India Empowered

Empowerment is one of the chief engines driving change in India today. This is illustrated by the remarkable evolution of society from a time when journalism of courage meant exposing a wrong and moving on to the next story without much hope of closure or justice, to the present when an expose can result in other institutions - from the judiciary to civil society organizations - joining in and taking an issue to its logical conclusion. In January 2005, the "Indian Express" reported that there were no tigers left in Rajasthan's Sariska and Ranthambore sanctuaries. Shortly after this, the prime minister himself stepped in with a plan of action. The newspaper then carried a column between August and December 2005 titled 'India empowered to me is...'. The column saw what is undoubtedly the most impressive array of contributors - India's role models - sharing their thoughts, ideas and opinions on what empowerment meant in diverse situations, and how individuals and institutions can make a difference. "India Empowered: Change Agents Speak on an Idea Whose Time Has Come" brings together the 126 pieces written for this column run by the "Indian Express". The contributors range from a wheelchair-bound former fighter pilot arguing passionately for the disabled to President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam who recommends a blueprint for strengthening our villages. Leaders from the political, scientific, cultural and other arenas join in the discussion with their suggestions for some achievable and essential national goals.