutotakethese wordstomeanthatthere taroleoraneedforinterna tionalfunding especiallywhenthiskindoffundingisso scarce andbecoming scarcer currentUS political climate Internationaldonors contributemuch infundingandexpertise buttheircontributionsneed appropriate targeted realprob lemsandsolutionsidentifiedbylocalgroups Ihopethat examples I going giveyou serve insome small constructive purpose Iwasonce calledbysomebodyattheWorldBanktogo withtheirwomen developmentperson whowas cidentally actuallyawater resourcespersondraftedinto therolebecausetherewasno oneelsetodo tosome villagesto visitsomenewlyformedself helpgroupsthat going significant water sourcesproject Thegovernment partneragencyproudly announcedthattheyhadmettheBanktarget offorming groups certain period Whenwearrived atthe village thewomenseatedinfront quiet subdued fferent kindsofwomen Ihadmetbeforewhostartself groupsandwhocan twaittogetupand tellyouabout vebeen accomplish At ofthe meeting Italkedtosomeofthewomen anditturnedout thattheyhadnoideawhatthegroupswerethattheyhad formed theyhadjustbeentoldbythegovernmentperson thatiftheyformedgroups theywouldgetmoney Itoc curred tomethat settingsuchhightargets fortheforma groups counter helpgroup formedbythepeopleandinresponse theirneeds In another World Bank water project Uttar Pradesh hills theBankhadtoldtheirpartnerNGOsto rankvillagesthatneededthewaterthemost butaccord ingto criteriathattheBankhadalreadydetermined One ofthe criteriawasthatthe villagehadtobeabletoputup percent project However poorest lages thatneeded water could notcomeup withthissum Theonlyvillagesthatcouldwerethosethat werelarger closerto citiesandroads andnotinthegreat estneed OneofthepartnerNGOsw asanexcellentorga nization thatweknewvery They Bank agreed choose these larger wealthiervillages theywouldnotbefulfillingtheirobjec Institute CurrentWorld Affairs ofhelpingthe poorest ofthe ratherwould beforwardinganagendanotdesignedto addressthe alitiesofthesituation TheNGOresignedfromtheproject disillusioned Who really trying withtheseprojects thosewhocanpayorthosewhore asked We goodanswer Just ensure I accused ofpicking WorldBank I llbrieflymentionanotheramusingNGO experienceIhadwithUSAID AIDfundedtheformation quasi public privateNGOin UttarPradeshtowork withfamilyplanning Ithasbeenanextremelycontrover sialproject amongtheNGOcommunity thereisa widespreadbelief thisUSAID formed organization hasabigbudget peoplewanttoworkfor itbecause payswellandisconnectedwithhigh powered stateand foreignofficials butthat ithasnotbeenpartic ularlyeffec innovative approach family planning I wentto visittheNGOto tryandsee formyselfifthiswas Ican tsaythat Iwasgivenenoughinformationto makeajudgmentontheorganization effectiveness Iwillsay Iwasshownmanygraphsandcharts WhenI tried probe specific information about projectsandresults thereceptiongotdecidedlycooler I gotthe distinctimpressiontheNGOwasrarelypushedto describetheirresultsorquestiontheirapproachesbeyond theirimpressive charts Afteraboutanhour ofmyques tioning someonecameintheroom andthe directorofthe organizationwithwhomIhadbeen chatting This isPramilaJayapal Sheisjustleaving Itwasprobablythe cleanest everreceived Thereare stillmanyNGOsthatdoaddressimportant development issues effectively appropriately innovatively OneorganizationinLucknow fundedboth throughUNICEFaswellasbydomesticfunds isdevel opingaveryuniqueprogramthatpushesbankofficials whoarenowresponsible fordispensingcredittothepoor tuallyexaminetheirownbeliefsaboutconsump spiritualityandpoverty Anotherorganizationinthe UttarPradeshhillsfundedbySavetheChildren UKcen tersitsprogramsontheconceptthatattitudinalchangeis essentialtoanyothertypeof developmentprogram This organizationis alsodevelopingaveryinterestingideaof creatingarural management