Random Harvest – An Assorted Miscellany

I have often wondered as to how much inexhaustible variety of knowledge and expertise is packed in Mohan's lean and thin frame.         The best of all is that his writings bring a lot of knowledge in an easy reading, which is laced with his customary wit and humour, thus making for compulsive reading. Keep writing Mohan, our friend, so that we can keep going!General Nirmal Chander Vij,PVSM, UYSM, AVSMMohan Kanda delights us even as he educates us in these nuggets of plain good sense, intelligence and, above all, utter honesty. If wisdom can come with a smile or laughter with a lesson, they do so in these editorials. I can only say, 'Keep writing, dear friend'.Gopalkrishna Gandhi,formerly Diplomat and Governor of West Bengal.An amazing and heady mix of reflections and recollections, not only pertaining to the vast variety of postings of Mohan over his career, but also about matters of interest and importance, especially to the youth. Every day something entirely different is thrown up and that keeps interest going.V.K. Agnihotri,                                                      former Secretary General, Rajya Sabha Contents :1. Bringing up the Parents2. Incredible India Wallowing in Neglect3. History or Farce – or a Political Tool?4. Allergy to Dissent5. Man and Machine – The Love-Hate Game6. Who is saying 'No' to Telugu?7. Balancing the Self-Respect Bandwagon8. Losses - Real and Perceived9. Spirituality and Politics!10. Delayed Announcements Deny Benefits11. Rollback Sops for All Religions12. Pragmatism or Populism?13. An Idea whose Time Hasn’t Come14. Only Time Will Tell if the Budget is Good15. Fund of Funds Release @ NITI16. Why States are Seeking More17. AP Summits and MoUs Why Intentions do not become Investments18. South may be Sour Grapes for BJP19. All is Fair in Legislatures and War20. ‘Jo Dikhta, Wo Bikta’21. ‘Day Zero’ Zeroing in on us22. Time to Revisit Standard Time23. A Myopic Govt that is Penny Wise.24. Costs of Aping China25. Waste not Solid Opportunities26. Past Efforts must be Recognized27. India Must Gird up its Loins as a Messenger of Peace28. Intolerance of a different Kind29. “Lateral Entry’ Feature Disquieting30. In the Fitness of Things31. Sympathy Seldom Fetches Votes32. Working at Cross-Purposes33. Beware Fake News Swamp34. NCM Defeat Augurs Well for the Nation35. Don’t Enfeeble Information Act36. Refugees, a Grave Threat to Internal Security37. When Graveyards are Divided into Political Lines38. Cut to the Quick, Nature will be Ravage39. Invisible Aid and Visible Ado40. Any Rationale for a Snap Poll?41. Hold aloft India’s Repute Abroad42. Justice Delayed – Justice Defamed43. A Defence Deal that put Modi on Spot44. Intolerance to Love: A Social Malady?45. The Political Drama behind Raids and Searches46. Health, Education need Govt Patronage47. Left with more Questions than Answers48. Sabarimala Imbroglio Center should Clear Stand49. Centre vs RBI: India’s Economy at Stake50. A Right Move at the Wrong Time51. Perils of a Penchant for Publicity52. A Technical Issue Mired in Controversy53. Empowering GPs: Ushering in a New Era54. 10 Percent Quota for EBCs: Reading between the Lines55. Free Sports from Graft, Politics, and Malpractices56. Raj Bhavan: Down Memory Lane57. Legitimate Promise or Illegal Lure?58. Sino-India Ties: Points to Ponder59. Deliberations on being a Vegan60. Dubious Claims, Growing Unemployment61. Will Hopes of Voters be Fulfilled?62. Of Shrinking Space and Selling Traffic63. A Rainbow Coalition may not Deliver64. We need Sweeping Reforms, not Doles!65. Intricacies of Abolishing Child Labour66. Keeping India United, a Huge Challenge!67. Our Spirit has been Pipped by Evil Forces68. Skills do Matter, not just your Degrees69. Climate Change: A Manmade Calamity70. Why a Course on ‘Ethics’, not a Bad Idea?71. Indian Judiciary Needs an Overhaul72. No Job in Sight for Millions of Grads73. Ailing Healthcare Needs the Right Treatment74. Water Crisis: Country’s Biggest Challenge75. Overhauling of Railways: Challenges Ahead76. Pros and Cons of IT Revolution77. Peaceful Coexistence, the Panacea for World Woes78. Birth of New UTs and Umpteen Security Issues79. Moon, Mankind’s Next Survival Sphere80. Can’t AP’s Capital Building Process Wait?81. The Mahatma: Fountainhead of Inspirations82. Friction Twixt Judiciary, Legislature83. Clampdown in Kashmir Defies Civil Liberty84. The Ease of doing Business85. Country Needs Daring Youth, not Passive Beings86. On being Wise Betwixt Myth, Reality87. Reminiscences of Glorious Days Gone by About the Authors: Dr. Mohan Kanda retired from the Indian Administrative Service (Andhra Pradesh Cadre) in 2005. In his long and distinguished career, he served in various capacities at the State as well as at the Centre, including as Secretary (Department of Agriculture) Government of India, and Chief Secretary, Government of Andhra Pradesh.He holds a Doctorate in Cooperative Agricultural Credit.After retirement from the Service, he served as a Member of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Government of India, and as a Member of the Steering Committee of the Planning Commission for the formulation of the 12th Five Year Plan for "Agriculture and Allied Sectors".He has helped shape several national policies including the National Policy on Agriculture, the National Policy on Cooperatives and the National Policy on Rehabilitation and Resettlement of Project-Affected Persons. He has also contributed significantly to the formulation of the law governing Multi-State Cooperatives.