My Confession on My Tryst with Public Policy

During my visit to the recently held Bengaluru Tech Fest, to meet and network with Tech enthusiast, founders and thought leaders, I was moving from each kiosk to other, understanding the innovation in the Tech space and the way it is changing the lives, processes and every aspect of human civilisation. I wanted know how the Tech is pivoting the businesses. The passion and spark in each of the participant at the kiosk representing her or his idea, was infectious, the zeal to change the world and lead the country to be a flag bearer of tech innovation. 

As I passed through various kiosks, I saw the kiosk of Takshsahila, the name intrigued me, I had briefly read about the institute in the past and has seen the office once, when I visited the neighbouring organisation. I was curious to know what they were doing and trying to showcase at the Tech Fest. Here, I was greeted by Carl, who slipped in a captivating sun kissed flyer with details on their flagship program GCCP (Graduate Certificate in Public Policy), he tried explaining the details of the 12 week program which and the three specialisation tracks which I could choose from, 

1. Advanced Public Policy

2. Defence and Foreign Affairs

3. Technology and Policy

I asked him if he has pursued any the program himself and what was his experience, he shared his experience, I told him, I will come back to him, on my interest in pursuing the program, Carl, also slipped in a nudge with me to think about the program. I got busy with work and was travelling extensively after the fest, when Carl, reached out on whatsap and checked my interest, this pushed me to go and read more about Public Policy, till that time, these were words which I read about in my school as a part of Social Studies, then part of Civics in in plus 2, then in LLB, LLM, should admit never in my MBA, Bachelors or other courses.

While, I was reading through the opulent website https://takshashila.org.in/. I was fascinated with the work the institutions was doing on the said subject, which I just had / have  a faint idea, but the shere content which I read on the website as a novice in the field appealed to me. The daily chores at work and travel took a bit of the time, Carl, had checked about my interest a couple of time during my course of go through the work on the website, I guess I gave him a feeling that I was not interested and while I was trying to make a decision. Here I was on the December 31st chasing Carl to enrol me to the course , one the 2024 resolutions to enrich myself on the subject of Public Policy. Carl and team at Takshashila made the enrolment process quite seamless.

While I write this, I am 3 sessions into the program and a dozen reading materials consumed, have a lot of questions and thoughts flying all across on the subject. I asked this question to myself, having spent 4 decades of living a elite life in a developed country (when I was growing up, in all my lectures, I only heard that India is a developing country, I guess we have come quite far, but there are still miles to go), what is the role I have played in Public Policy ?, why is it only the responsibility of the people in the government, executive, legislature to propose, form and execute the Policy ?, why was I just an arm chair critic of these policies ?

I am reminded of the famous quote by John F. Kennedy's inaugural address " Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country" (1). This change the course in history and challenged every American to contribute to the Public Good and see the importance of Civic action and public service.

In our context, I am reminded of the Constitution of India, Article 51 A, Part IV -A,  defines The Fundamental Duties of every Citizen, these were incorporated through the 42nd amendment 1976 and these were inspired by the Constitution of Russia.

Following are the Fundamental Duties (2)

1) To abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem.

2) To cherish and follow the noble ideals which inspired our national struggle for freedom.

3) To uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India.

4) To defend the country and render national service when called upon to do so.

5) To promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities; to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women.

6) To value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture.

7) To protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life, and to have compassion for living creatures.

8) To develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform.

9) To safeguard public property and to abjure violence.

10) To strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity so that the nation constantly rises to higher levels of endeavour and achievement.

When In read both the quote from JFK and the Fundamental Duties, especially the 10th one, I strongly believe that each responsible citizen needs to understand the subject of Public Policy in detail, not merely from examination point of view to just  pass, but to imbibe the Public Policy Consciousness. 

Each citizen is the fulcrum of the Public policy, if we do not understand or are nonchalant with the same, we do not participate in voicing, influencing the policy, then we will continue to experience the same challenges where the policy is made in centre halls and blocks of the palatial towers, away from them realm of reality. Since these are for the Public, the Public need to have an involved approach towards these.

My journey in the vast subject, tad late but has just started, I am keen to keep my enthusiasm live and going. The platform of https://takshashila.org.in/ for anyone and everyone who wants to pursue the interest in the above field irrespective pursing the courses is wealthy of rich content.

PS: This is not a paid article to promote Takshashila

(1) https://www.jfklibrary.org/learn/education/teachers/curricular-resources/ask-not-what-your-country-can-do-for-you

(2) Constitution of India Article 51-A, Part 4 A