Book Review [147] : Before And After

'Before And After' is an autobiography of Shri B N Lahiri (Indian/Imperial Police Officer) who was one of the first IP Officers selected through competitive exam held for the first time in India in Dec 1921. Indians were debarred from direct recruitment to IP until 1921. Shri B N Lahiri started his IP training in 1922 when he joined 11 other IP Trainee officers at PTC Moradabad. He felt lot of subtle discrimination at the hand of his fellow probationers as he was the only Indian in 12 men strong batch. IP was heavily dominated by Britishers unlike ICS. In ICS about 50% officers were Indians by 1946 this percentage was just 25% in case of IP. B N Lahiri later became the first Indian IGP of UP Police and lived a long life after retirement. 

He writes that Police Officers should focus on discipline, control, leadership and frequent checks and inspection of their men and material. He should be always on move, meeting people and his men. He should be perceived as person with courage and strong morals. He should be able to defend his men at all cost if they have done no wrong and should punish heavily if they are found doing wrong. Discipline is the bedrock of any Uniform service and Police is no exception. The mediocrity and inefficiency creep in when senior police officers start bending themselves before politicians and others for sake of favors and start influencing bonafide decisions of their subordinates for the benefit of their 'benefactors'. 

He also talks about degrading morals and character of Indians in general. The lack of morals and punctuality is gradually sapping the foundation of our cultural ethos. We lack faith and courage in our own convictions and this further creates doubts in our people. The problems of Police can only be fixed by the firm and strong initiatives of its leaders otherwise it can only become worse.

He also mentions that in British period the IP officers were prohibited from mingling with subordinate officers (i.e. DySP etc) on equal footing and the presence of Subordinate officers were banned in IP Officers Mess. He also talks about the poor imitation of IP ceremonial dinner during British period. In the parade we have simply replaced King Emperor with Indian President, everything else remains same. Unlike only 3 Ceremonial Dinners in entire IPS training these days, in his days there were 5 dinner parades every week. He also mentions the institution of bearers that still plays a key role in training of IPS Officers.

This book also includes anecdotes involving various cases he was involved in as well as those involving Pundit Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri and Govind Vallabh Pant. B N Lahiri was the IGP of UP Police when UP Police and PAC were granted colors by Pundit Nehru in magnificent parade held at Lucknow led by Ghamandi Singh (IPS) and Avtar Narayan Kaul (then UP PPS) in 1952. 

This book was suggested by Librarian of Dr. B R Ambedkar Police Academy, Moradabad (formely PTC Moradabad), the same center where this legendary officer B N Lahiri underwent his training in 1922 and i reluctantly accepted his advice. It was a very good advice. I am really feeling very good to share the same PTC premises as shared by legendary officers of his level.

Highly Recommended (8/10)

Book Review [125] : One Life Is Not Enough

Kunwar Natwar Singh has had enjoyed very close proximity to the power center of Indian polity for more than 4 decades. He escaped into a political oblivion in 2008 after Volcker report exposing the 'Oil for Food' scam linking his name with scores of others. 'One Life Is Not Enough' was his autobiography, released in the midst of high voltage politics of 2014 and it did achieve a lot of traction. 

Born with a silver spoon, studied in the best of schools, married to a royalty, worked in 'most' prestigious service (IFS) and enjoyed absolute confidence of Prime Ministers like Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, and leaders like Sonia Gandhi. He did not mince words when he criticize bitterly the Prime Ministers coming from parties other than Congress and other than the Gandhis. He was not a fan of Morarji Desai, Devegowda, PV Narsimha Rao and Dr. Manmohan Singh. Without any respect to the Democratic norms he considers succession of a 'novice' Rajiv Gandhi after the assassination of Indira Gandhi as a natural choice and he repeats the same thing after the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi though Sonia Gandhi refused to lead Congress after the death of Rajiv. He revolted against the leadership of Prime Ministers PV Rao and created a new Party with other senior leaders. 

With respect to Sonia Gandhi and Dr. Manmohan Singh in many ways he corroborates what Sanjay Baru has written in 'The Accidental Prime Minister'. 

He was too close to the Gandhi family and at many a times it appears that he mixed his Foreign service job with his political interests. May be those were different times when India was Congress and Congress was India. 

