Sanjeev Sabhlok's Blog, page 125

My email to Sagarika Ghose about the meaning of liberalism

Dear Ms Ghose I’ve come across your work in the past but was particularly impressed by your two recent articles: https://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes... https://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes... I’ve been working on a project for over 20 years to create India’s liberal party. We finally have one (see https://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes...). I’m writing since I’m on the lookout for liberal leaders for India. Based upon your […]

The main Constitutional amendments that SBP will make

From here: SBP believes that without key changes to its Constitution, India cannot achieve freedom and good governance. While it is extremely important to remove the word “socialist” from the Preamble, this has not affected the way policies are made or how India is governed. This word did not, for example, prevent the 1991 liberalisation […]

Podcast regarding SBP’s recent discussions with Shetkari Sangathana and Swatantra Bharat Paksha

I’ve made a 20 minute podcast today to summarise two issues: SBP’s recent engagement with Shetkari Sangathana and the issue regarding Liberal Party of India. This update may not interest everyone. There’s no policy related discussion here.     

सरकार से जवाबदेही लेना कोई आसान काम नहीं है. संविधानिक परिवर्तन करना होगा.

भारत में जो ढांचा ब्रिटिश छोड़ गए वही ढांचा आज भी चल रहा है. उसमें सरकारी नौकरों की नौकरी पक्की होती है और 35 साल तक वह काम कर सकते हैं, उनको हटाया नहीं जा सकता. हमने ब्रिटिश नियमों को बढ़ा-चढ़ा कर संविधान में डाल दिया – यह लिखा दिया कि किस सरकारी से निकलने से पहले […]

You, the People of India are the suckers: The case of Babulal Agarwal, IAS 1988 batch

In the early 1990s, I was Inquiry Officer for one of the most corrupt officers of Assam. Later I became State Inquiry Officer for the Government of Assam, a post usually held by an officer in the rank of Additional Chief Secretary. During these roles, I got to understand the MASSIVE protections available to IAS […]

You, the People of India, are the suckers: The case of Babulal Agarwal, IAS 1988 batch

In the early 1990s, I was Inquiry Officer for one of the most corrupt officers of Assam. Later I became State Inquiry Officer for the Government of Assam, a post usually held by an officer in the rank of Additional Chief Secretary. During these roles, I got to understand the MASSIVE protections available to IAS […]

SBP’s petition for repeal of special protections in the Indian Constitution for government employees

We want accountable government. Abolish special protections for government employees.   (Please click the link above and sign the petition) India has a uniquely unaccountable governance system. This is because of its Constitutional design. There is nothing like IAS in any other country. We also have the dubious distinction of being the only major democracy in […]

A 1994 article in EPW that made a cogent argument for disbanding the IAS

I’m posting this here, for my personal record and reference. Restructuring the Bureaucracy: All-India Services, Nirmal Mukarji, Economic and Political Weekly, Vol. 29, No. 51/52 (Dec. 17-24, 1994), pp. 3193-3195 PERSPECTIVES This paper rests on the proposition that existing bureaucratic arrangements are unsatisfactory and need to be reviewed. The proverbial man in the street would […]

भारतीयों की झूठी शान

भारत एक समुद्र जैसा है, यह इतना बड़ा है कि आदमी उसमें अपने कई जीवन बिता सकता है, बाकी दुनिया से दूर. परंतु विश्व  के मुकाबले भारत एक बड़ी झील समान है. भारत की असलियत सिर्फ बाहर जाकर ही समझ आती है. भारत में बैठे हुए लोग बाकी देशों की कई बार आलोचना करते हैं, […]

Swatantra Bharat Party manifestos – by Sharad Joshi

Sharad Joshi was a great Indian liberal. He drafted an excellent manifesto for Swatantra Bharat Party. Unfortunately, his manifestos are not readily available on the internet, so I’m publishing the copies I have, here: The 1999 manifesto of Swatantra Bharat Party The 2014 draft manifesto of Swatantra Bharat Party I am trying to dig up […]