41st anniversary of The Times of India, Bengaluru: Front and centre of public policy; in many ways, the city is both a complement and a counterpoint to New Delhi
It took nearly 30 years before for this committed group of liberal nationalists led by D V Gundappa, a renowned writer and philosopher, could establish the Gokhale Institute of Public Affairs (GIPA) in 1945 – Bengaluru's first think tank – 'to promote education for and in the conscientious practice of democratic citizenship'.
The institute formalised the activities of the so-called 'Gokhale group' of intellectuals and public officials of the erstwhile Mysore state that realised that a free and democratic India needed a non-partisan forum to discuss ideas on which the new nation-state would be founded.
Indeed, the very first article in its journal argued that the draft Constitution of India did not secure individual liberty as well as it ought to.
You Can Also Check:
Bengaluru AQI
|
Weather in Bengaluru
|
Bank Holidays in Bengaluru
|
Public Holidays in Bengaluru
After Independence, though, institution-building shifted focus from public education to education, as Mysore (later Karnataka) provided a conducive environment for the establishment of private professional colleges that serviced the demands of the new country.
There were a few exceptions, though. Prof VKRV Rao founded the Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC) in 1972 to promote research in social sciences relevant to public policy, and Dr Raja Ramanna persuaded JRD Tata to create the National Institute for Advanced Studies (NIAS) in 1988 to not only engage in multidisciplinary research, but also serve as a common watering hole for administrators, managers and researchers.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Gold Is Surging in 2025 — Smart Traders Are Already In
IC Markets
Learn More
Undo
These institutions illuminated intellectual and social life of the city in the decades before liberalisation sparked an economic boom from which a new generation of public policy institutions emerged. Prof Samuel Paul's Public Affairs Centre (PAC) not only took up policy research and advocacy relevant to a by-then fast-growing metropolis, but attracted outstanding young talent to civil society. PAC engaged with the first generation of Bengaluru's tech entrepreneurs, who happened to be both idealistic and resourceful, and laid the ground for what I have called the 'Bengaluru Model of Civic Engagement'.
This model involves working with (not against) the govt; generally engages in non-partisan, non-ideological ways; is open to experts from various domains; and is funded by high-integrity philanthropists. The captains of the IT and biotech industry generously channelled the city's newfound wealth into public causes, setting an example for the rest of the country.
Over the past three decades, several outstanding organisations have emerged along these lines.
Prominent among them are the Centre for Budgetary and Policy Studies (CBPS), Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP), Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Arghyam, Azim Premji University (APU), Indian Institute of Human Settlements (IIHS), Bangalore International Centre (BIC), Indian Software Product Industry Round Table (iSpirt), Independent And Public-Spirited Media Foundation (IPSMF), Bangalore Political Action Committee (BPAC), ReapBenefit and Takshashila Institution (which I cofounded).
These cover a broad range of topics, local to global.
Thus, you will find Bengaluru's fingerprints on international and national policies ranging from urban governance to genetics, climate change to outer space, national security to digital public infrastructure, but you will have to look carefully, because the Bengaluru model tends to downplay its own contributions and rightly give credit to the political leaders and policymakers who implement them.
This is not to say that all civil society organisations in the city follow this model. There are the fierce critics of govt policy, the fearless activists pursuing civic rights and other just causes, non-governmental organisations engaged in social work and partisan ideologues engaged in public discourse.
Bengaluru has emerged a global public policy hub because the city attracts outstanding talent across disciplines.
Consider for instance, my colleagues: a semiconductor engineer, a microbiologist, a failed actor, a PhD-holding retired general, a spy, an investment banker and a former bartender. Many of them have come back to India after having studied and worked abroad. That's not all. It is relatively easy to assemble outstanding experts in almost any field because they are available in and around the city.
Very few cities in the world can draw on the varied talents of such a diverse intellectual community.