His political career went into a deep pit when his name came up in Volcker report. He calls it as a conspiracy hatched by some western lobbyist to get rid of him from External Affairs Ministry as he was bit "anti-American' in his ideology. 

This book has many interesting anecdotes and talks in details about the political dynamics of Delhi.

Recommended (7/10)

Book Review [110] : I Dare!

Autobiography/biography is a condensed form of life long learning of the person concerned. Every person should write one and read many so that reader and writer both can mutually benefit as well as the posterity. But this can also promote a kind of blind following so should be read with a pinch of salt. The hero worship is a peculiar problem that our country faces; we are not ready to accept any fault in our heroes, are immune to any criticism and readily add an aura of divinity to them. This is not good for our country and was strongly denounced by none other than great reformer Dr. Ambedkar in his seminal speech in constituent assembly.

'I Dare!' is a biography of the first ever and highly celebrated woman IPS Officer and a highly distinguished social activist Dr. Kiran Bedi. She (aka Crane Bedi) is a very inspiring icon of India and her life is a living record of many challenges that a woman (and a common man) in our country faces.  Dr. Kiran Bedi faced seemingly insurmountable challenges in her life, she passed in many and failed in few but in doing so she created a trail which many many Indians would like to follow. It is said that Kiran Bedi "ran" away from Mizoram assignment instead of taking the challenge head-on, she also "ran" away from Chandigarh and Goa assignments. Many critics and media personalities blame her and write with all the vituperation that they can muster for these "failures" but all these people fail to understand one basic thing that in our country its the woman (and specially the working woman) who has to make all the sacrifices. In Goa and Chandigarh assignments, she had to leave for Delhi because of the serious medical condition of her daughter and mother, though she had a husband and three more sisters but only she had to put her career at stake. In case of Mizoram i think she made a right decision but i would also say that her daughter should not have wasted the highly coveted medical seat and should have finished her medical studies. 

In this book she blames higher bureaucracy's antipathy towards her for not getting the prime post of Commissioner of Police, Delhi. She resigned within few months after her being overlooked for this post. I seriously believe that she should have been given the charge of Delhi Police, this would have sent an encouraging signal to Delhites specially the women. 

Her work in Tihar jail is the stuff of legends and she was duly awarded with Magsaysay award for it but even then she was not given any of the Padma awards. She could have been "utilized" in a better way by the Police establishment but Alas!

Change is the law. Growth is optional. Choose wisely.

Recommended (7/10)

Book Review [98] : Playing It My Way

Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar is arguably the greatest Indian athlete of all time and his              

contribution to this country is far greater than the runs he scored, centuries he made and trophies he won. 'Playing it my way' is a beautifully written autobiography of Sachin Tendulkar and he speaks his heart out in this book and covers almost all the aspect of his 24 years of international cricket though i was expecting bit more on match fixing scandal.

Sachin started his First class career in 1988 in Ranji Trophy and soon he was selected to Indian team for Pakistan tour of 1989. He did not look back even once after hitting Abdul Qadir for those bloody sixes. This book is also a timeline of my love for this game as i started watching cricket at the age of 7 or 8. I can never forget his scintillating knocks in 1991-92 tour of Australia and that series made me a fan of Sachin; though Ganguly competed for that place briefly. Sachin categorically states the negative influence of Greg Chappell on the team and also clears the air about "infamous" Multan declaration when Sachin got stranded at 194. From the hind sight it appears that Sachin simply had enough talent and we often side line the effort and hard work that he had put it to achieve these unparalleled feats. He is Rana Sangram Singh of Indian Cricke; just like entire body of Rana was full of wounds, Sachin is also a patch work of various sores and surgeries. 

Its a must read book for all of us, specially for those who watched his game and followed him closely.

Highly Recommended (9/10)

Book Review [84] : India Wins Freedom

'India Wins Freedom' is an autobiography of a great India Freedom Fighter and one of the builders of Modern India, 'Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (1888 - 1958)', put into words by Humayun Kabir. It was published in two phases one in 1958 (without 30 pages critical of Patel, Nehru and Gandhi) and the complete version in 1988. 

Maulana Azad was born in a family of great Islamic theologians in Mecca, his family moved to Calcutta (now Kolkata) in 1890. He was there at the founding session of Muslim League in 1906 and his career took a rapid start during the Khilafat movement. He championed the cause of Urdu Journalism and continuously wrote nationalist articles despite of seizure of his press by the British. He became the youngest person to become the President of Congress although in a special session (in 1923). He was the longest serving (1940-46) President of Congress before the advent of Indira Gandhi. He lost his wife when he was in Jail (1942-45) and Britishers did not allow him to even pay the last visit to his dying wife; such was the sacrifice he made.

