The Governance Gap: A Policy-Heavy Language Fills the Writing Gap by Highlighting India’s Everyday Systemic Issues

The day of writing this has, perhaps, started with the information of the U.S. government imposing a 100% tax on the films created outside India — a direct hit to the business of the Indian film industry, which generates at least from the U.S. markets. However, other than the international pressure, India is not untouched from its internal turmoil involving various socio-cultural factors leading to the “governance gap” and what hints at the “political will” — reiterated by the author Shashi Budhiraja.

Rupa Publication’s recent nonfiction book by Budhiraja, ‘The Governance Gap, ’ certainly takes into account his understanding, which is a result of his work in government, the private sector, and international entities. It is through his insights that he can establish how strong policies are the bedrock of a resilient and equitable society.

The book focuses on agriculture, education, and health but not with a macro approach and rather, highlights how the gaps in the governance and polices — for which the details in the book are not in short supply — led to the bigger issues in India.

As much as Budhiraja goes into the technicalities of the said “gap”, what imparts a common understanding for these gaps is when the author talks about the everyday problems in the system ranging from the slow process, never-ending files, and decisions that are often delayed due to these processes — highlighting how the titular piece is actually about both larger and the smaller hiccups present in the process.

The book underscores the skew that shapes the “gap” which makes the political parties, the mere and only factors for it and, rather, throws light on how it is actually the infrastructure to be blamed, regardless of the parties. Though, that does not take away from the fact that Shashi Budhiraja, time and again, reminds the readers of the “political will” to be important.

Perhaps, that brings us to the evident flaw where for as diverse a country as India and its multi-layered history, economy and governance ways, the author is just leaving it with as broad and basic as will. Additionally, the book also becomes a task towards the denouement if one is reading this every day due to its data-presenting style and endless jargon. Definitely, in that case, it tends to become academic writing and a book for only academicians.

Despite that, the book follows a balanced approach to not give optimism yet not fall into the loop of criticism. It simply informs the readers about loopholes, infrastructural dealings and proves its arguments leaving it up to the readers to feel a desperate attempt to understand more about the solutions. The relatability of the nuances present in the book with the current context of India’s events makes the effort noticeable.

As a whole, the book lends a helping hand to India if it does not have to teeter on the brink because of its systemic issues.