Book released by former Indian government official at New York's Kerala Centre

April 18 :
K Mohandas, a former official of the Indian government, held the book launch for "The Right to Good Governance: A Guide for the Young Indians" at the Kerala Center's newly opened Dr. Thomas Abraham Library in New York.

This gathering was brought to you by the Indian American Kerala Cultural and Civic Centre and the Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) New York Chapter.

Mohandas, a former Secretary to the Government of India and an officer of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), also gave a speech and moderated an interactive session based on the book's theme.

Among Mohandas's many official positions in Kerala were those of district collector in Kottayam and secretary for the state's ministries of industry, education, finance, and local government. He served as Secretary of State for Overseas Indian Affairs and then retired as Secretary of Shipping in the Central Government. He presided over the Kerala State Pay Commission not long ago.

Dr. Thomas Abraham, chairman of the GOPIO, welcomed Mohandas, and presidents Alex Estappan of the Kerala Centre and Beena Kothari of the GOPIO-New York Chapter extended welcomes.

In discussing the work he wrote, Mohandas

quoted as saying, "Many parts of our governance make India a soft state and it is just a coincidence that it happens to be published at India's general election time."

While the economy has grown tremendously, Mohandas said that "it is very sad that our Judiciary is often tempted to trespass into the executive territory." He added that while wealth has become more concentrated, inequality has intensified.

By saying, "We cannot compare India with any other country; there are very many things that make India unique," Mohandas further drove home his point that the book is aimed squarely at India's youth, its greatest resource. Republican Party of India International President Lal Motwani was in attendance at the event. Raju Thoams, secretary of the Kerala Centre, offered the vote of gratitude.