World Bank and Beyond: Memoir and a Proposal

The book deals with the author's roots in India and the work in the World Bank leading to a proposal for a nobler world. Chapter 1 Early Years covers three decades from the early 30s to the late 50s. It is about life, mostly in India, with its tail end straddling America, before employment in the World Bank. Chapter 2 Work in the World Bank covers the two decades, from the 60s to the beginning of 80s, which included the golden era of the Bank, from 1968 to 1981, during Robert S. McNamara's presidency. Consistent with his vision, the operations of the Bank registered a twelve-fold increase in the level of annual commitments for project assistance, from $1billion in 1968 to over $12 billion in 1981. Chapter 3 Twilight Zone covers the following six years, after the departure of McNamara to the major Bank-wide reorganization (1981-1987). Chapter 4 gives glimpses of the Institutional Budget System. Chapter 5 (Philosophical Underpinnings) and Chapter 6 (Reflections) constitute a prelude that urges the creation of a new environment. Chapter 7 Universal Inheritance is both a proposal and action plan for reaching the objectives. The inheritance may be defined as what we own in common, which is the natural resources of our habitat the Earth. A per capita share of the sum total of its worth belongs to each and everyone: man, woman or child. It will bring added meaning to democracy and teeth to the concept equality of opportunity.