Vivekananda International Foundation | Seeking Harmony in Diversity

Launch of ‘Character – the Power Supreme’ at VIF

‘Character – the Power Supreme’, the last book authored by late B P Singhal, former Director General of Police, Uttar Pradesh and Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha, was launched at a function at the VIF by former Deputy Prime Minister Shri L K Advani on September 8, 2013. Four other inspirational books written by Shri Singhal in Hindi viz ‘Jeevan Ki Disha’, ‘Divya Manav Banne Ki Kunji’, ‘Pragati aur Anushasan’, ‘Jeevan Ka Saar’ were also released on the occasion. In his keynote address, Shri Advani paid rich tributes to the former civil servant, Parliamentarian and social worker.

September 10, 2013 Event Report

Launch of Public Money, Private Agenda - The Use and Abuse of MPLADS

Public Money, Private Agenda – The Use and Abuse of MPLADS, a book written by Dr.A.Surya Prakash, Distinguished Fellow, VIF was launched at an impressive function at the VIF by Mr.Shivraj Patil, the Hon’ble Governor of Punjab on Aug 22, 2013. The former Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Mr.Purno Sangma presided over the function. Mr.Kishore Chandra Deo, Union Minister for Panchayati Raj and Tribal Affairs and Mr.Arun Shourie, former Union Minister spoke on the book.

August 29, 2013 Event Report

Thoughts for Change - We can do it; APJ Abdul Kalam & A Sivathanu Pillai; Pentagon Press; PP 289; Price Rs 495

Lt Col Anil Bhat

The ancient civilization Sindhu/Indus/Hindu/India- steeped in arts, culture, administration and most of all science and a great reserve of natural resources, became a lucrative target for marauders who converted or killed and either way, plundered, pillaged and ruled for a thousand years. What has been compiled in Thoughts for Change: We Can Do It, by two of India’s accomplished Missile-Men, is an important motivating reminder and a wake-up call to present day Bharat.

August 11, 2013 Books/Book Review

Vimarsha: Institutional Subversion in India –Implications for the Nation & its Security with Mr Mahesh Jethmalani

VIF organized Vimarhsa on Saturday, July 20, 2013, where senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani dwelt at length on the topic ‘Institutional Subversion in India – Implications for the Nation and its Security’. In his introductory remarks, Ajit Doval, KC, Director, VIF, regretted that the Indian society was more fragmented than at the time of Independence in 1947. He said there appeared to be some invisible hand that gave impetus to anything divisive and weakened anything that united.

July 25, 2013 Event Report

Contamination of Water Resources and Associated Health Hazards: The Need of a Safe Water Policy and Proper Institutional Response with Special Reference to India

Avneesh Kumar

Abstract In this research paper the author has discussed the different aspects of water borne diseases, their impact on human health and means for ensuring safe drinking water in the country. Water borne diseases are a big burden on developing countries like India. The availability of safe drinking water would be a grave challenge for the government as the population of our country is rising sharply, and as per some estimates, by 2025 half of the nation’s population would be residing in urban areas.

April 16, 2013 Paper

Health Infrastructure in India: Critical Analysis of Policy Gaps in the Indian Healthcare Delivery

Avneesh Kumar

Saurav Gupta

Today the health infrastructure of India is in pathetic condition, it needs radical reforms to deal with new emerging challenges. On the one hand the role of private players is continuously increasing in healthcare sector, but simultaneously healthcare facilities are getting costly, and becoming non-accessible for the poor. The government hospitals are facing the problem of lack of resources and infrastructure; there are inadequate number of beds, rooms, and medicines. In this research paper the authors have discussed the present scenario of healthcare facilities and personnel.

July 02, 2012 Paper

Vimarsha: A Talk on ‘Functioning of Parliamentary Democracy in India’ with Mr. Purno A. Sangma

The focus of VIF’s Vimarsha (a series in monthly talks on subjects of national importance with contemporary relevance) for the month of March 2012 was ‘Functioning of Parliamentary Democracy in India’, a subject which has agitated minds of a large section of the people in our country in recent times. The talk by Mr. Purno A.

April 06, 2012 Event Report

Round Table Discussion on 'Vision India 2025 - Issues of Governance'

On Jan 12, 2012, the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) held a round table discussion on the issues of governance. The discussion was held against the backdrop of an ongoing VIF project, Vision India 2025. A panel of eminent experts, including Mr. Vijay Kapoor, former Lieutenant Governor Delhi, Mr. Ajit Doval Director VIF, Ambassador PP Shukla Joint Director VIF, Ambassador Satish Chandra, Mr. CD Sahay, Mr. Trinath Mishra, among others, discussed a draft paper which was authored by Dr. M.N. Buch, Padmabhusan and a former civil servant. The discussion was moderated by Mr.

January 19, 2012 Event Report

Vimarsha - India 2021: Hazarding Guesses, Guessing Hazards by Shri Gopal Krishna Gandhi

Shri Gopal Krishna Gandhi, former Governor of West Bengal, and grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, presented his vision of India in 2021 to an enlightened audience at Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) on Nov 7, 2011. Crystal-gazing, Shri Gandhi portrayed a kaleidoscopic image of India in 2021 – young, impatient and angry despite a vibrant economy with projected economic growth hovering around eight percent. The growing resources crunch, especially those related to employment, food, water, housing et al could lead to further deepening of the present crisis, Shri Gandhi cautioned.

December 12, 2011 Event Report

Vimarsha - A talk on Proposed Communal Violence Bill with Mr. R.N.P. Singh

‘Vimarsha’, VIF’s monthly series of public discourse on contemporary subjects, was held on September 30, 2011 to discuss an issue of utmost national importance - the implications for social harmony of a proposed legislation titled 'Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence (Access to Justice and Reparations) Bill, 2011. The talk by Mr. R.N.P. Singh, a former senior officer of Intelligence Bureau, Government of India and currently, a Senior Fellow at VIF, dwelt upon the policy of appeasing minority sentiments at the cost of majority.

October 07, 2011 Event Report