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Reforming the United
Nations
Revolutions M.S. Swaminathan is a
great revolutionary, but of a constructive type, a rare breed indeed. He
is known as the progenitor of India’s Green Revolution. Famous as the
father of economic ecology, he’s, presently, the president of Pugwash
Conferences of scientists dedicated to global peace and nuclear-free
world. In this volume he’s in conversation with Japan’s Daisaku
Ikeda, president of Soka Gakkai International, who has propounded the
theory of Human Revolution that changes one’s heart and mind thus
facilitating banishment of conflict, want and hunger. The dialogue
between these two eminent personalities is enlightening indeed. Punjab Today With only 1.5 per cent of India’s landmass, Punjab contributes 59% of wheat and 52 per cent of rice to the central pool. There was a time when it was the sole bread-basket of the country. But this is no longer true. While other states are fast catching up in agricultural production, Punjab’s agricultural output has reached a plateau, making it vital to usher in changes in cultivation patterns. In fact, the state needs to have a thorough look at its infrastructure, human resources and related socio-economic indices to come up with a solution to extant evils. The authors have done a detailed study of the state’s economy while pinpointing its shortcomings. Now it’s over to scholars and policy-makers. |
THE author questions the
very relevance of the United Nations to today’s world situation. He
feels that the organisation has failed to live up to its image as
peacemaker. He cites several examples in support of his argument, Iraq
being the latest and perhaps the starkest of them all. However, one may
not agree with his solution, viz., doing away with the UNO altogether.
It has, on several occasions in the past, played a constructive role as
honest broker. It’s the only instrument of global status that can be
used to usher in a fair international order. It admittedly needs reforms
to enable it to play more active, if not pro-active, role in ensuring
peace and justice on this planet. But let’s not discard it. However,
Nazrul Islam’s book is worthy of your reading table.
