To mark the birth-centenary of former President of India, Late Shri R. Venkataraman, National Book Trust, India in association with India International Centre and Rupa Publications will be releasing two books entitled Reflections of a Statesman: Selected Post-Presidential Speeches of R. Venkataraman and R. Venkataraman: A Centenary Tribute on 4th April 2012 at the India International Centre (Auditorium), Max Mueller Marg, New Delhi-110 003 at 4.00 pm. The release will be followed by a discussion.
The other speakers on the panel are: Shri Soli Sorabjee, President IIC and former Attorney General, India; Shri Gopalkrishna Gandhi, former Governor of West Bengal and Joint Secretary to President R.Venkataraman; Dr. R. K. Pachauri, Director, TERI and Nobel Prize Winner and Smt. Lakshmi Venkataraman Venkatesan, Social Entrepreneur and daughter of the former President.
The book Reflections of a Statesman: Selected Post-Presidential Speeches of R. Venkataraman has been compiled by Shri R. Ramaswamy Iyer. This volume is compilation of the speeches made on various occasions by Shri Venkataraman, in his post presidential years between 1992 and 2007. The speeches deal with a wide range of themes like spirituality, religion, culture, politics, social service etc. These were not formal lectures delivered to academic or scholarly audiences only but were addressed to mixed audiences including general public on various occasions. They are characterised by lucidity, easy intelligibility and capacity to hold the interest. However, the apparent simplicity is deceptive; it conceals much cerebration and wisdom.
The book R. Venkataraman: A Centenary Tribute, is a commemorative volume with a Foreword from H.E. Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil, The President of India and articles from 47 eminent national and international personalities – political leaders, bureaucrats, economists, cultural and religious leaders.
