The present edition of Alternative Economic Survey tries to provide a balanced picture in terms of well-established development and socio-economic theories, sound logic and impeccable facts drawn from authentic and authoritative sources. The much trumpeted acceleration in the GDP growth rate is found to be accompanied by its increasing irrelevance for the aam adami (common man) and negative externalities for the country as a whole and also for future generations.

Ecotaxes on polluting inputs and outputs / Cheliah, Raja J…[et al.] --New Delhi: Academic Foundation, 2007

This volume contains ecotax proposals for coal, automobiles, detergents, paper and pulp, pesticides, fertilisers, lead acid batteries and plastics. Economic instruments have become increasingly popular worldwide as a strategy to achieve environmental goals. The National Environmental Policy, 2006 recommends the use of economic instruments to supplement regulation.

The report represents a vigorous and broad review of the existing research and current practice on the important subject of access to financial services. The report is a carefully crafted analysis that sets forth the current status of empirical research, describes a variety of best practices, and identifies crucial issues that must be addressed if poor and low income people and micro and small enterprises are to have access to a broad range of financial services on a sustainable basis.

This book offers a brand new perspective on intellectual property law. The text examines the complex policies that inform and guide modern intellectual property law at the domestic (including Scottish), European, and international levels. The authors focus on the contemporary challenges to intellectual property law and policy, encouraging the reader to engage critically with the subject matter.

The book updates benchmarking, the revolutionary business performance methodology, by adding statistical concepts from Six Sigma. These two methodologies combine to form a powerful platform for improving any company's overall performance. This new revision reviews the first twenty-five years of development in benchmarking and features new appendices, case studies, and topics and making this the most complete and comprehensive coverage of the subject available.

The book is the first to provide a sweeping view of followers, both in their leaders and to each other. The work is a deliberate departure from the leader-centric approach that has dominated our thinking about leadership and management. The book shows how people with no apparent power, authority, or influence have an impact on those far better positioned than they. It further reveals that followers matter not only when they do something, but even when they do nothing.

Politics and Government

The presidency of George W. Bush has led to the worst foreign policy decision in the history of the United States - the bloody, un-winnable war. The book stands as the most comprehensive and dramatic account of how and why George W. Bush took America to war in Iraq.

Cities in transition: growth, change and governance in six metropolitan areas / Rao, Nirmala. --London: Routledge, 2007

The book is an up-to-date and topical treatment of how six major cities in Europe, North America and Asia are coping with the new demands on urban government. Population expansion, the migration of new peoples and disparities between cities and suburbs are longstanding features of the urban crisis.

Autobiographies/Biographies Added to Collection

The book includes not necessarily the best leaders, the most innovative strategists, craftiest tacticians, or even the bravest, smartest, or most admirable people. They were, however, the men and women who, for good or ill, entered the field of battle and left the world much changed upon their exit. These leaders who made the greatest impact on humankind's brief history on this planet.

The central spine of the book consists of a series of narrative entries recording the lives and legacies of the 101 heroes and heroines. Each entry is accompanied by a brief essay opening a window on the times in which he or she lived. Thus the life of Egypt's greatest pharaoh, Ramses II, is accompanied by an essay looking at the gods and goddesses of Ancient Egypt, while the entry for Admiral Horatio Nelson explores the tactics and gunnery of a ship-of-the-line. The book is illustrated throughout with maps, diagrams, paintings and photographs, and an appendix celebrates a further 100 individual deeds of heroism with a special claim to immortality.

This is the story of Ali, an unusual child, endowed with a special talent. His life was cut short by an accident just when his talent was beginning to take shape. Written by his parents, this book chronicles the joys and the turmoil of raising Ali in a society that is largely insensitive to the needs of special children, who for one reason or another, do not conform to straitjacket societal norms.

In this book, Obama's tale is told in all of its dimensions, from the mistakes he has made and the obstacles he has confronted and overcome to his moments of almost sublime and glorious transcendence. With spectacular photographs-funny, surprising, exceptional detail and accompanied readable narrative. This biography come to life, from his youth in Hawaii to his roots in Africa, from Harvard to Chicago and eventually, to his life as a public servant in Washington.

