Sociology, Social Services & Welfare, Public Policy 

Time and again Amartya Sen, one of the polymaths of our times, has stirred our thoughts and world-views through his writings and speeches. Intrigued by the questions of social justice and welfare, he argues, in this work, some of the fundamental issues--poverty, hunger, education, globalization, freedom of speech, injustice, inequality, exclusion, exploitation--that we negotiate with in our day to day lives. With a passion and conviction masked by a gently persuasive style and characterised by an undogmatic engagement with differing points of view, Sen's The Country of First Boys asserts that public policy should swing sharply towards the poor, the illiterate, and those suffering from ill health and malnourishment. Written in non-technical and easy to understand language while at the same time relying on rigorous intellectual and academic analysis, this volume would open a window to the ideas of an internationally renowned Nobel laureate to a wide spectrum of readers. How do deprivations related to class, caste, and gender interrelate? Why are our political leaders so good in saying what should be done without doing anything much about them? How should we think about Sanskrit and ancient India without adding religious color? Why is it important to revive Nalanda, the worlds oldest university? The Country of First Boys is Amartya Sens intellectual journey through the past and present to seek an understanding of Indias history and the demands of its future. The themes of these essays include the hardened and extreme nature of inequality in India and what can be done about it. One of the many rewards of good schooling denied to most Indians includes the understanding that India is an integral part of a world civilization. Always sensitive to global communication and interaction, Indias own contributions vary from the development of a multiplicity of astronomically reasoned calendars and the invention of games like chess to the establishment of the foundations of several branches of modern mathematics. In this collection, Sen examines justice, identity, deprivation, inequalities, gender politics, education, the media, and the importance of getting your priorities right. These are accessible yet pioneering essays that hold the kernel of many of his seminal works. - from Amzon