Dehradun, Sept. 23 -- The Books from My Shelves

Selecting ten books from my personal library, as suggested by Shri Nrip Singh Napalchayal, might seem like a simple task. For a public policy economist, however, it is far from easy. Much of my collection consists of specialised works on public policy, governance, and development economics that have shaped my professional thinking but hold limited appeal beyond academic and policy circles.

With the Hindi Pakhwara (14-28 September) underway, I chose instead to revisit a cherished collection inherited from my father, a Professor of Hindi Literature in Agra, as well as a respected writer, critic, and orator. His library was not merely a repository of books but a doorway to the rich tradition ...