Human beings are a bundle of contradictions

Mr Chidambaram, however, admitted that there may be some contradictions in what “I said then and what I am doing now. But that is only natural. After all, human beings are a bundle of contradictions. So am I.” The Economic Times> WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2007

But the question is - does good economics really work for everyone? "It's partly right, while good economics works for everyone, it doesn't work for everyone at the same time," says Chidambaram. Shereen Bhan CNN-IBN Posted Tuesday , January 23, 2007

Significantly, Chidambaram said those who benefited from the reforms policies rolled out in the last 16 years must yield part of their wealth and space for the development of the poor. The rich, who were the beneficiaries of the reforms process, are often unwilling to yield part of their wealth and space, he added. “While we show concern for the poor and fashion economic policies in the name of the poor, we do a lot of good things but also commit great crimes,” Chidambaram said. financialexpress Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Speaking on the occasion, Chidambaram said that the “view from the inside was equally interesting” and that if anyone noticed contradictions between what he had written and his current policymaking, he wished to be “forgiven.” He highlighted the challenges of dealing with a section of the political establishment and society that doesn’t agree with what the government does. Penguin chairman Makinson said the book was a testimony to the exciting ferment of ideas in India as being a crucial aspect of its democratic process. And that Chidambaram symbolised what Amartya Sen called “the argumentative Indian” at its finest. Indian Express Wednesday, January 24, 2007

‘Economics is the science of the possible made to look like the art of the impossible’ is a definition that would strike a chord with any finance minister of India who, every year, has to perform the great Indian hope trick...The issues are all the more important as they hold the key to sustaining the economic growth witnessed in the last few years. In addition, this collection can also be seen as notes from one FM to another when the two are on opposite sides of the fence. penguinbooksindia.com