Poverty and Development Policy

It is an honour to be invited to deliver the Rao Bahadur Kale Memorial lecture and I would like to express my sincere thanks to the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics and the Servants of India Society for giving me the privilege of delivering the lecture this year. Gokhale Institute was founded on the hasis of the generous donation from Rao Bahadur Kale. This lecrure series is a fitting way to honour his memory. Under Professor D. R. Gadgil's leadership the Institute grew into one of our finest research institutions. The range and depth of its scholarly output has gained widespread recognition in academia. I have been privileged to have long and close friendships with V. M. Dandekar, Nilakanth Rath and Vikas Chitre and others from the Institute.

Unfortunately I did not have the opportunity to know Professor Gadgil personally. But his scholarly work, his pioneering role in fostering the cooperative movement and his active involvement in public affairs have been a source of inspiration for me like many others of my generation. This year happens to be his birth centenary and I would like to take this opportunity to express my tribute to him for his rich and varied contributions as a scholar and a respected public figure. The subject of my lecrure, namely "Poverty and Development Policy", is one in which Professor Gadgil was deeply concerned.