Missing In Action

Its a great book. Consider this book to be a popular public policy text. We let tales of Indian experiences to take the stage, as in all novels of this kind. That's because in public policy, context reigns supreme. There are very few unchangeable, international laws that apply to all nations. We think that the narratives and experiences of other nations serve as an excessively strong foundation for our discussion of government. As a result, distant and uninteresting stories are covered in public policy literature. A beautifully written book.

In India, public policies are all around us. Despite this pervasiveness, yeh public sab nahin jaanti hai (the public doesn’t know it all). Questions are rarely asked of the Indian State-the institution that makes rules, bends them and punishes others for breaking the laws it creates. The privileged can afford not to think about the State because we have given up on it. The not-so-privileged have resigned themselves to a State that provides short-term benefits. Either way, we seldom pause to reflect on why the Indian State works the way it does. Missing in Action aims to change such perceptions through sketches from everyday experiences to illustrate India’s tryst with public policymaking. It acquaints the reader with some fundamental concepts of the public policy discipline. It explains the logic (or the lack of it!) of the Indian State’s actions, shortcomings, constraints, and workings. Jargon-free and accessibly written, the book achieves the difficult task of both entertaining and educating. There have been many books about Indian society, but none so far about the Indian state. Missing in Action fills that gap, and how! Kotasthane and Jaitley are two of our finest thinkers, and their writing combines a surgeon’s precision with a poet’s art of revealing the unseen. They paint both the big picture and the small details. This book is a masterpiece that will be essential reading 50 years from now. If you want to understand India, you should read Missing in Action.

"Missing in Action" by Pranay Kotasthane is a moving exploration of soldiers who vanish during military service, leaving their families in anguish. Kotasthane combines personal narratives with systemic analysis, shedding light on the emotional and bureaucratic challenges. It's a compelling call to address this issue urgently, leaving readers with a profound sense of duty toward the missing soldiers and their families.

"Missing In Action" by Pranay Kotasthane is a compelling exploration of the complexities of disappearances and unaccounted individuals. The book delves into personal, societal, and political dimensions of missing persons, offering a balanced view of the subject matter. Kotasthane's nuanced approach to the political aspects of missing persons exposes the intersection of personal tragedies and political maneuvering. The writing style is engaging and accessible, appealing to both familiar and new readers. The book injects moments of humanity and compassion into the narrative, making the reader emotionally invested in the lives affected by these disappearances.