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A lifelong attitude of social responsibility

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Sunil was always ready to offer uncomfortable truths to those in power. (File image)Sunil was at all times prepared to supply uncomfortable truths to these in energy. (File picture)

Many have already written about Sunil Jain, his fantastic qualities as a journalist and as a human being, and the magnitude of the loss from his premature, untimely passing. However I wish to use my column house so as to add to the tributes. I believe I first met Sunil after I started my present stint of writing common columns for the Monetary Specific. Thereafter, our interactions have been digital, and completely skilled, other than vacation greetings, and, in the course of the pandemic, expressions of concern about mutual welfare. However all through all this, there was a sense of connection that Sunil created, a positivity that imbued all his communications, that made me really feel that I used to be writing my columns for him, and never simply all his newspaper’s readers. The shock of his passing is tough to digest—it have to be many occasions extra for these personally near him. Except for the non-public, the lack of somebody who may suppose and write clearly, and with detachment, about an important financial points that India faces is a grievous blow to the nation’s mental sphere. This column will bear in mind Sunil by reflecting on a few of his writings.

One can’t return too far, since there may be a lot, as would befit the managing editor of a premier monetary every day. However I bear in mind how in early December 2020, Sunil wrote an excellent piece on the farmer protests, going deep into the causes of the agitation, which lie not simply within the current farm payments, however within the organisation and implementation of the foodgrain procurement system. He supplied clear suggestions for crop diversification in Punjab, and the necessity for the Centre to share in the price of reaching that swap. In subsequent editorials, he continued to push the necessity for reform, and held each the central and state governments answerable for the failure to repair the issue, whereas acknowledging the political difficulties. This was simply one other instance of his even-handedness in analysing financial points and making suggestions.

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In his writing on so many points, Sunil displayed an absence of dogmatism and a willingness to name out errors or shortcomings on each aspect. He argued for a extra even-handed method to liberalisation of retail, giving international gamers an opportunity to compete with homegrown conglomerates. On the identical time, when these home giants have been being attacked on illogical grounds, he pointed that out as effectively. He had the flexibility to smell out issues with overcomplicated bureaucratic guidelines and the unintended damaging penalties that they may result in, but additionally took the politicians to activity for their very own tendencies to meddle the place they shouldn’t—as in retrospective tax calls for, which have forged a pall on willingness to spend money on some circumstances.

However Sunil was not a market ideologue both, in keeping with my studying of his editorials. He welcomed the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme as a option to promote manufacturing funding and output development. However he additionally put it within the context of worldwide competitors, and identified a few of the weaknesses which may consequence from including localisation necessities. In such circumstances, one typically wished that the bureaucrats and politicians may have consulted Sunil previous to their policymaking, somewhat than having him react to problematic coverage formulations. However after all, the job of a journalist is to be impartial, not beholden to anybody in energy, and by no means afraid to focus on the reality.

Sunil was at all times prepared to supply uncomfortable truths to these in energy. He had perfected the artwork of doing so in a way that was comparatively straightforward for these being criticised to learn and maybe settle for. He wrote eloquently on the broader implications of the issues that arose at Ashoka College, the place it appeared that political strain was getting used to curtail tutorial freedom. He identified that the federal government overreacting to statements by celebrities on social media may backfire. He famous the failure of the federal government’s vaccination technique. These analyses have been accompanied by reasoning, they weren’t personalised, and there was at all times a greater various being provided.

Sunil’s final editorial was titled, “Covid is the enemy, not the federal government.” Writing with a excessive fever and dropping oxygen saturation ranges, he factors out the federal government’s failures, together with these proper on the prime. However he presents perspective on wider issues of social accountability and institutional failure in India. He holds many individuals accountable, not only one or two. He additionally factors out how optimistic responses are nonetheless attainable, and that extra may be achieved in that respect, somewhat than simply enjoying a blame sport. He doesn’t excuse errors and failure, merely says that the precedence is to take actions to regulate the catastrophe. Sadly, Sunil was a casualty of the a number of failures of India’s response to the pandemic. It appears, that his perspective of social accountability contributed to him shedding his life. It’s reported that he delayed checking right into a hospital as a result of he didn’t wish to take up a mattress that could be wanted extra by somebody much less well-placed than he was. The distinction with what others with energy and cash have been doing in these circumstances leaps out. All through his profession, and even in his tragic and untimely passing, Sunil Jain epitomised the very best of India, a optimistic instance for all of us.

The creator is Professor of Economics, College of California, Santa Cruz

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