Influencing India : Lobbying in the World\'s Largest Democracy

Contents: Introduction. 1. Influencing policy. 2. Uncle Sam shows the way. 3. Petitioning the Raj in London. 4. The pioneer Ghanshyam Das Birla. 5. The aspiration of an ordinary Indian Dhirubhai Ambani. 6. The Indian express Ramanath Goenka. 7. Politicians partnering business causes. 8. Members of the Parliament : Pawns of the game. 9. Gains from lobbying. 10. Lobbying and bribing. 11. Trade associations and organised lobbying. 12. Changing landscape of lobbying. 13. Lobbying for greater good. Index.

Lobbying, as the recent Indian experience has revealed, is used actively by many a corporation even the most venerated ones. True, all deny any wrong doing, claiming that their activities are above board and follow the Western style intellectual exercises. Style intellectual exercises.

Simultaneously a belief has been fostered that Western style lobbying will bring transparency to the policy forming process in India. This is projected as being different from carrying suitcases full of money. One meets that policy-makers, advises them on the pros and cons and wins them over to their cause. Such lobbyists carry notes of different types.

But is this really what happens?

Influencing India: Lobbing in the World\'s largest Democracy\'-takes a hard look at the issue of lobbying. The book traces the beginning of lobbying in India and compares it to the initiation of lobbying in the United States of America, its birthplace; the evolution of lobbying in India the role played by individuals and institutions in giving it a formal shape and general direction as of today.

The book is a first effort to look comprehensively at the \'Indian influence peddling activity\', both from the theoretical perspective as well as the actual rent-seeking occurrences, at a time when there had been much heated discussion in India\'s parliament on how lobbyists have intruded into the system.

The aim of the book is to generate serious debate and let the people judge as to how lobbying is influencing India.