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When Indore’s Bureaucracy Burned History: The Lost Holkar Archives and Parasnis’s Crusade
The near-total loss of the Holkar Archives at Indore, following years of official obstruction and a fire in a substandard repository, remains a defining lesson in how bureaucratic negligence can erase civilizational memory. This narrative situates D. B. Parasnis within that tragedy and highlights his lifelong effort to rescue, professionalize, and open Indian historical records…
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What D.V. Gundappa’s 1959 Letters Reveal: Protocol, Federalism, and Public Decency
Archival letters written by D.V. Gundappa in January 1959, following the death of Sir Mirza Ismail, open a window into the administrative culture of post-Independence India. The correspondence probes how states should register public sentiment, the extent of central guidance on official holidays, and the federal balance between Delhi and state capitals. By foregrounding courtesy…
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Discover the Complete, Untold Case of K V S Manian and a Post‑Independence Due‑Process Breakdown
This post explores the untold case of stenographer K V S Manian, whose livelihood was jeopardized in the immediate post-independence period amid the ban on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). It situates the episode within the Jawaharlal Nehru–led government’s early security priorities and examines how administrative zeal can undermine due process. Readers gain a clear…
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Essential Breakthroughs: How Narendra Modi’s Decade Transformed India—My Firsthand View
In this personal reflection, I share how India has become almost unrecognisable over the past decade—powered by essential breakthroughs in governance, the economy, and culture. From UPI and Direct Benefit Transfer to GST and an unapologetic India-first foreign policy, I trace the irreversible shifts that redefined stability and national confidence. I revisit the surprise abolition…
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Are governments inefficient?
The blog explores the intricacies of government efficiency, delving into the hurdles governments encounter in service provision due to bureaucratic procedures. It contrasts governmental and private sector efficiency, highlighting their respective roles and strengths in societal welfare. Additionally, it delves into decentralized governance within Dharmic religions, showcasing adaptability and community engagement in these traditions. It…