On the flip side, think tanks do find it hard to attract good talent because the city is booming and non-profits have to compete with global companies for talent. After all, even the most passionate scholars must pay off their rents and EMIs. Also, unlike in New Delhi, Bengaluru does not have institutional areas where non-profits can be housed at reasonable cost. This means, they are spread out across a city divided by traffic, and dampening interactions across institutions.
Being distant from the national capital has another downside: there is a tendency for organisations to focus on local issues, limiting the mental landscape of talented people. In recent years, one issue – climate change – has attracted extraordinary amount of funding, pushing talented young people into an increasingly crowded field. This is not to say that the cause is unimportant, but India needs to invest in brain power to address the challenges of geoeconomics, global security, information-age governance, political philosophy, science and technology policy, economic growth and other fields critical to our future.
It would be a pity if the city's intellectual and creative capacity neglects grappling with the complex policy issues facing the state, nation and planet today.
In many ways, Bengaluru is both a complement and a counterpoint to New Delhi. It often focuses on issues and ideas that the national capital is yet to be concerned with, and that the political system thinks is unimportant or impossible. It also shows that a different approach to citizenship is possible, and the distance from Delhi often allows a different perspective of national interest.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
4 hours ago
- The Hindu
Election Commission has become PM Modi's 'puppet': Mallikarjun Kharge
Amid a row over the special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Bihar, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday (August 2, 2025) alleged that the Election Commission has become a "puppet" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha also accused PM Modi of seeking to divide society and said he chose to be on a "maun vrat" (vow of silence) on important issues during the auspicious month of Shravan. Addressing the inaugural event of the day-long conference on 'Constitutional Challenges - Perspectives and Pathways', he claimed the Constitution was in danger under PM Modi and the BJP rule, and asserted that it is the duty of every Congress leader and worker to protect it. "We all know that the Constitution of India is not just a legal document, but the soul of our democracy. It grants every Indian the right to justice, freedom, equality and fraternity. "But today, the Constitution is in danger. Leaders in power are talking about changing the Constitution. If the BJP had won 400 seats in the 2024 elections, they would have changed the Constitution. But this is the strength of the country's people, they gave a tight slap on the face of those who were saying '400 paar'," Kharge said. He said it is the achievement of the Congress, credit for which goes to Rahul Gandhi, who "did not abandon the Constitution and launched a campaign to save it". Claiming that 65 lakh voters were being disenfranchised in Bihar under the SIR, he said the EC "wants to take away" the voting rights of all the poor and marginalised and minorities, who would otherwise vote for the Congress as they were "fed up" with the BJP rule. Alleging that voters were "changed" in the Maharashtra Assembly elections and Lok Sabha elections, he said the Congress now has "proof" as Rahul Gandhi also explained how voters were changed in an assembly constituency in Karnataka. He said, "How can there be nine voters in a small room and nine thousand voters in a single hostel in Maharashtra? "Then you should understand this: Is this Election Commission or Modi ji's puppet?" The Congress has also been questioning the turnout figures in the Maharashtra Assembly election last year which was won by the BJP-led alliance. The Election Commission has dismissed allegations of irregularities as "unfounded". The BJP has alleged that the Congress is attacking constitutional bodies as it is unable to accept its successive defeats. At the conference, Mr. Kharge also alleged that discrimination against minorities and Dalits has become a common practice in BJP-ruled states. The Congress chief also accused Prime Minister Modi of trying to polarise society with his statements during the elections. "He always talks about chicken, Mughals, Mangal-sutra in elections and he always talks about dividing the society. The people of the country chose him and elected him to protect the Constitution, but he is working to crush it. "If anyone is crushing the Constitution, it is the Prime Minister and the BJP," he alleged. Taking on the PM, Mr. Kharge said Prime Minister Modi sits in his office after coming to Parliament and does not attend the House. "He watches the proceedings of Parliament on TV there. If you just want to watch the proceedings, come to the House and see it