Change and Challenge in Indian Administration (An Old and Rare Book)

This is a book on public administration-with an important difference. It is written, not by an academician as most such books are, but by a practising administrator for the benefit of other administrators.

It is based on the author's experience of more than 25 years in administration, of which he has spent 17 in diverse fields of public administration and 8 in technical administration. His experience at the sub-District, District, State and national levels entitle him to speak meaningfully on the multi-faceted problems of administration and the manner in which it ought to be re-oriented to meet the challenges of today.

The book is divided into two parts: part one deals with the historical survey of the manner in which administration has developed in India both under the British and after independence and carries the story upto the implementation of the 20-Point Programme under the Emergency. The second part deals with more general aspects such as personnel problems, Interfacing with the Citizens, Centre-State relations and Problems of Implementation. A chapter explores the impact of Science on Decision Making while another provides insight into the Systems Approach which can profitably be applied to public administration.

This handbook should be of immense interest to administrators as also to those whose interest in the subject is chiefly academic.

The author did his Ph.D. in Electro-Acoustics from the University of California in 1950. He worked with All India Radio and later with the Union Carbide Limited in technical capacities before finally joining the Indian Administrative Service in 1958

During the course of his varied and rich experience he has held important assignments including as UNIDO Advisor on Small Industry (and Electronics) to the Government of Sri Lanka. He is now Managing Director of Industrial Development Corporation, Andhra Pradesh.

Dr. Vepa is the author of books and articles on Industrial Development and Public Administration.

Perhaps, one needs to offer a word of explanation for bringing out one more book on Public Administration-a subject which has been extensively dealt with by many authors.

The justification, if there is one, is in the fact that most of such books have been written by professors and academicians who are more interested in administrative theories rather than in the 'nuts and bolts' of it. Practising administrators prefer mostly to write memoirs after retirement which, while being interesting and readable, tend to be nostalgic through the haze of dimming memories and concentrate on personal experiences. While most of them are a delight to read, and some highly useful in throwing a light on administrative problems, they tend to be somewhat rambling and in any case constitute `one man's experience' which may not always be valid for all. It is not often that practising administrators take time out during their busy careers to write comprehensively on Administrative problems based on their own experience and study.

A second reason is that my own experience of administration is, I believe, somewhat unusual. Trained as a technologist, I had worked as an Electronics Engineer for some years before I 'strayed' into Public Administration. At a time when it is the fashion to extol the virtues of 'technocrats', I had, in my own way, straddled 'two worlds'-that of technology and public administration. I still continue to do so, being on the Council of the Institute of Electronics& Tele-communication Engineers as well as a member of the Executive Council of the Indian Institute of Public Administration. I have found that each has something to offer: the world of science and techno-logy, an intellectual discipline, a passion for order and a willingness to draw conclusions based on facts and from Administration-a grass roots approach that regards men as more important than data.

Book’s Content and Sample Pages