Vice-President Ansari Releases Book by Mangalore’s Prof V Rodrigues


Vice-President Ansari Releases Book by Mangalore’s Prof V Rodrigues

From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Jan 20: Indian Vice-President Mohammad Hamid Ansari released a book entitled, ``The
Indian Parliament – A Democracy at Work,” in Delhi authored by Mangalorean author and political
scientist Prof Valerian Rodrigues along with former Karnataka Legislative Council Chairman, Dr B L
Shankar, an ex-MP.

The book is published by Oxford University Press and was released by the Vice President of India in New Delhi on Wednesday. The book release function was attended by Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman K Rehman Khan and Union Minister of State for Railways K H Muniyappa.

Prof Rodrigues, born in a village in Bantwal taluk off Mangalore, had served as Professor of Political Science in Mangalore University for 15 years and is currently working as Professor at Centre for Political Studies, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.

The Mangalorean political scientist and author had written extensively on issues related to politics, Dalits and social movements. He had also authored a book on Dr Ambedkar and it was released a few years ago in Bangalore by noted historian and writer Ramachandra Guha.

Prof Rodrigues had guided many PhD students in their doctoral thesis and the senior Congress leader of Chikmagalur Dr Shankar, who is quite proficient in the coastal Karnataka’s prominent Tulu language, was the PhD student under him. The present book is jointly authored by both.

The book deals with the Parliament, which is the visible face of democracy in India. It is the epicentre of political life,public institutions of great verve and a regime of Rights. In a first-of-its-kind study, this bookdelves into the lived experience of the Indian Parliament by focusing on three distinct phases-the 1950s, the 1970s, and the 1990s and beyond.

The authors argue against the widely held notion of its ongoing decline, and demonstrate how it has repeatedly, and successfully, responded to India's changing needs in six decades of existence. This comprehensive and authoritative study examines the changing social composition and differing modes of representation that make up the Lok Sabha and critically explores its relation with the Rajya Sabha.

Developments in the institutional complex of the Parliament, including the functioning of the Opposition and the Speaker are traced over time, along with the processes of legislation and accountability. Major debates in the House are scrutinized, and much of the analysis is based on empirical data gathered from surveys circulated among prominent politicians and public intellectuals. It also addresses the intricate issue of relations between the Judiciary and the Parliament.

In its in-depth focus on the Lok Sabha, the volume highlights the way the come to encompass India's proverbial diversity. It especially demonstrates the route tills institution has taken to engage with fractious issues of diverging linguistic and regional demands.

The book is indispensable for students, scholars, and researchers working on Indian politics, political theory, and political sociology. It will also be of interest to policymakers, administrators, diplomats, journalists, politicians, lawyers, judges, public intellectuals, and NGOs. It is a major work, running into about 500 pages organized around the following chapters:

1. Introduction: India's Parliamentary Democracy and its critics
2. Making of the Indian Parliament
3. Changing Social Composition of the Lok Sabha
4. Changing Conception of Representation
5. Changing Modes of Discourse; Shift from English to Regional Languages
6. From National Identity to Plural Identities
7. Parliament - Judiciary Relationship
8. The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha
9. In-House Reproduction of the Lok Sabha
10. Conclusion: The Parliament and Democracy in India.

  

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Comment on this article

  • SHEEBA ASLAM FEHMI, DELHI

    Mon, Jan 27 2014

    Congratulations Sir,
    Proud to be your student!

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Michael Shobha Valdar, Loretto, Bantwal, Abu Dhabi

    Mon, Jul 25 2011

    Congrats Prf. Valli Dattu,
    We proud to call you Dattu & extremely pleased with all your achievements. You are the star of Loretto and Mahalthota. God Bless you with good health and lot more accolades
    Dulcine Valdar & Family, Loretto

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  • C. Lakshmanan, Chennai

    Fri, Apr 01 2011

    Hearty Congratulations Sir, for this intellectual endeavor. As this would provide academic feast to students of Indian Democracy. I will read it at the earliest.

    Warmly,
    lakshmanan

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  • Vikas Tripathi, JNU, New Delhi

    Sun, Feb 27 2011

    Congratulations sir,
    This book would be really helpful to all those interested in public institutions and democratic practices in India. It sets a strong argument against the decline of parliament thesis. Argumentative in its content and wrapped in an apt framework this work is a 'defence of politics' in India. The book presents research scholars, academicians, public intellectuals and civil society actors an explanation why parliament in India can not simply be assessed in terms of efficiency. Though representation in itself can not be trump, a grand representative institution like Indian parliament owes its vitality to the changing pattern of representation.
    Best Wishes,
    vikas

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  • Melanie, Pittsburgh

    Mon, Feb 07 2011

    "Double like" your message Shaunna. I haven't had the chance to read the book yet, but I soon will.
    Congratulations Dr. Rodrigues. Looking forward to your next book.