He accuses Sardar Patel of Communalism and calls him the founder of the partition of India; he blames Gandhi as well as Nehru for the partition albeit in a moderate manner but the way he puts venom on Patel, its tough to digest as Patel was not alive at the time of publication of this book to give his own account, similar was the case with Gandhi and to a certain extent Pt. Nehru. He blames Congress for the partition and calls the actions of Jinnah a bit of exploitation of the blunder made by Congress in vacillating around Cabinet Mission proposal. At many places he says that Muslims has played a heavy price of the partition but he does not say anything about the Hindus/Sikhs of the Pakistan (and Bangladesh). He becomes completely partisan of the interests of the Muslims during the riots and does not say a thing about the interests of the non-Muslims in Pakistan. 

A nice read, it gives another perspective of the freedom struggle and the tense and bloody days of 1940s.

Highly Recommended (8/10)

Book Review [82] : The Race Of My Life

We as a nation has produced very less number of world class athletes and none of them so far has been able to meet the achievements of Flying Sikh 'Milkha Singh'. 'The Race Of My Life' is an emotional and very inspirational autobiography of living legend Milkha Singh. A very popular film 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag' has been also made on Milkha Singh. Farhan Akhtar has done a superb role in this movie in portraying Milkha Singh.

They say adversities breed legends and they are very right in the case of Milkha Singh. A boy of 15 years age who saw the brutal massacre of his entire family before him by marauding fanatics in Govindpura village (now in Pakistan) of partitioned India, escapes to India and after struggling for 5-6 years in wilderness he gets himself recruited in Indian Army. This triggers the beginning of a great career and Milkha Singh goes on winning 400 meters races in India and outside India both. He annihilates the false arrogance of Abdul Khaliq of Pakistan twice - in Tokyo Asiad in 1958 and in Athletic meet in Pakistan in 1960. The then President of Pakistan Ayub Khan gives him the title of Flying Sikh in 1960 after his victory over Abdul Khaliq in Lahore in 1960. He becomes the first Indian to win a gold medal in Commonwealth Games when he won the 400 meters race. The Prime Minister of Indian declared National Holiday in India to celebrate his Gold Medal. His fame and personality reach Himalayan heights before Rome Olympics of 1960.

Every good thing comes to an end; in the final of 400 meters in Rome Olympics all the top 4 finalists break the 400 meters Olympic record in final race; thus despite of breaking the Olympic record Milkha Singh does not get a medal. He comes 4th in a Photo Finish final. He still rues this chance of not winning the Gold Medal. He was dominating the race for first 250 meters but the mistake of slowing down in last few seconds takes away the medal from his hands. He was the champion athlete who made his career from scratch and extreme poverty. He is an inspiration to all of us who always crib about lack of proper facilities and infrastructure. He ends his autobiography with beautiful Urdu couplet.

"Mita de apni hasti ko, agar koi martaba chahe

ki dana khak main milkar, gul-e-gulzar hota hai"

(Destroy your existence if you want to reach the zenith as the seed has to unite with dust to sprout flowers)

Overall this book is a beautifully written book, full of inspiration and struggle. This is the first book i have read on an Indian sportsperson and what an amazing sportsperson he is.

Highly Recommended (9/10)

Book Review [78] : Baburnama

'Baburnama' i.e. the memoirs of Zahiruddin Muhammed Babur, founder of the Mughal Empire of India, is the masterpiece of world literature in general and Chagtai Turkish in particular.  This is generally considered one of the earliest autobiographies of a Muslim ruler. 

It starts with the death of Umar Shaikh Mirza (father of Babur) in 1494 and the ascension of Babur at the throne of Ferghana (now in Kyrgyzstan). At that time Khurashan, Ferghana, Northern and Western Afghanistan were ruled by Timurid Sultans (i.e. descendants of Timur Lame) but Uzbeks under Muhammed Shaybani Khan were gaining ascendancy in central Asia. Uzbeks as well as Timurids contested for the prize possession of Samarkand after the death of the Sultan of Samarkand in 1494, Babur rallied the Timurids and conquered the Samarkand thrice but he escaped all three times, such was the ferocity of Uzbeks. Babur wrote in great detail about the geography, flora, fauna and culture of Ferghana. He had a keen eye of an inquisitive scholar. 

