— Photo: R.V. Moorthy

ACCOLADES: Air Chief Marshal (retd.) O.P. Mehra presents the Prem Bhatia Memorial Award for excellence in political reporting and analysis to Pallavi Aiyar, The Hindu's Special Correspondent in Beijing, at the India International Centre in New Delhi on Tuesday.

NEW DELHI: For a democratic government to survive and retain its universal appeal, it must revitalise and adapt itself to the changing circumstances and needs of society, said Gowher Rizvi, Director of Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard University, here on Tuesday.

Delivering the 12th Prem Bhatia Memorial Lecture on "Government In The 21st Century: Some Challenges of Governance and Democracy in India," Prof. Rizvi said while Indian democracy was one of the "marvels of our time," it was clear that the democratic institutions in the country were not "functioning optimally."

"The Indian democratic institutions have served the country well and the country is now poised for growth and development that few could have imagined possible. However, the same democratic institutions have failed the most vulnerable and the historically marginalised groups and communities. How does one explain the persistent inequality that has characterised India's development?," he said.

"There is a gap between the rulers and the ruled with little sign of that divide being bridged... Not surprisingly, the benefits of the State are monopolised by the powerful."

Referring to affirmative action, Prof. Rizvi said: "Without a commitment to affirmative action, the private sector jobs are unlikely to go to the rural, locally educated person from a disadvantaged background. Market liberalisation without an adequate social safety net is widening the gap between the rich and the poor... "

Earlier, the Prem Bhatia Memorial Award for excellence in political reporting and analysis was presented to Pallavi Aiyar, The Hindu's Special Correspondent in Beijing by Chairman of the Prem Bhatia Memorial Trust Air Chief Marshal (retd.) O.P. Mehra.

Ms. Aiyar, the youngest scribe to win this prestigious award, has been recognised for her consistently insightful coverage of China's transformation from a poor agrarian society into the world's fourth largest economy.

Freelance journalist Max Martin was also felicitated for "Best Reporting on Environment." Lokendra Singh Kot and Reji Joseph were awarded the Prem Bhatia Memorial Scholarship for research in media-related subjects.

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