Influence of India's Culture on the West and Other Speeches

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Delivering the Tata Memorial Lecture in 1999, P.V. Narasimha Rao described his persona as he saw himself, in his own words. It was an honest assessment, which came close to what he was all through his adult life.

"I have been a doer throughout my life. Less of a talker and very few people talking for me." This wry, but pragmatic, statement has proved true about his memory, and also stands testimony to the legacy he has left behind. For almost ten years since his death, from 2004 to 2014, while the party to which he belonged was in power at the Centre, no one dared to talk about him. For a long time, people laboured to obscure his work - some for fear of being lost in the shadow of this towering personality; others out of sheer prejudice.

As the saying goes, 'You cannot hide the sun with the palm of your hand', so has been with the immense contribution of this nearly-forgotten Prime Minister that has come to light. It ought to be noted that this change in people's perception of the man, albeit belated, has been wrought only after 2014, quite ironically under the rule of parties that differed starkly in ideology from his own. Since then, there has been much talk about him both at the national level, as well as in his home state of Telangana. His contributions to the country are finally getting recognized.

It is heartening that the Govt. of Telangana is celebrating a year- long birth Centenary of late Sri P.V. Narasimha Rao, the former Prime Minister of India (June 28, 2020-2021). P.V. is pride of India and a rare jewel of Telangana. He was a philosopher-politician, Parliamentarian, literati, a multi-lingual, a reformist, a diplomat and an ideologue - all moulded into one and more. He donned various portfolios as Minister in the State and Centre, before becoming the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and Prime Minister of India.

Modern India owes much to PV - politically, economically and strategically. His deft handling of political forces enabled him to stabilize Indian politics. His economic reforms led to creation of greater wealth than ever before; helping India emerge as an Economic power with the second fastest growth rate. His strategic foresight led India steer clear through the choppy waters of post cold war global politics.

Myriad programs are designed in India and abroad to commemorate his legacy and unfold his multifaceted personality: like Publications, Seminars, building Memorials, Exhibitions & Science Parks etc. The present volume is part of such a scheme and reflects PV's literary and intellectual fervor.

Rising from humble position of a Patwari, he rose to be the Prime Minister; ascending the high office at a crucial time in most unexpected fashion. PV remade India and its history. The Indian politics was in chaotic transition. The economy was in doldrums.