This is a comprehensive collection of Ambedkar's ideas and initiatives. The principles invoked in these writings have a wider application than the immediate context suggested. These writings advance a normative defence and justification of preferential policies nearly fifty years before these arguments wider circulation in the public domain-world-wide.

Phoolan Devi finally tells the story of her life through her eyes and in her own voice. She was born in India to the lowest caste, a group with few rights and even fewer prospects. Enduring cruel poverty, author survived the humiliation of an abusive marriage, the savage killing of her bandit-lover and horrifying gang rape to claim retribution for herself and all low-cast women of the Indian plains.

This critical biography presents an insightful analysis of Bankim Chandra's life, thought, and works. The author discusses how Bankim Chandra's writings influenced the nascent Indian nationalism of the late nineteenth century, but with paradoxical results. This book analyses the predominant themes in Bankim's writings and also details his impact on the development of Bengali language press and literature.

Barack Obama: dreams come true / Goyal, Kaushal.-- New Delhi: GBD Books, 2008

This book is a brief biography of Barack Obama from his early life and career to November 4, 2008, when he was elected 44th President of the United States of America. In his victory speech delivered before a crowd of hundreds of thousands of his supporters in Chicago, he proclaimed that change has come to America.

The author brings his in-depth experience of covering Indian politics for over three decades to this pioneering political biography of Mayawati. He explores the background of her meteoric rise and examines the growing national clout of this unique woman who could, quite possibly, determine the shape of the next Indian government, and even be the country's prime minister one day.

The acclaim for Vyjayantimala's performances stemmed from the most rigorous training she's had under distinguished gurus of the purest classical styles. Her flawless technique and remarkably individual interpretation created a benchmark. With such emotional concentration and spiritual dedication, no way did she compromise in her diligent pursuit of traditional art form, even when there was a sudden shift in her life from concert stage to the careen. This memoir reflects different facets of her life.

This autobiography by a member of the iconic Birla family is embroidered with vignettes about forging relationships with the likes of Mahatma Gandhi, Rajendra Prasad, Madan Mohan Malaviya, Jayaprakash Narayan and Morarji Desai. The reader gets glimpses of the towering personalities who shaped India in the twentieth century, from an important player who had first-hand, close associations with them.

This autobiography provides the reader a glimpse into Pete's remarkable career and how he was able to attain his vision of being the best player in the world. Pete captures the pressure a player feels once he's reached the top. He puts us next to him on the court, and we get a clear sense of what made him extraordinary. Pete wrote this book the way he plays tennis.

The autobiography gives us the inside story of how the framework for the growth that has taken place subsequently was laid in that time of NDA government. From the reforms that were initiated to the politics that threatened all initiative, the opposition from within the party as also outside it, which tried to derail the process, author pulls no punches in this candid memoir.

The most famous scientist of the twentieth century, Albert Einstein was also one of the century's most outspoken political activists. The book reveals a little-known Einstein-not the ineffectual and naïve idealist of popular imagination, but a principled, shrewd pragmatist whose stands on political issues reflected the depth of his humanity. This is a collection of Einstein's political reflections and statements.

The book reveals the story of a great physicist and humanitarian and his struggle with the forces of religion, politics, and war during the upheavals of the twentieth century. This is an insightful, moving and beautifully written portrait of Max Born, a deeply sensitive man who in his long experienced familial happiness and discord, professional success and injustice, and through it all made his mark as one of the leading theoretical physicists of the twentieth century.

The book explain the dynamics of Bill and Hillary's relationship, showing that they are two halves of a unique whole and that it is impossible to understand one Clinton without factoring in the other. The author also offers intimate scenes from the Clinton marriage, with new details and insights into how a passion for politics sustained Bill and Hillary through one crisis after another. With clarity and depth, author examines the origins of an unconventional copresidency, explains the impact of the Clintons' tensions as well as their talents, and reveals how Hillary shifted from openly exercising power in the first two years to acting as a hidden hand, advising her husband on a range of foreign and domestic issues as well as decisions on hiring and firing.