face-to-face. I don't understand what he is afraid of," Mr. Kharge said. Noting that a battle of ideologies is going on in the country, he said while the Congress is protecting the Constitution, the BJP is attacking it. "The soul of India is enshrined in the Constitution. It is the strength of every citizen, their right to move forward and live with dignity. We will protect the Constitution at all costs," he stressed. Claiming that the Opposition's voice was being stifled in Parliament, Mr. Kharge said former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar was used by the government to do that in the Rajya Sabha. He claimed that Mr. Dhankhar would suspend opposition MPs and not allow them to speak, but when he started asserting that he was independent, he was "threatened and pressured". He claimed that when Mr. Dhankhar allowed a notice for the Opposition's motion to remove Justice Yashwant Varma, he was "threatened and pressured" by the government. The Congress president also claimed that people from the BJP said the words 'Socialist and Secular' should be removed from the Preamble of the Constitution, but the BJP has kept the words 'Socialist' and 'Secular' in the party constitution. "People from BJP-RSS cannot remove the words Socialist and Secular, because they do not have the power that the people of this country have," he said. Mr. Kharge said the responsibility of protecting democracy lies with the judiciary, the election commission and the media. But a judge used derogatory words for people of a particular religion and no action was taken against him and the government removed the Chief Justice of India from the process of appointing the Chief Election Commissioner, he said. "In such a situation, this is not democracy, but dictatorship," Mr. Kharge alleged.
Economic Times
5 hours ago
- Economic Times
Election Commission has become PM Modi's 'puppet': Mallikarjun Kharge
Amid a row over the special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Bihar, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday alleged that the Election Commission has become a "puppet" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha also accused PM Modi of seeking to divide society and said he chose to be on a "maun vrat" (vow of silence) on important issues during the auspicious month of Shravan. Addressing the inaugural event of the day-long conference on 'Constitutional Challenges - Perspectives and Pathways', he claimed the Constitution was in danger under PM Modi and the BJP rule, and asserted that it is the duty of every Congress leader and worker to protect it. "We all know that the Constitution of India is not just a legal document, but the soul of our democracy. It grants every Indian the right to justice, freedom, equality and fraternity. "But today, the Constitution is in danger. Leaders in power are talking about changing the Constitution. If the BJP had won 400 seats in the 2024 elections, they would have changed the Constitution. But this is the strength of the country's people, they gave a tight slap on the face of those who were saying '400 paar'," Kharge said. He said it is the achievement of the Congress, credit for which goes to Rahul Gandhi, who "did not abandon the Constitution and launched a campaign to save it". Claiming that 65 lakh voters were being disenfranchised in Bihar under the SIR, he said the EC "wants to take away" the voting rights of all the poor and marginalised and minorities, who would otherwise vote for the Congress as they were "fed up" with the BJP rule. Alleging that voters were "changed" in the Maharashtra Assembly elections and Lok Sabha elections, he said the Congress now has "proof" as Rahul Gandhi also explained how voters were changed in an assembly constituency in Karnataka. He said, "How can there be nine voters in a small room and nine thousand voters in a single hostel in Maharashtra? "Then you should understand this: Is this Election Commission or Modi ji's puppet?" The Congress has also been questioning the turnout figures in the Maharashtra Assembly election last year which was won by the BJP-led alliance. The Election Commission has dismissed allegations of irregularities as "unfounded". The BJP has alleged that the Congress is attacking constitutional bodies as it is unable to accept its successive defeats. At the conference, Kharge also alleged that discrimination against minorities and Dalits has become a common practice in BJP-ruled states. The Congress chief also accused Prime Minister Modi of trying to polarise society with his statements during the elections. "He always talks about chicken, Mughals, Mangal-sutra in elections and he always talks about dividing the society. The people of the country chose him and elected him to protect the Constitution, but he is working to crush it. "If anyone is crushing the Constitution, it is the prime minister and the BJP," he alleged. Taking on the PM, Kharge said Prime Minister Modi sits in his office after coming to Parliament and does not attend the House. "He watches the proceedings of Parliament on TV