school thatwouldprovide curriculum encourages youth their lagesandfarm ratherthanmigrate cities Anotheror ganizationhashelpedover 000womengain access credit across India These otherNGOs workingwith original combination rebellion thusiasm intelligence created important positive change Manyofthem farmore technical politicalandsocialexpertisethanNGOsthat Ihave other parts ofthe world However there isaverysuccessfulNGO movement inIndia isprob ablyno longer Today outstandingNGOsare moreofanexceptionratherthana Thenextissue Iwanttotouchonis ofrural urban PJ igration Irememberbefore Iwentonmyfellowship MaryBeausoleil whowas anICWAtrustee wrotemea letter saying certain unitybe ofthe issues shewasmost concerned about I mgoingtoquoteher Pushingruralpeopleofftheland andforcingthemtorelocateto citieswheretheyoften mustendureasqualidexistenceseemsboundupwiththe layingwaste ofresources thedecayofcities andthe rural This seems tangential reproposingtostudyinIndia shewrotetome Isuspect itwillunderliesomeofwhatyou In thisrural urbanmigrationwasnot alltangentialtomy timeinIndia Marywasabsolutelyright itnotonlyun derliesmuchoftheprobleminmodernIndiatodabutit doesmorethanthat itactuallyencapsulates onmany levels changes Indian society going through Possiblythemostdepressed Iusedto feelwaswhen I wentthroughurbanslum areas InLucknow capital ofUttarPradesh about40percentofthe spopulation lives slums There registered slumsan number unregistered slums From I couldgather registeredandunregisteredjustmeansthat politician hasmade areaby promising register public services return gathering Most people these slums comefromthe villages andare insearchofthebetter thattheyhaveheard somuchabout Manyofthemhave stablesupportstructuresinthevillagesthattheyhaveleft They crowded together rickety shacks coveredwithplastic Theyhavebeenluredbytheprom ofsomethingmore thissomethingmore butmostnever Migrationfromruralareas leavesag riculturallandwastedand eventually divided plots small profit richer ownersorindustrialistswhobringinfactories Itleaves women children alone because usually menwhomigrate Itbreaksupfamilies whichhavetra ditionally provided support onmany different levels Andittakesawaytheanchorofstabilitythatone svillage shome haspro vided People cities because heard evenknowof peoplewhohave madeit Theycometo citiesbecausetheywantto escapetheveryrestrictive pectsofvillageIndia Theycometo citiesbecausethey havetastedCoca Cola figurativelyspeaking andwanta differentlife And ofcourse manytimestheycometo ichieve social mobility escape caste Caste muchmoreinvisiblein cities ifyoueat atarestaurant youdon tknowwhoiscookingyourfood Ifyougeton acrowdedbus itdoesn tmuchmatterwhositsnextto youorwho satonyourseatbeforeyou Urbanliving holds promise social mobility golden charm It surprising villagers coming definedandrestrictive socialhierarchywouldbeattracted bythispromise Noone caresmuchabout slums The government doesn theprivatesectordoesn individualsdon One enormousslumareainLucknowisjustinfrontofthecor porate offices ofthe Sahara conglomerate Sahara contributedlotsofmoneytoputinabeautifulfountainat theintersectionjust 200feetawayfromtheirbuilding lighted fountain surroundedby flowers OurBharat county ofwhichweare proud Justdownthe street directlyinfrontoftheen trancetotheirbuilding Istoodwithseveralwomenfrom theslumaroundthesinglehandpumpthatissupposedto servethe severalthousandpeopleintheslumarea They undress public though arevery discreet aboutit inordertotakeashower andfightsoftenbreak outoverthevery scarcesupplyofwater IncontrasttothedespairI feelwhenIgointo cities I completely rejuvenated villages As I wrote myarticles Iamboundto romanticize village since I tlivetherepermanently andcancomeandgoas I please Butthereisnoquestionthatthereisastabilityand