Mysore/Mysuru: Janapada Seva Trust, Arivu and Mysuru Book Clubs-2015 are jointly organising a book launch and discussion on ‘Development as Swaraj Towards a Sustainable and Equitable Future’ by Sumanas Koulagi on Oct. 15 at 10 am at Ideal Jawa Rotary School on JLB Road.

The panellists are Social Anthropologist A.R. Vasavi, Ecological Economist, Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB), Deepak Malghan and M.S. Sriram of Centre for Public Policy, IIMB. Author Sumanas Koulagi will also be present.

This book explores the concept of Indian Swaraj or self-rule, in both theory and practice within the context of development. It critiques existing sustainable development paradigms and offers a development theory rooted in Swaraj, emphasising principles like the greater good, decentralisation and self-sufficiency. It builds a development theory rooted in the idea of Swaraj, drawing from the writings of Mahatma Gandhi and his associate economist J.C. Kumarappa. Using the khadi (handspun and handwoven textile) sector as a case study demonstrates how Swaraj principles can be applied in practice.

This book is intended for scholars and researchers in Gandhian studies and development studies. By demonstrating how Swaraj can be established within the khadi sector, the author offers a model that can be replicated to work towards a sustainable and equitable world.

Sumanas Koulagi studied at the University of Mysore and completed his Master of Science from the University of Oxford, UK. He did his Doctor of Philosophy (International Development), at the University of Sussex, UK.

He wrote a thesis ‘Development as Swaraj (self-rule) and the quest for non-violent social order: A case study of the Khadi sector in Karnataka, India.’

Sumanas Koulagi is the son   of noted environmentalist and Secretary of Janapada Seva Trust Melukote Santhosh Koulagi and Geetha Koulagi.