Babur leaves Central Asia and enters Afghanistan as a prince in exile. He conquers Kabul in 1504 and brutally raids and massacres scores of Afghans. He continued the brutal Timurid customs of making victory tower from the skulls of the defeated soldiers. He tries again to conquer Samarkand and with the help of Shah of Iran he defeats Uzbeks in 1511  but he flees again in 1512 and this time he decides to forge his kingdom in Hindustan. He starts his Indian campaign in 1519 by taking Bajaur. He defeats Ibrahim Lodhi in the first battle of Panipat in 20 April 1526 by his astute leadership and use of Ottoman and Uzbeks strategies, and establishes his dynasty at Agra. He always misses his home and its climate. He dislikes India because of its alien customs, lack of running water, its hostile people and a different religion. 

Babur overcomes the ultimate challenge of Rana Sanga and his allies in the Battle of Khanua on 17th March 1527. The Rajputs and their allies were annihilated in this epic battle and the canons of Babur win, and Indians again loose a great defining battle. Babur then storms Chanderi and kills its defenders. Baburnama finishes in Sept 1529, just little more than a year he dies. 

Despite of all his shortcomings (his victory tower of human skulls, his disrespect of his enemies by calling them Kafir/Infidels etc) he was a great leader, keen observer, ferocious soldier and a great writer. Baburnama remains a great work on Central Asian history and the early Mughal Empire. 

Highly Recommended (8/10)

Book Review [66] : Long Walk to Freedom

Many a times in 2008 i tried to buy 'Long Walk to Freedom' but its size (more than 1000 pages) and price deterred me from buying it. Last month the health of Madiba deteriorated so i thought it will be a sort of tribute to read his highly valued autobiography, 'Long Walk to Freedom' in his life time. Some people were born great (like Alexander, Chandragupta, Napoleon etc), others became great because of the challenges they faced despite of born with no great attributes or habits, Mandela belongs to the second set. Born on 18th July in 1918 in a traditional Xhosa African family, related to the royal house of Thembu. He lived a rather ordinary life in highly racist South Africa. He completed B.A. in 1941 and 1943 he joined African National Congress, this association had a seminal effect on him as well as on the future course of South Africa as a country and as a society. With the victory of National Party under the leadership of Dr. Daniel Malan in 1948 elections (only White could vote) South Africa turned into a brutal country based on the principle of Apartheid or racial segregation. This caused a turmoil in ANC and ANC started civil disobedience movement but was crushed by the government. ANC was banned by government in 1960.
ANC had no choice but to go violent, Under the directions of ANC, Nelson Mandela setup a militant organization MK (Spear of the nation) in 1961. He underwent an African tour and he got a huge support from other African countries (Senegal, Ghana, Tanzania, Ethiopia etc), he and his team got Guerrilla training as well (in 1962). He was arrested in Aug 1962 and was convicted by the court on charges of illegal travel (in 1962), later he was charged for sabotage and conspiracy against the government (as MK was involved in sabotage) in 1963 and was sentenced life imprisonment along with others. His lived for 27 years in prison and out of those 27 years he lived 19 years in Robben island prison. It takes infinite courage even for a great soul to come back from this hell without any weakening of beliefs and convictions, and to forgive those who sent him to the jail and to work towards creating a non-racial South Africa without taking any revenge on the Whites for all those crimes they committed in last 100 years or so on their non-White countrymen. He remains master of his fate, he remains captain of his soul.

To an Indian audience and readers, its a matter of great pride that South African Indians participiated in great numbers in the ANC movement and helped Mandela and others with all the resources they had their disposal. Mac Maharaj, Mrs. Pillay etc are few Indian names that any South African can be proud of. India was the first country (perhaps) to award Jawaharlal Nehru Human Right Award to Mandela (while he was in Robben island) in 1979. India later awarded Bharat Ratna to him (in 1990) just before he got Nobel Peace Prize (in 1993). Generally India awards people after they have got Nobel peace prize (Arafat, Aung Saang Suu Kyi etc).
I have only one issue with this book, Madiba has not written a single word about fellow great South African revolutionary Steve Biko (1946 - 1977) who fought against Apartheid and White domination, and founded Black Consciousness Movement when Mr. Mandela was in Robben Island. This great African was murdered by South African government. Overall this book is a great read, very lucid and flowing style. I finished this in 5 days.
Long Live Madiba! 
Highly recommended (9/10)

