HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, WELL-BEING & GLOBALIZATION

The thematic articles over a period of time on different aspects of human development, well-being and globalization are infused with an alternative, multidisciplinary and cross-cultural perspective. An attempt has been made in this book to rethink concepts, ideas and issues and suggest the need for consideration of broader and multidimensional meanings of development. There is a profound dissatisfaction and confusion about narrow economic and social concepts and indicators of development and social progress. The human development approach associated with Amartya Sen has offered a remarkable course correction in terms of focusing not just on income but on capabilities to enable one to choose and live a valuable life which is worth living. It is argued in the book that capabilities can be even more fulfilling if they lead to real empowerment and multidimensional well-being. Well-being is conceived not as self-centered happiness but more in the sense of human flourishing and virtues. In the context of neo-liberal globalization and its malaise which is manifest in global warming and climate crisis, the present global economic crisis as well as the crisis of meaning and purpose of our common humanity, ideas have been put forth for alternative globalization in the form of the World Social Forum as opposed to the World Economic Forum. More ethically sound reconsiderations of old assumptions about integration of the world, our planet’s future and global well-being have been explored. “Mr Shekhawat has taken up those aspects of development which are generally relegated to the background in current academic discussion. His grasp of conceptual and historical factors is evident in these writings. I do hope that the analysis that he has attempted and the suggestions he has offered will be seriously considered by scholars and practitioners of social and economic change”. Professor V.S. Vyas Professor Emeritus and Former Chairman of the Institute of Development Studies, Jaipur and Member, Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council

Prahlad Singh Shekhawat is a writer, freelance journalist and founder director of a non-profit NGO, Alternative Development Centre, Jaipur. He has a Master’s degree in International Development Studies from the Institute of Social Studies, The Hague. He also studied creative writing at the University of Oxford. He was Associate Fellow, Institute of Development Studies, Jaipur and Research Associate, Institute of Social Studies, The Hague. He is part of the civil society network and people’s campaigns on many issues and advisor to the Children’s Rights Network in Rajasthan and Consultant to HIVOS-International, a Dutch NGO.

Prahlad Singh has given lectures in Europe and Japan on Indian culture, civil society and environmental movement. He has presented papers at many conferences and also chaired sessions at two international conferences. He has contributed to various journals in India and abroad and also writes for magazines and leading newspapers like “Tehelka and Hindustan Times.” His published works include “Aspects of Human Development and Culture and The Anand Cooperative Model.”