This is a history book with a difference. It tells Gandhi's story in a more intimate way than mere words can ever manage to do. This book brings Gandhi to a new generation of readers. Some old photographs tell a great story and a perspective new text shows Gandhi, the man who struggled to live up to ideals despite the contradictions that dogged him in his personal and political life.

Harilal Gandhi, the eldest son of Mohandas and Kastrurba Gandhi, was an enigmatic and fascinating figure. He lived for about sixty years. Very little is known about his life and a lot that exists is rumour. Harilal believed that his father, for the sake of his values, deprived him and his brothers of routine, commonplace college education of the modern type. This, form him was his father's fault.

His Holiness The Dalai Lama is renowned the world over for an unswerving dedication to non-violence in his efforts to achieve justice for Tibet. In the twenty years author has known and worked with him. Author has seen at first hand this extraordinary man's courage, compassion and honesty. The book gives a fast paced and absorbing insight into the real story of Tibetan culture, politics and spirituality.

Hugo Chavez is the most controversial and important world leaders currently in power. He is captured in a critically acclaimed biography, a riveting account of the Venezuelan president who continues to influence, fascinate, and antagonise America. This seminal biography is filled with exclusive excerpts from Chavez's own diary and draws on new research and interviews with such insightful subjects.

This book showcases post-independent India's twenty greatest living personalities who have and continue to set extraordinary examples for the nation. This book unfolds the charisma, exceptional destinies, talents and achievements of twenty men and women who continue to shape today's India. The unparalleled greatness and iconic status of these men and women like APJ Abdul Kalam, Amartya Sen, Amitabh Bachchan, Sachin Tendulkar, M.F. Husain, Charles Correa, Sonia Gandhi.

The author applies his model of charismatic rule in analyzing the socio-political rather than personal psychological foundation of Hitler's rise to power and fall. Includes photographs, a summary of recent research trends, and a chronology of events from Hitler's birth in 1889 to the German surrender in 1945.

This book is the life story of an extraordinary saint. The author has chosen the Mother as the narrator of the story that takes the reader from the childhood of Vidyadhar to his culmination in Acharya Vidyasagar. In fact, the central theme of the narrative is not the life story of her son, but his spiritual voyage. The anthology of rare and unheard of reminiscences given at the end provides an in exhaustible source of inspiration to the reader.

J. Robert Oppenheimer was an extraordinarily brilliant and complex man. In this book authors take a kaleidoscopic approach to his life, shedding insightful light on the personality and the times of the scientist who played such an important role in the future destiny of mankind.

Dyal Singh Majitbia was perhaps the only person born in Indian subcontinent to have had biographies published by the governments of both India and Pakistan. He founded The Tribune which today, after 125 years, is a daily newspaper of national standing. He was also a leading businessman and philanthropist of late 19th century India and one of the founding fathers of Indian nationhood.

The book is the first biography of one of history's most intriguing and controversial political figures. Beautiful, brilliant, and captivating, Madame Chiang Kai-shek seized unprecedented power during China's long and violent civil war. She passionately argued against Chinese communism in the international arena and influenced decades of Sino-American relations and modern Chinese history.

Rustomji Homusji Modi, popularly known as Russy, spent his lifetime with the Tata Steel Company. Son of Sir Homy Modi and Lady Jerbhai, he belonged to the elite Parsee community of Bombay. He went to Harrow and Oxford and developed qualities of a British gentleman. He started as an apprentice manual worker and rose to become the Chairman of Tata Steel Company, which he served for 53 years. He had unorthodox ways of dealing directly with not only people but also shop floor workers.

The book describes about Mother Teresa who has dedicated her life to helping the poor, the sick, and the dying around the world, particularly those in India. Her selfless work with the needy has brought her much acclaim and many awards, including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979. In 1948 she founded a religious order of nuns in Calcutta, India called the Missionaries of Charity.

This book is an attempt to reintroduce Mahatma Gandhi to the mainstream. It is designed and structured in a way to appeal to all ages and groups of people. The youth are the future of our country and very few have had a proper introduction to Gandhi's most important teachings, values and beliefs. This book, by collecting his finest pearls of wisdom offers readers a simple yet profound introduction to Gandhi's life and words.

