M. L. Dewan – författare

Swami Vivekananda''s inspiring personality was well known both in lndia and in America during the last decade of the nineteenth century and the first decade of the twentieth. The unknown monk of lndia suddenly leapt into fame at the Parliament of Religions held in Chicago in 1893, at which he represented Hinduism. His vast knowledge of Eastern and Western culture as well as his deep spiritual insight, fervid eloquence, brilliant conversation, broad human sympathy, colourful personality, and handsome figure made an irresistible appeal to the many types of Americans who came in contact with him. People who saw or heard Vivekananda even once still cherish his memory after a lapse of more than half a century. In America Vivekananda''s mission was the interpretation of lndia''s spiritual culture, especially in its Vedantic setting. He also tried to enrich the religious consciousness of the Americans through the rational and humanistic teachings of the Vedanta philosophy. In America he became lndia''s spiritual ambassador and pleaded eloquently for better understanding between lndia and the New World in order to create a healthy synthesis of East and West, of religion and science. This encylopaedia attempts to inform the reader accurately about his life both before and after his historic visits to the west. Much material has been translated a new from original Bengali books. At the same time it challenges current popular and piousnotions held about this humanitarian-monk. The chapters in this book are about his meetings with Sri Ramakrishna, his travels in lndia during 1886-1893, media waves about him in lndia, and his triumphant return from the west in 1897. Analysis of original eyewitness reports in both lndian and western newspapers and periodicals forms an integral part of this biography.

This book studies the nature and depth of stagnation of the Chinese economy under central planning, which compelled them to embrace market mechanism. Putting together pieces of information from original Chinese sources, it summarizes the growth and development strategy in the central plan era (1952-78). It illustrates how the policies in agriculture and rural development retarded economic growth and adversely affected the levels of living and quality of life. Measuring incidence of poverty and inequality in the class distribution of income and consumption, the book reveals startling facts about epicurean life style of a few behind the iron curtain. Evaluating China''s transition from central planning to market-based economy, it supports its step-by-step approach to the implementation of the economic reform programmes. It also argues for state intervention in the market to ensure its expansion, competitiveness and accessibility.

This is a pioneering work on the Indian National Congress. It analyses, in the context of British imperial legacy, the class character of the Congress Party and its Government in terms of its economic policy and political behaviour. As the presence of imperialism inevitably imparted to ttie Congress a national complexion, its class character remained blurred in the early stages of development as a movement. Even so, the movement - party dichotomy could not altogether remain suppressed. Though the present work is basically devoted to an understanding of the Congress economic policy, it goes beyond and examines the related considerations of politics and problems of policy implementation. The study discloses that the declared object of the movement was to wrest power from Great Britain in the interest of all classes and sections of the Indian people, while the object of the Congress Party was to make sure that the power when so wrested remained in the hands of the vested interests in it, more especially of big business, and political and professional elites.

This book is one of the outcomes of the project entitled ''Strengthening Panchayati Raj System" of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, funded by the Ford Foundation, New Delhi. The papers in the book are written by outstanding authorities on the subject. These papers record the experiences and thinking of these authorities on some of the newer issues that confront the Panchayati Raj System in India. Assessment of the current situation in Panchayats, particularly relating to participation of women in the process of local governance; the story of implementation and deviations of 73rd Constitutional Amendment; analyses of the role of new community-based institutions such as Self-Help Groups in rural development; analyses of the tactics adopted by the legislators, bureaucracy and the rich to appropriate power to themselves, against the letter and spirit of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment; ways and means to integrate community-based organizations with the Panchayati Raj System and several "Dos and Donts" have all been included in the book. The book will be an invaluable guide to serious students of Panchayati Raj System in India, to administrators and researchers.

The genesis of the book ''People''s Participation in Himalayan Ecosystem Development was being nurtured in the author''s mind for a number of years during the field-work in the Himalayas by the author and his associates. This publication owes much to the help, cooperation and inspiration received from a large number of people. Dedicated to the upliftment of the Himalayan community, Dr. Dewan stresses the need for increasing participation of the people, youth, women, voluntary agencies and NGOs in the restoration of the Himalayas. Containing eighteen chapters and Nine Appendices the well illustrated book gives principles and practices of People''s Participation including little traditions of the region and indigenous knowledge. Special chapters are devoted to Landslide Hazards Environmental degradation specially mining induced; and Forest Fires. Towards Betterment of the Himalayan Watersheds, Watershed Management Programme and Strategy for Conservation and Development of the Himalayas are other interesting chapters. This book is an Appeal to all for a People''s Movement for Himalayan Rejuvenation for which a Mass Movement is needed urgently.

Islam, as a philosophy, a way of life and of course as a faith, has served like a lighthouse for the whole world. It has, as a force, influenced all civilizations. Be it education, social fabric or science, Islam has Left its impact in all the spheres. In fact, Islam is-basically a scientific and progressive religion. This series, unique in its presentation, is perhaps first of its kind, to take all the great events, developments and personalities in Islam, in its fold. All the significant aspects have been covered in these volumes. This multi-volume study is based on original(Holy Quran and Traditions) and other authentic sources: Arabic, Persian and Urdu books and manuscripts. for further comprehenion and comparative study, English books by Muslim scholars and as well as Western writers have also been consulted at length. The painstaking research and thorough study of thousands of pages by a team of scholars over a period of time, has resulted in an authentic, comprehensive, exhaustive, exclusive, gigantic and still interesting work, which is bound to fill a big vacuum in Islamic Studies. This voluminous work is based on authentic sources and material, available in libraries, institutes and some pnr.ate collections, as well. A r-h Bibliography; along with references is provided with each volume Lo prove the authenticity of the work and in order to guide the scholars and readers for further studies. This modest work should; rove to be of worth for those, who arc kind enough to peruse it and may desire to make use of it for their academic enrichment. Hopefully, these volumes would be able to satisfy the urge of all those who desire to know about real Islam and also to create a new awareness, regarding this religion, as a radical discipline, based on reason and opposed to fundamentalism and dogmatism. Though, a small effort yet its rational treatment and radical approach make it different from other works on the same or related subjects.