The book is a veritable source of information on polity, economy and people who take it forward
Suresh Chandra Sarangi
Against The Binary – Perspectives on Polity, Economy and Personality
Prof. Satya Narayan Mishra
Deejanshu Media
Bhubaneswar
The book by Professor Satya Narayan Mishra, a career bureaucrat, is a collection of essays that has been creating ripples in the literary circles. The name itself evokes sentiments, as it is based on the concept of the duality of nature. As the Chinese philosopher said, a thing is not what it is but also what it is not. Every road going to the right has a left, and every question has an answer. The author, Sri Mishra captures the essence of many debates in a lively manner, and the essays become utterly readable. His dialectical approach, brings to fore the conflicts and resolutions, with authenticity.
The book is divided into four parts such as personalities and interaction with them, foremost being Dr Kalam, the scientist president who left an indelible impact on Sri Mishra’s psyche. The second part is a beautiful exploration of our polity, the constitutional process, and the judiciary that upholds the constitutional theme. The third part deals with the economy and Sri Mishra being an economist himself, captures the debate on the economy like a colossus, deciphering the turbulent periods of Indian economy, with a root cause analysis and does that with intellectual fortitude.
In the last chapter Potpourri, with an uncanny eye on dissecting the growth of India’s defense sector, speaks highly of India’s sovereignty and security. With a wealth of experience in the defense sector, Mr. Mishra combines adventure and logic, bringing professionalism to organize his thoughts. The book is a veritable source of information on polity, economy, and people who take it forward.
The book is indispensable in a way that is refreshingly optimistic about the economic future. This book focuses on value and scale, and sometimes, breathtaking as it deals with the topsy turvy of Indian politics. Mishra draws inspiration from case studies, whether constitutional jurisprudence or macabre politics, the insurmountable challenges that confront the common man’s daily life. A craftsman he is, he travels through the din and bustle of Indian politics and romanticizes the passion economy. With a special emphasis on finding a solution to the turbulent problems, he has also kept an eye on the accessibility of his book, Against the Binary.
In this breath-of-fresh-air book, Mr Mishra inspires a whole generation of people, through his glowing articles. From what was christened as the ‘Hindu rate of growth’ to becoming the fastest-growing nation, the articles dwelt on the resilient growth story. A groundbreaking work on poverty and prosperity, law and justice, hope and despair, enterprise and innovation, the book delves deep into sustainable and viable growth that is transformative and reflective of Plato’s dialogue. Against the binary, is a meaningful discourse and multifaceted survey of Indian polity and economy.
The book resonates with articles based on the nature of polity, dissent, death and democracy, electoral bonds, freedom of speech, Hindutva, teen talaq landmark judgment, coalition politics, basic structure, Election Commission, and many more subjects that confront both common man and the intellectuals, on their everyday struggle. The topics on the economy, cover taxation, budgets, sustainable development goals, China’s BRI, the specter of the hunger index, growth vs human development, jobless growth, crony capitalism, income inequality, and many more hovering around the Indian economy vis-a-vis world economy. These are illustrious articles of an illuminated mind that not only make a deep dive into the nucleus but find a solution in crafting an alternate course, with logical arguments.
The articles not only produce light but also have produced a lot of heat. Reform and Resilience become the very aim of Sri Mishra’s open diatribe. Nevertheless, the personalities who matter and have contributed significantly have left their indelible impression on the sands of time. The mother of microfinance, cricket captains, Justice Ruth Ginsberg, ex-president late Kalam, Satyajit Ray is luminous stars who have illuminated each field of science, technology, arts, cinema, sports, legal luminaries and the like of Justice Chandrachud glitter in the beautiful and stylist prose of Mr. Mishra. Potpourri makes a powerful dive into trends in education, International Women’s Day, inclusive education, free market saffronisation and contours of equality and contemporary topics that are so bewildering and Mr Mishra passionately and effectively deals with them peeling layers after layers of wisdom.
Mr Mishra grapples with identity and nation, freedom and justice, inclusive growth, and universal education in his inimitable style. The book deftly tries to find solutions to poverty and homelessness, the dream of a 5 trillion economy, artificial intelligence, and what not. In a world violently unsettled and rapidly chasing the articles dwell on polarising debate. Curious about the future and from climate change and women’s emancipation, thus, making it a compelling read. It is clear and simple prose, ornamented with historical decisions, the book is a breathtaking journey through the petals of contemporary India and the world.
(The writer is a former General Manager of Bank of India and currently a visiting professor at KIIT School of Management. Views expressed are personal.)
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