The author asked many people who knew Dianna, some officially and some more personally, for their favourite memories. Some of these recollections are warm and intimate, celebrating Dianna for her ability to make a human connection with everyone she met, others are perspective and revealing, even about Dianna's human failings and frailties. Together, they coalesce into a multifaceted portrait of a woman that the world has long desired to know a little better.

This volume is based on extracts from the diaries of Air Marshal (Retd.) M. Asghar Khan and from Tehrik-i-Istiqlal's record of events from 19 December 1971 to 12 January 1975. The author has been one of Pakistan's leading political figures over the last forty years and has made his mark as a man of integrity and standing in political circles. This book serves to outline his efforts to propel Pakistan towards democracy, and completes the picture of his life in politics presented in his earlier work.

The book is the authoritative biography of one of the most accomplished and controversial political leaders of the 20th century. Beginning with his birth to Quaker parents in 1913 and ending with his death in 1994, author traces the life and career of Richard Milhous Nixon, assessing both his achievements and the evolution of popular and historical thinking about him since his death.

In this compilation of articles on Salim Ali, there is a common thread of connectivity-birds. Salim Ali's life interest was the living bird, which he studied with an abiding dedication. Salim Ali was singularly blessed that throughout his life he collected friends and colleagues with whom he had enduring relationships. A mixed bag of anecdotes and remembrances on Salim Ali, the man and his work, the articles bring out many facets of Salim Ali-the man and Salim Ali-the ornithologist.

Stephen Hawking is arguably the most famous physicist since Albert Einstein. His decades-long struggle with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease), combined with his singular brilliance as a cosmologist, has fascinated both the public and his colleagues in science. In this engagingly written biography, Kristine Larsen, a physicist and astronomer herself, presents a candid and insightful portrait of Hawking's personal and professional life. Avoiding the hero-worship sometimes found in popular works on Hawking, Larsen emphasizes that Hawking is first and foremost a scientist whose work has made significant contributions to our understanding of the nature and origins of the universe. Writing in non-technical language for the lay reader, Larsen clearly explains Hawking's complex scientific accomplishments, while telling the story of his challenging life.

This is a compelling chronology of the moments when the principles of government were corrupted by the vanity of the ambitious rulers. The book recounts the stories of the unscrupulous rulers who scarred their own countries and people. The author describes how each of these men and women-as often commoners or outcasts as kings or queens were able to seize and then wield absolute power, and details the catastrophic destruction and mass suffering they left in their wake.

Rossellini transgressed every conceivable boundary he was confronted with personal or professional. Some of the transgressions were path-breaking in his life and in his work. Some others brought on meaningless misery and disappointment. He remained a teacher, in failures, even. The book is an engrossing account of magnificent compulsions.

The author's art is about the joy of life, its affirmative spirit and infinite beauty. Khemraj did not merely practice art making but indulged in its creative spirit through the act of painting, singing and playing music. Many of his contemporaries remember the late artist as being a flamboyant persona, a superb sitar player and someone who believed in relishing all the flavours of life.

The author is one of the most celebrated conductors in the world. He has worked with all the top-class international orchestras and with excellent instrumentalist and opera stars of the past many decades. Despite his tremendous success, this popular Indian with a zest for life still remains a restless spirit- a wanderer between the worlds, who is as famous for his commitment to Israel as for his musical openness to everything from open air concerts to operas. His exciting life makes for a gripping autobiography.

New Additions in Award Winning Section

(For Reference Only)

The book is told by a Roman historian trying to piece together an ancient history from parts of transcriptions of ancient storytellers. It tells of a world where the first humans were woman, who led a lazy, sensual life along the water's edge. They weren't sure how they reproduced, but every baby was born with the cleft, female genitalia. When a boy was suddenly born, with protuberances instead of a cleft, they castrated it and leave it to die. More boys are soon born and left for the eagles, but the eagles carry the boys to a nearby valley. The boys form their own society, one based on action and adventure. The women think they have no need of this other society, until they discover they can no longer reproduce without their help. This leads to two genders who seem to be different animals, yet bound to each other by reproduction and family.

The book is the story of Anna Wulf, a divorced single mother and novelist, labouring against writer's block in 1950s London. The book is a powerful account of a woman searching for her personal and political identity, negotiating the trauma of emotional rejection and sexual betrayal, professional anxieties, and the tensions of friendship and family.