Book Review [51] : Before Memory Fades

Fali Sam Nariman has been one of the most prominent legal luminaries and has played a significant role in the outcome of various court cases and like his senior Nani Palkiwala, he has been a great agent of world wide human rights movement. He was born in Burma in a Parsi family and had to return to India in the wake of invasion of Burma by imperial Japan in 1942. He belongs to a great community of Parsi people who are in number below any contempt but in contribution to India's social, economic, legal development, they are beyond any contempt. Nariman, Palkiwala and Soli Sorabjee were the three great lawyers who permeated the cosmos of Indian judiciary after 1947. Nani Palkiwala was responsible for the 'Basic Structure' doctrine that was decreed by 13 member bench of Supreme Court in the Kesavananda Bharati case (1973) and Nariman also played his bit in it. Fali S Nariman became the Additional Solicitor General of India in 1972 but he resigned on the very first day when the Emergency was proclaimed by the Indira Gandhi led Congress government. He was as firm as the pole star in that dark night of Indian democracy if you allow me to quote Shakespeare. 

As humans however great they may be after all they remain human so Nariman is also no exception and he committed the unforgiving sin of defending Union Carbide Corporation in the Bhopal Gas Tragedy (3rd Dec 1984) case. The defender of Human Rights was outdone by the sparkling light of the crony capitalist world. Later he became the nominated member of Rajya Sabha (1999-2005). He abhors intolerant and extremist elements in Indian society and compares those elements to the Dinosaurs, well quite a tautology. 

In nutshell 'Before Memory Fades' is an eloquently written book by Nariman, full of very interesting anecdotes, provides a rich survey of Indian judges, lawyers and covers various court cases. It is a must read for all the aspiring lawyers  as well as students of post 1947 India.  
Highly recommended (8/10).

Book Review [48] : Beyond The Last Blue Mountain

'Beyond the last Blue Mountain' is an amazing biography of one of the greatest Indians of 20th Century J.R.D. Tata (1904-1993), written by R. M. Lala. I have a great fascination for biographies and to my satisfaction i have read a significant number of biographies viz Steve Jobs (iCon), Akio Morita (Made in Japan), Jack Welch (Straight from the gut), Verghese Kurien (I too had a dream), Martin Luther King Junior, Barack Obama (Dreams from my Father), L. K. Advani (My country, my Life), Ghengis Khan, Slobodan Milosevic (A serpent in the bosom), M. K. Gandhi (My Experiments with Truth), Lance Armstrong (Its not about Bike), Adolf Hitler (Mein Kampf) etc. This book stands out amid all these biographies in its intense research and anecdotes. 
J.R.D. Tata was the son of the cousin of Jamshetji Nusserwanji Tata (Father of Industrial Revolution of India and a great Philanthropist). He was born in Paris to a French mother in 1904 and he became the Chairman of the prestigious Tata Group at the age of 34 in 1938 but before that he had founded Tata Airlines in 1932 and became the first licensed pilot of India. He consolidated and increased the holdings of Tata Group in the utterly socialist era i.e. pre 1980s. He played a key role in Bombay Plan drafted by a group of eminent Industrialists and economists in 1940s. He made Tata Airlines (it was nationalized by Indian govt in 1953) a world brand in those years.
He remained chairman of Air India (Tata Airlines rechristened) until 1977-78 (he was unceremoniously dropped by Prime Minister Morarji Desai) and made Air India one of the best international airlines. He commemorated the inaugural flight of Tata Airline by flying aircraft from Karachi to Bombay in 1982 (at the age of 78). He also played a key role in the establishment of TISS, TIFR etc. Must read biography and i bet this is a better read compared to 'Made in Japan' or 'Straight from the Gut'.
Highly recommended (9/10)