connection familyand earth permeates Indian villageseventoday Inawa3IsupposeIamtalkingabout theGandhianUtopia isbasedon certain traditional valuesofIndiancivilizationthataremorehumane materialistic egalitarian alienating Wes terncapitalism Spiritualityandtheideaofanorganic society filled cooperation contrast excessive individualismandcompetitionareessentialtotheideaof Utopia ButUtopia reality The reality India caste gender discrimination As stature agriculture diminishes liberalizationpicksupevenmoresteam amassive shift fromruraltourbanseemsinevitable Thisshiftmaybejustpartofacyclicalpattern Ascities getmorecrowdedandmorevillagersbegintounderstand difficultiesofurbanlivingandfindingmeaningful employment villagesmayagainbegintodrawtheir dentsback Anessentialpieceofthis effortmustbeto velop appropriate education education prepares youthforrurallivingandgivesthemprideinanagricul tural career Thesuccessofvillagepanchayats localgov ernancecouncils isalso criticalinhelpingvillagesregain their dominance stabilizing force Indian society Thereisalongwaytogo ifpanchayatscouldreally becomedemocraticinstitutionsthat grass roots local andpowerfulinwaysthatbenefit notrob thesocietiesof needed development theycouldhelpundosome oftherural urbaninequalitiesthat existininfrastructure education employment andother socialissues ThelastfactorI llmentiongivesmegreathope though again theresultsmaybealongwayaway Itisthespiri renewal beginning occur parts India Now I realize Ijust saidthat liberalizationandTV other faCtors robbing Indians their spiritual However happening almost simultaneously parts India people learning themistakes West theirownexperiences Perhaps tastedma terialismandturnedaway Perhaps their convictions strong managed intact through changingtimes Althoughtherearemanysmallexamplesofthis cludingthe popularity ofVipassana meditation Reiki healing compelling large scale amplesofthis spiritualrenewalistheSwadh yayamove Assomeofyoumayremember Idedicatedan entirenewslettertoSwadhyaya InMarchofthisyear founder ofthe movement Pandurang Shastri Athavale awarded Templeton Prize Progress Reli given annually living personwhohasshown extraordinary originalityinadvancinghumankind derstanding spirituality Recently theUnitedNations namedSwadhyaya ofthemost significant develop mentsintheworld notingthatSwadhyayacommunities areindeedmorewholesome betterdevelopedeconomi cally cleanerandmoreefficient TheTempletonFounda tionhasestimatedthatSwadhyayahasdirectlybenefited 20millionpeople andiscurrentlyworkingin100 000vil lages across India Swadhyayais compelling formefor several reasons First isamodeloftruly sustainable integrated societal development For decade wehavebeenthrow ingaroundtheterms sustainableandintegratedwithout knowingorunderstandingwhattheymeanorwhat takes tomake movements integrated sustainable In Swadhyaya weseeamovementthat ustainingitself economically without dependence outside institu tions Allitsstaffisvolunteerandunpaid allfunds forSwadhyayaeffortscome members Thatit integrates somanyaspects societaldevelopmentis themore surprisingbecause ofthese efforts tuallyjustbyproducts ofagrowingawareness ofGod worthand ofconnectedness others Interestingly SwadhyayahasmadetheroleoforganizationslikeNGOs andeventhegovernmentsuperfluous Communitiesare handling theirownproblems awaythat Ihave never before I going details Swadhyaya butIdowanttoemphasizethatIseethe cessofSwadhyayaasanindicationthatpeopleacrossIn diaareinterestedinreturningtosomeofthe essentials traditionalIndianphilosophyand spirituality andaway fromsomeofthemorepoliticalreligiousmovementsthat aretryingtoputtheirmarkonmodernIndia Spiritualityprovidesananchorinthe fastrushofmod changingIndia Interestingly traditionalIndianphi losophy spirituality