The book is second in author's fiction series. In this interlinked quintet of novels where the fate of the earth is influenced by the rivalries and interactions of three powerful galactic empires, Canopus, Sirius and their enemy, Puttioria. The author's visionary creation both reflects and redefines the history of our own world from its earliest beginnings to an inevitable, tragic self destruction.

The book is at once a brief history of the world, a tract against human destructiveness, an ode to the natural beauties of this earth and a hymn to the music of the spheres.

New Additions in Authors Corner

(For Reference Only)

What happens when remote, isolated mountain communities come face to face with globalization? Jardhar gaon, a typical village in the Hemval valley of Garhwal, led an isolated, egalitarian existence until just 30 years ago. A series of events forced it into joining the market economy. This short documentary, based entirely on local perspectives, reflects on the process of change - what triggers the shift to modernisation and what impacts it has on the personal, social and environmental spaces.

This book critically examines various policies announced from time to time by ruling parties towards Muslims, so-called betterment and exposes the hard realities behind them. It also examines in great detail intent of vested interests to create a trouble-free atmosphere for an easy intervention in the largest religious and educational network of Muslims, Madarsas, on the pretext of modernisation.

This book is a tribute to those ingenious minds, those path-breaking achievers, those trailblazers in diverse professions who have contributed greatly to making Gujarat what it is today. This spirit of enterprise has indeed brought results in myriad spheres of activity in addition to business.

The author depicts a battle of wits of one man against four hardened and ruthless killers and the trauma he undergoes trying to save his family. It is a narrative of his painful struggle with leaving behind his past life and stepping into an indefinite future, a tale that portrays his emotional journey through anguish, resentment, doubt, devotion and perseverance.

The author exposes the complicated nature of life and relationships in a city and shows that the strengths to surmount adversity can be found within each of us.

New Additions in Delhi Documenta

(For Reference Only)

The book describes the early medieval and modern history, culture and social life of two cities. Agra, which was already a city in the former Hindu kingdom of the Chauhans, was made capital of his States by Sikandar Lodi in 1504. Then, in 1526, Babur, a descendant of Timur of Samakkand and Genghis Khan, took the city and at the same time obtained possession of the fabulous Kohinoor diamond. The history of Delhi undoubtedly began before the Mahabharata and the Pandava princes. Only a silent witness -the river Yamuna flowing by its side could perhaps recount the vicissitudes of a past lost in the depths of time.

The book examines the history of Delhi, which since the year 1139 A.D. has been ruled by two Queens and some seventy Kings, now has its first Republican regime. The ruins of seven cities lie strewn about Delhi and probably no other city in the world can claim so many monuments to departed glory. The magnetic spell of Delhi converted every conqueror into a native. After every successive conquest, Delhi rose again, Phoenix -like from its ashes, to soar ever higher.

A film looking at the changing face of Delhi - both the physical and the political, especially in the run up to the Commonwealth Games in 2010. This film, made over 2007-2008, attempts to capture the key milestones of this transformation. The ridge, the Yamuna, the city trees, city’s poor - all have come under this axis of change. City’s leading academics, urban planners, environmentalists and activists, debate the nature of this change and the possible impact.

This report is prepared by Delhi Jal Board, Govt. of NCT of Delhi which provides review of summer action plan of 2006 and proposed action plan of 2007.

This is a report on the activities of the Delhi Election Watch which was set up as a coalition of civil society organisations committed to the cause of transparency in the electoral system and active participation of the citizens in the process. As described in the report, the starting point of this effort has been the landmark judgement of the Supreme Court in March 2003 prescribing a disclosure system for candidates contesting elections to the Parliament and the State Legislatures.

The author provides here an account of the saint's legacy and spiritual quest that displays documentary history at its past. One of the most charismatic personalities of South Asia, Shaikh Nizam-u'ddin Auliya was leader of the premier Chistiyya order in Delhi from 1244-1325. The author brings alive the story of the saint's life, from his birth into an immigrant Muslim family; his childhood as a fatherless boy; his growing up years in Delhi; to his work spread over sixty years.