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  • Akho, JNU

    Fri, Feb 04 2011

    Congratulations Sir,

    Always admire your works. Am sure it must be thorough & meticulous.Really looking forward to it.
    Prayers & regards,
    Akho

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  • Loverina Dsouza, Mangalore/kuwait

    Fri, Feb 04 2011

    Congrats Uncle ,I have allways admired you.Very proud of you.

    Regards
    Loverina

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  • Shaunna, Mangalore/Delhi

    Thu, Jan 27 2011

    Dear Professor Rodrigues,
    Your book, The Indian Parliament, A democracy at work, is one of a kind. It has covered grounds that few have covered before, its analysis is detailed, thorough and like your teaching, impressive in its academic richness. The clarity and effectiveness with which you make your arguments are both thought provoking and inspiring.
    The book is a great work and a great contribution to the political and academic life of this country. Congratulations to Dr. Shankar as well!

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Anitha Monteiro, Bantwal/Bahrain

    Sat, Jan 22 2011

    Congratulations Uncle, we are your family members very proud of you. Keep it up your good work. God bless you.

    Yours loving nice

    Anitha Monteiro

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  • Alban D Souza , Udyavara Mumbai DOha Qatar

    Fri, Jan 21 2011

    Congratulations Prof. Valerian Rodrigues. We all Manglroreans proud of you.your corageous and intellectul work is great. Wish you all the best in your research and writing.

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  • Jenifer Rodrigues, Bantwal/mumbai

    Fri, Jan 21 2011

    Congratulations. We are really proud of you.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • laveena rodrigues, british west indis

    Fri, Jan 21 2011

    congrates uncle.being a rodrigues family i,m proud of you.keep it up....with regardes{lavianil}

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  • Andrew D' Cunha, Belvai/Lucknow

    Fri, Jan 21 2011

    Congratulations! Professor Rodrigues.
    We are proud of you. Keep up the good work.

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  • Najmuddin Assadi, Mangalore

    Fri, Jan 21 2011

    Coongrates Mr. Rodrigues.
    I hope there might be some thing to teach our People,s representatives in General and MPs and MLAs in particular. now a days we fine only noise in the parliament / assembly and wasting the the time. These people does't know the value of time. When time becomes rude, then they blame one another.
    Hope your book at least will teach them a good lesson.

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  • Fr. Patrick Rodrigues, mangalore

    Fri, Jan 21 2011

    Congratulations. Once again you have demonstrated that you are a scholar of repute. Your hard work is the gain of many others.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Aaron Monteiro, Bantwal/Bahrain

    Fri, Jan 21 2011

    Congrtulations Uncle.We ur family members really proud of u.We wish u all the best.

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  • Anandi Martis, Mangalore

    Fri, Jan 21 2011

    Great Achievent Dr.Valerian Rodrigues!
    Continue your gifted contributions to the community.
    Dr.Anandi Martis

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  • Ronnie Pinto, Loretto/Canada

    Fri, Jan 21 2011

    Dear valerian,
    Congratulations and soo happy to read about it

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  • Rose Veera D'Souza, Mangalore

    Thu, Jan 20 2011

    A profound contribution to the literature of Parliamentary democracy in India. Sir I Cherish your sharp intellect and your great social concern. Proud to be your student!!! Miss your presence in Mangalore and the care you took to form and mould academecians of vision.

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  • Joseph Mascarenhas, Kelmbet/Allahabad

    Thu, Jan 20 2011

    Dear Valerian
    Hearty congratulations. I am really very proud of you. I am extremely happy to know that finally your book on parliamentary democracy has been published. My congrats to your family members. I was really fotunate to have spent sometime with you, on two or three occasions, while I was posted in NISCORT, NCR Delhi in 2009. Once again congratulations and God bless you.

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  • Bishop Henry D'Souza, Bellary

    Thu, Jan 20 2011

    Congratulations Prof. Valerian Rodrigues! Your latest book is one among the many unique contributions you have made to the world of academics. We are proud of you. May God bless you and your family more abundantly so that you can do ever more and ever better!

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  • Austin Prabhu, Nantur/Chicago

    Thu, Jan 20 2011

    Nice to read the release of your book by Vice President of India Ansari. Good job Professor Valerian. Wish you all the best and more energy to come up with more books on Indian politics.

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  • Charles Lasrado SJ, Bangalore

    Thu, Jan 20 2011

    Congratulations Prof. Valerian Rodrigues.
    We are proud of you. Your contribution to intellectual world is immense. Wish you all the best in your Research and Writing.
    Regards,
    Charles

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  • Sr. Supriya, St. Agnes College

    Thu, Jan 20 2011

    Congrtulations Sir! Good luck for your future endeavours. May God bless your good work
    Sr. Supriya A.C.

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