Rajeev Gowda
Rajeev Gowda
Blood Type: Congress +ve
Two score and five years ago (=45), Rajeev was born into a family of freedom fighters. Patriotic songs were the lullabies that rocked him to sleep. The exploits of his uncle and father inspired him to action.
Out on the campaign trail even as a kid, Rajeev presented a bouquet to welcome Indira Gandhi to Bangalore during the historic 1971 election. And he resolved to learn more about politics and policy so that he too could help Hatao Garibi.
So, after scoring a 99 in Chemistry and earning his engineering merit seat, he seemingly rebelled and switched to a BA in History, Economics and Politics at St. Joseph’s College, Bangalore. He managed the interesting combination of being both an elected student union leader and Bangalore University’s Gold Medalist in Political Science.
A scholarship took him to Fordham University, New York, for a Master’s in Economics. Finishing up in a year, he moved to the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. There he earned a PhD in Public Policy and Management, and discovered the joys of research and knowledge creation.
A post-doc at the University of California Berkeley was next. Followed by a few years on the faculty of the University of Oklahoma. Then, after attaining promotion and tenure-the academic equivalent of nirvana-he packed his bags and returned to India. It was Y2K. 16 plus years had passed since he had left India’s shores.
Rajeev joined the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore, and he’s been there ever since, teaching courses like “Business, Government, and Society,” that help students understand how the world works. He’s been involved with helping startup companies. He’s been a friend of many NGOs, and recently started his own-Resurgent India-which focuses on Youth Empowerment.
Most importantly, he’s an active Congress politician. He participated in the 2003 Congress brainstorming session at Shimla. He was part of Smt. Sonia Gandhi’s younger generation team for the 2004 election. And he’s part of every Congress campaign as an activist, and is preparing to contest sometime soon.
Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, exhilarated by Indira Gandhi’s achievements in Bangladesh, space, and nuclear energy, committed to Rajiv Gandhi’s vision of India in the 21st century, Rajeev is working hard at crafting his own agendas for India, and is planning to write a book on the paradigm shifts that we are living through.
He does manage to have fun. All the time. But one of his strange ideas of fun is quizzing. He co-founded the acclaimed Karnataka Quiz Association in 1983, and was national runner up on BBC TV’s Mastermind India in 2001.
Opinion is divided about Rajeev. One section thinks he’s totally hot. Another section thinks he’s totally cool. There seems to be no middle ground.
To make up your mind about this passionate professor politician and to engage with his dispassionate analysis, check the blog.
Hi Sir,
Maybe I couldnt find it, but is it possible to subscribe to this blog??
Regards
Sanoop
Hey Sanoop,
I just subscribed to this blog from Google Reader: just type in Hamara Congress in the search and two feeds from the website will show up… does that work for you too?
-K
This is from the Congress manifesto: “The Indian National Congress remains committed to ensuring the highest standards of corporate governance in private companies, especially to protect the interests of small shareholders and small investors. Regulations will be made to ensure good corporate governance, ethical business practices and accountability to all stakeholders.” And the greatest corporate fraud in the Indian history was committed during a Congress regime, while Ramalinga Raju is still unpunished.
Congrats Rajeev; but I am disappointed about the Karnataka outcome; when are the old fogeys in the KPC being replaced? its time, guys like you were given tickets.
India is a huge country and has numerous problems. Therefore to focus on most urgent problem we need to develope info network dedicated to specific problem. Bijlipanisadak.com should provide updated the info on Bijli pani & sadak. similarly Ruraleducation.com and swasthiya.com should provide regular updates on the progress of rural education and health.
Attacks of this kind can compromise all future communications to the host. ,
Cadets are required to take a swimming course. ,
rajiv ji, your articlrs are very informative.could you tell me the exact date of banglore session of congress which led split in congress and congress urs came in to existence. i will be highly thankful.
P3PmzY Excellent article, I will take note. Many thanks for the story!
Nice post, thanks for writing!