The idea of Parivartan germinated in the vision and professional concern of Dr. K.K. Paul, IPS, Commissioner of Police, Delhi, to combat violence against women in the city. The most important components of the Parivartan programme were the women beat constables. Their role in creating a sense of security and empowerment for women at the local level was appreciated by all members of the community especially women.

The film takes a look at the lives of rag pickers and waste dealers in Delhi. It's a world that thrives on the waste that the city generates. This is big business and it largely depends on the thousands of children working as rag pickers. The film is about them and their dreams and the dreams of a city somewhere gone haywire.

New Additions in Electronic Documents

The Asian Water Development Outlook (AWDO) 2007 is a package of factual information, data, experiences, and solutions to problems in the water and sanitation sector of countries in the Asia and Pacific region. It provides comparative data for the sector in a number of countries and new perspectives on present issues in the sector and their relationships with other sectors, and looks at the sometimes startling and thought-provoking implications of present global trends on the future of the sector.

Source: http://www.adb.org/Documents/Books/AWDO/2007/AWDO.pdf

Source:http://www.wsp.org/UserFiles/file/urbanwater.pdf 

The water supply and sanitation (WSS) sector in India suffers from chronic inefficiencies, including limited coverage and poor service quality. Benchmarking of WSS utilities is emerging as an important tool of performance improvement through regular monitoring and analyses. It can play a significant role in the sector as a vehicle for institutional strengthening. Recognizing the potential of benchmarking as a tool to improve the performance of the Indian utilities, the Water and Sanitation Program- South Asia (WSP-SA) in partnership with the Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD) piloted a benchmarking exercise, covering 13 utilities in India in 2003-04. This exercise, hereafter called Phase I, involved creating awareness about benchmarking, developing the methodology and collecting and analyzing data on an initial sample of WSS utilities in India. This was followed up with Phase II of the benchmarking exercise in 2005-06. The objectives of Phase II were to build upon the key learnings from Phase I, work with a selected set of WSS utilities to collect fresh data and scale up the exercise to promote the concept amongst a larger number of WSS utilities across India through targeted dissemination and advocacy.

Source:http://www.wsp.org/UserFiles/file/Benchmarking__Report.pdf 

This report assesses key issues in global financial market developments with a view to identifying systemic vulnerability. By calling attention to fault lines in the global financial system, the report seeks to play a role in preventing crises, and offers policy advice to contribute to global financial stability and to sustained economic growth of the IMF's member countries. Chapters cover the risks to global financial stability, issues of valuation and disclosure in structured finance, and market and funding illiquidity. The report reflects information available up to March 21, 2008. A glossary and statistical appendix are included.

Source: http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/gfsr/2008/01/pdf/text.pdf 

Places do well when they promote transformations along the dimensions of economic geography: higher densities as cities grow; shorter distances as workers and businesses migrate closer to density; and fewer divisions as nations lower their economic borders and enter world markets to take advantage of scale and trade in specialized products. World Development Report 2009 concludes that the transformations along these three dimensions--density, distance, and division--are essential for development and should be encouraged.

Source: http://www.worldbank.org/html/extdr/wdr/wdr2009-complete.pdf 

Despite strong economic growth that produced millions of new jobs since the early 1990s, income inequality grew dramatically in most regions of the world and is expected to increase due to the current global financial crisis, according to this study published today by the research arm of the International Labour Organization (ILO). The report notes that while a certain degree of income inequality is useful in rewarding effort, talent and innovation, huge differences can be counter-productive and damaging for most economies, adding that “rising income inequality represents a danger to the social fabric as well as economic efficiency when it becomes excessive”. The report also notes that a major share of the cost of the financial and economic crisis will be borne by hundreds of millions of people who haven’t shared in the benefits of recent growth.

Source: www.ilo.org/public/english/bureau/inst/download/world08.pdf

The 2008 Annual Report of the WTO focuses on the activities of the organization in 2007 and details its current structure, staff and budget. It includes detailed progress reports on various aspects of the Doha negotiations and an overview of some of the main developments within the WTO.

Source: http://www.wto.org/english/res_e/booksp_e/anrep_e/anrep08_e.pdf

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