ABSTRACT
Historic Indian texts over the centuries, such as Valmiki’s Ramayana (400 BCE-400 CE), Kautilya’s Aarthashastra (400 BCE-200 CE) and stories of the Pandyan kingdom (600 BCEseventeenth century), relate how famous emperors would visit their subjects incognito to observe and understand their lives and concerns first-hand (Jha, 2004). When particular issues were brought to their attention, exemplary kings would, reportedly, act to improve the welfare of their subjects both collectively and individually. Many centuries later, but with similar motives, Indian governments in postcolonial times have embraced a formalised system of centralised planning in an attempt to ensure that the country’s resources are used to greatest effect.