there. If you just want to watch the proceedings, come to the House and see it face-to-face. I don't understand what he is afraid of," Kharge said. Noting that a battle of ideologies is going on in the country, he said while the Congress is protecting the Constitution, the BJP is attacking it. "The soul of India is enshrined in the Constitution. It is the strength of every citizen, their right to move forward and live with dignity. We will protect the Constitution at all costs," he stressed. Claiming that the Opposition's voice was being stifled in Parliament, Kharge said former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar was used by the government to do that in the Rajya Sabha. He claimed that Dhankhar would suspend opposition MPs and not allow them to speak, but when he started asserting that he was independent, he was "threatened and pressured". He claimed that when Dhankhar allowed a notice for the opposition's motion to remove Justice Yashwant Varma, he was "threatened and pressured" by the government. The Congress president also claimed that people from the BJP said the words 'Socialist and Secular' should be removed from the Preamble of the Constitution, but the BJP has kept the words 'Socialist' and 'Secular' in the party constitution. "People from BJP-RSS cannot remove the words Socialist and Secular, because they do not have the power that the people of this country have," he said. Kharge said the responsibility of protecting democracy lies with the judiciary, the election commission and the media. But a judge used derogatory words for people of a particular religion and no action was taken against him and the government removed the Chief Justice of India from the process of appointing the Chief Election Commissioner, he said. "In such a situation, this is not democracy, but dictatorship," Kharge alleged.
News18
6 hours ago
- News18
Malegaon Blast Case: Court Rejects Abhinav Bharat's Role, Says It's Not Declared A Terror Outfit
The prosecution claimed that the accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case were part of the Abhinav Bharat group and carried out the blast in their goal to create a Hindu Rashtra. Malegaon Blast Case: A special court that acquitted seven persons in the 2008 Malegaon blast case has dismissed the prosecution's allegations that the right-wing extremist group Abhinav Bharat was responsible for the blast, pointing out that the government has not officially designated the organisation as a terrorist group. The prosecution had claimed that Lt. Col. Prasad Purohit, one of the accused in the case, founded Abhinav Bharat in 2007 with the intention of propagating a separate Hindu Rashtra, with its own constitution, as the members of the outfit were dissatisfied with the Indian Constitution. The prosecution alleged that all the accused, who were members of the group, were involved in a criminal conspiracy between January and September 2008 to execute a blast in Malegaon with the intent to instil fear among the public, incite communal tensions, and intimidate the government. The group had plans to turn India into a Hindu Rashtra called 'Aryawrat". Court Rejects Abhinav Bharat's Role However, the special court on Saturday noted that the prosecution had failed to prove that the Abhinav Bharat Trust was constituted for Hindu Rashtra and was working to change the Constitution of India. It also said that the prosecution could not prove that funds amounting to Rs 21 lakh collected by the Trust were used to purchase arms or carry out illegal activities. In the over 1,000-page judgment, Special Judge A K Lahoti noted that the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) in its investigation claimed that the accused persons were all members of Abhinav Bharat, which was an organised crime syndicate. The judge said the outfit has not been declared a terrorist organisation to date by the Central government, and 'even the Abhinav Bharat Trust or sanstha or sanghatana or foundation is not a banned organisation." 'It is necessary to mention that Abhinav Bharat is not a banned organisation. Till today, it is not a banned organisation under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act," he said. It further noted that when the Abhinav Bharat Trust was constituted in 2007, it was registered with the Pune Charity Office, and on perusal, the trust deed did not mention anything wrong or illegal in its objectives. As per the trust deed, the objectives of the Abhinav Bharat Trust were to create patriotism and religious activities, which were legal. The court also said there was no evidence that the accused – Pragya Singh Thakur, Sameer Kulkarni and Sudhakar Chaturvedi – were members of the trust. The NIA special court in Mumbai on Thursday acquitted all seven accused, including Pragya Singh Thakur, in the 2008 Malegaon blast case. The case stems from a blast on September 29, 2008, when a bomb attached to a motorcycle exploded near a mosque at Bhikku Chowk in Malegaon, killing six people and injuring 95 others. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
