Theories of Change

Here's an interesting article on the Theories of Change in the NY Times.

The members of the British Enlightenment "put more emphasis on our sentiments. People are born with natural desires to be admired and to be worthy of admiration. They are born with moral emotions, a sense of fair play and benevolence. They are also born with darker passions, like self-love and tribalism, which mar rationalist enterprises. We are emotional creatures first and foremost,"

"The children of the British Enlightenment are in retreat. Yet there is the stubborn fact of human nature. The Scots were right, and the French were wrong. And out of that truth grows a style of change, a style that emphasizes modesty, gradualism and balance. "

Do you know anyone like this?

David Brooks profiles Obama's nominee for the Supreme Court but here's something to think about!

"These were bright students who had been formed by the meritocratic system placed in front of them. They had great grades, perfect teacher recommendations, broad extracurricular interests, admirable self-confidence and winning personalities. If they had any flaw, it was that they often had a professional and strategic attitude toward life. They were not intellectual risk-takers."

In fact, I contend that in most cases, people even lack the so called "strategic attitude" that Brooks mentions. Dean Glen Hubbard of Columbia Business School refers to this as "strategic thinking ability." The challenge, though, is in identifying if one has this ability or not!

Political Quartets

Here's a good article by Ramachandra Guha on how the political scenario in India changed over time and on how the country survives despite the not so favorable changes.

"Where the original idea of India rested on the work of Tagore, Gandhi, Nehru and Ambedkar, the degradation of the idea of India has been inspired by the work and example of, among others, M.S. Golwalkar, V.D. Savarkar, Indira Gandhi and Laloo Prasad Yadav."

India Together

Finally found a good magazine that has well-thought out opinions by people who write very well and one that is not cluttered by annoying ADs or pop-ups. Here's India Together

And here is an interesting article on the marginalization of PV Narasimha Rao's legacy in the Congress party by Ramachandra Guha