Exploring Accountability in the World's Largest Democracy
VIEW EVENT DETAILSVinod Rai, in his book Not Just an Accountant:The Diary of the Nation’s Conscience Keeper recounts his remarkable term as the 11th Comptroller and Auditor General of India. Highlighting the need for greater transparency, Rai analyses figures from published records to examine procedural and regulatory compliance in government. Many of these findings - which involved public institutions and private sector companies - made headlines, and impacted the national discourse. Join us for the release of his book in Mumbai, and a discussion with the author and panellists Tamal Bandyopadhyay and Menaka Guruswamy, as they explore the intricacies of the book's arguments, the office and processes of the Comptroller and Auditor General, and the onus and responsibilities that come with holding high public office.
“Not Just an Accountant … emphasizes the importance of ethical governance in our country.” – Former President of India, Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Vinod Rai was the 11th Comptroller and Auditor General of India from 2008 to 2013, a position through which he has brought to public attention irregularities ranging from the 2G spectrum scam to the Commonwealth Games scam. His international responsibilities have included chairmanship of the U.N. Panel of External Auditors and membership of the Governing Board of the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI).
Tamal Bandyopadhyay is an Indian business journalist, known for his weekly column 'Banker's Trust' on banking and finance published in Mint where he is a consulting editor. Previously he has worked with The Economic Times, Business Standard and Financial Express. He is the author of the bestseller 'A Bank for the Buck'.
Menaka Guruswamy is a lawyer at the Supreme Court of India. She has litigated cases that successfully sought reform of public administration and the bureaucracy in the country. She was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University, a Gammon Fellow at Harvard Law School, and a gold medalist from the National Law School of India. Menaka has worked at the Office of the Attorney General of India and advised the United Nations in various capacities.