emerge ikely places important cornerstones ofmodernIndia Amonthor India Today magazine featured article about onthecoverwasamodernrichIndian couple frontofaRolls Royce Inthemostrecentissue lettersto editor decried thewholeidea ofluxuryand super tastes For example letter ARolls Royce deservestobeonyourcoverbutnotthemanwho flauntsit Forourscripturesholdthemanwithinnercon tentmentsuperior Atatimewhenalmost allvalues traditions structures either changing orbeing questioned spirituality offers grounding relief Institute CurrentWorld Affairs InIndia italso offersareturn ifyouwill In diaitself It isfittingthat Ishouldendthistalkwiththeroleof spiritualityintoday schangingIndiansociety Iwent throughaveryinterestingchangemyselfduringmytwo yearsinIndia IwenttoIndiawithseveral distinct goals tounderstandIndian society tounderstandwhatconsti tutes effectivedevelopmenteffortsand lastbutnotleast tounderstandmyse EventhoughIsawunderstanding Indiansocietyasbeinganessentialpartofunderstanding myself IthinkI stillseparatedtheminmymind If Ilook attheprogressionofmyfellowship Iseethat Istarted thinkingaboutdevelopmentintermsofissues child labororAIDS Ithenmovedtothinkingaboutdevelop terms holistic models Kerala modeltheLadakhmodel allofwhichwereintegrating theseindividualissuesintoamorecomplete societal velopmentmodel Andthen finallywithSwadhyaya thepilgrimage ofBadrinath andmygrowing understandingofIndianspirituality Ibeganto devel opmentasbeginningwiththeindividual Ihavecome backtoAmericabelievingthattruly sustainabledevelop cannot possibly happen without focus vidual development In saying I negate ofgovernment development In India however ineffectiveness ofgovernmenthas others ingtheirownsolutions Andintheend itmaybethat individualsandcommunitiestookresponsibilityfor A agricultu alaap America comparison An Urbanizing World GlobalReporton Human Settlements ashram B Backward Castes BCs Backward Classes Commission Badrinath Baijnath Baijnath Bhu Banares SeeVaranasi basti BC See Backward Castes Beausoleil Mary beetle bhajans Bharat county Blank Jonah Brahmin Brahmins Kamalsagar issues government would finally workloadthatwasactuallymanageable In JawarlahalNehru wrote forhimremained problemsofindividualandso ciallife ofharmoniousliving ofaproperbalancingofan individual sinnerandouter ofanadjustmentofthe relationsbeveenindividuals andbetween groups continuousbecomingsomethingbetterandhigher cialdevelopment ofthe ceaseless adventure ofman We mustalwaysbewareoflosingourselvesinaseaofspecu lationunconnectedwith dayproblems oflife needs ofmenandwomen Aliving philosophy mustanswertheproblemsoftoday Itisthisbalancethat India reall3 theworld isstillseeking andthatwill present enormous challenge these times rapid change There really words thewaythat thesetwo years Indiahave changed Alan sandmylives Thank youtothe Institute forgivingusthiswonderfulopportu andto allofyouwhoreadmynewslettersandsent meyourcommentsandperspectives AndIwantto onbehalfofallthree specialthanksto Peter Gar Ellenandthe trustees forsupportingusduringourbaby Janak sbirthin somanyways Youallowedustoconcen trateourenergiesonlyonJanakandnotworryaboutany thing andwecanneveradequatelyexpressour gratitude Thankyou caste See Brahmin Gujar Harijan Jat Kshatriya Kurmi Lodha Purohit Shudra Untouch Vaishya Yadav Zamindar alcohol structure politics system Caste Contemporary Rural India Chatturvedi Chatturvedi Vidhu Chaubey Brahmins cheese chula cities Coca Cola Coca Cola culture colleges universities Benaras Hindu University Medical School Congress Party consumption corruption Critchfield Richard D Das Kabir Deevali Dehez Depressed Caste See Backward Castes BCs development Devi Girija dhaba dowry drupad cakes E education forwomen formen electricity environment Estee Lauder PJ