Book Review [47] : I too had a dream

'I too had a dream' is a great autobiography of a great man, Dr. Verghese Kurien. He lived an incredible life and along with Dr. M S Swaminathan made India a country with food and milk surplus. The country that used to import milk powder became the largest producer of milk in the world and this was made possible by the Milkman of India, Dr. Kurien. This great man was born in 1921 in Kerala in Syrian Christian Family and was nephew of John Mathai (He was the first Finance Minister of India), he had a brilliant academic record (that can shame perhaps all the IITians) but still he devoted his superb talent in the service of dairy farmers of Anand and India. He built an ultra modern dairy in Anand in 1957 that could make milk powder from buffalo milk (at that time almost all dairy experts said that its impossible). He made AMUL as the world finest edible product brand and later fathered White Revolution (1965 onwards). He had to fight politicians, bureaucrats, MNCs but he succeeded in all these and established world class and fully democratic Dairy Industry in India. He even brought mighty NESTLE to its knees when it said in 1950s that Indians are worthless and they can not run dairy industry. He was one of the very few lucky people who had worked with the likes of Sardar Patel, Nehru, Indira, Moraraji Desai etc. Maniben Patel (daughter of Sardar Patel) and Tribhuvandas Patel also played a great role in Dairy co-operatives of Gujarat. A must read and every Indian should read and ponder. "Be the change you want to see" -Mahatma Gandhi. 
Highly Recommended (9/10)

Book Review [33] : Autobiography - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr

Dr. King(1929-1968) was the one of the greatest apostles of non-violent struggle against the unjust laws and played a key role in civil rights movement of USA. It is hard to believe that pathetic racist laws such as different schools for blacks and whites, different churches, clubs ,different seats in buses etc were prevalent in USA even in 1960's. But the Blacks never lost the hope and under Dr. King they were able to win back their rights after more than 400 years of serfdom. Freedom is not given, its always taken. His dream eventually came true (although symbolically) when Barrack Obama became the president of USA in 2009. USA has made great strides in abolishing almost all racial barriers among different racial groups and it has to be commended for this. As an India, i feel enormous shame when i still see the same caste system is still prevalent with almost same vigor in almost all the villages of India. If Gandhi can inspire some one too distant in space and time why we are not getting inspired. Has the paradise been lost forever or still we have some bits left? The best time for justice, freedom and peace is always now. Its better to die on the roads, jails, fields of India fighting for justice than to make a butchery of our conscience. 
Highly Recommended (8/10)

Book Review [25] : Dreams From My Father

Barrack Obama's Dreams from my father is a beautiful autobiographical work and it encompasses his life till his political career starts. He was born as an African-American and spent his childhood in Hawaii as well as in Indonesia and by doing this he came to know about various faiths. The real quality of this work is non-superficiality and for this Obama should be commended. At many a times while reading this book, my thoughts were moving through my village. In a way this story is also a story of my village, the black suburb of Chicago and black people now look so close to me. A must read book for those who wants to know Obama's inheritance a real audacity of hope. I feel too nostalgic about my Papa. 

Recommended (7/10)

P.S. Amir Khan after marrying Kiran Rao famously stated "Love can happen innumerable times". Now i feel that he had stolen my words.

Book Review [11] : Banker to the Poor - Mohammad Yunus autobiography

"Banker to the poor" is the 2nd book that i read in past 7-8 days. It's an autobiography of 2006 Nobel peace prize winner and the founder of micro-credit based Grameen Bank, Mr. Mohammad Yunus. This book talks about one of the many methods that can eradicate poverty. His method of micro financing is quite effective in helping the poorest masses in raising their income and giving them a helping hand in eradicating the canker of poverty.

I really admire the tenacity and perseverance of Yunus saheb in establishing a world class institution without taking foreign aid (he did much later). Its not unjust to say that he has been truly a silent revolutionary. In this sub continent its a sin to be a poor and its the heinous crime to be a poor Muslim. The social status of Muslim women in our subcontinent is worst. No offence meant but its the truth. Any Muslim husband can divorce his wife by just saying Talaq three times. In this environment Yunus saheb succeeded in making poor women of Bangladesh the clients of his bank. In this process he broke almost all the retrogressive customs of Purdah and seclusion. Money is the solution of almost all the problems and Grameen has proved thus many a times.

I dont know what is the future of micro finance based system in India. As far as i know from my significant experience of the rural India (not talking about the Rahul Gandhi's definition of poor) that the condition of poor is not despicable. Its surely bad but can be improved. I dont condone the high interests rates demanded by Grameen bank. There should not be any difference in the interest rates collateral or no collateral.

Recommended (7/10)