Dr. Narendra Jadhav has successfully completed (on April 24, 2022) his first term as a Member of Parliament-Rajya Sabha (nominated by the President of India). Professionally, Dr. Jadhav is an Economist, Educationist, Academic, Administrator and a best-selling Author of 41 books in English, Marathi and Hindi.
As an Independent Member of Parliament, Dr Jadhav
has carved out a distinct place for himself through his studious
interventions in the House and while serving on various Standing Committees
(i.e. Finance, Commerce, Information Technology, Social Justice and
Empowerment and Welfare of SC/ST), as well as Consultative Committees (i.e,
External Affairs, Tourism and Culture).
The life-story of Dr Narendra Jadhav
is a story of the emerging resurgent India and its great potential. From a
modest start, as a first-generation learner from a poor Scheduled Caste
family in Mumbai, Dr Narendra Jadhav grew up to be a public figure,
undaunted by social and economic deprivation, making on his way a
distinctive mark in several areas including Economics, Education, Public
Policy and Literature. His contribution to different fields of public life,
fighting against all odds, has earned him wide recognition. In fact, Dr
Jadhav has been regarded as a Role Model for millions of disempowered in our
country.
A celebrated public figure, Dr
Narendra Jadhav is recipient of as many as 70 national and international
awards for his contribution to Education, Literature, Culture and Social
Work besides Economics. These include four Honorary D.Litt Degrees
from Universities in four different States, Thomas Hart Benton Mural
Medallion i.e, the President’s Medal from Indiana University, USA and
above all, the title of the ‘Commander of the Order of Academic Palmes’
by Government of France.
Dr Narendra Jadhav featured in TIME
(October 1997), the National Geographic Journal on "Caste System
in India" (March 2004), in International Herald Tribune
(2005) and a Cover Story in Readers’ Digest (October 2006).
Narendra Jadhav has outstanding
academic credentials. After initial studies at Mumbai University with
exceptional track record, he earned his PhD from Indiana University, USA
with distinction, i.e., Award for Outstanding Contribution to Economic
Theory as also the Best International Student Award. While completing his
PhD dissertation, Dr Jadhav also taught in two Universities in the US -
Indiana University, and DePauw University, where he was an exceptionally
popular teacher. On completion of his studies, turning down several
lucrative job offers in the US, Dr Jadhav immediately returned to India and
dedicated himself to Public Service.
(A.) CHIEF ECONOMIST, RBI
As a career economist, Dr Jadhav
worked for 31 years with the Reserve Bank of India, and other Central
Banks (i.e. Da Afghanistan Bank and National Bank of Ethiopia).
He also worked as Adviser in the International Monetary Fund (IMF)
for over four years. Dr Jadhav took voluntary retirement in October 2008
from the position of Principal Adviser and Chief Economist of the RBI
in the rank of Executive Director.
As a professional economist, Dr
Jadhav’s contributions include ‘Ambedkar - An Economist Extraordinaire’
(2016), ‘Monetary Policy, Financial Stability and Central Banking in
India’ (2006), ‘Re-emerging India - A Global Perspective’ (2005)
and ‘Monetary Economics for India’ (1994). All these books are
standard sources of reference for advanced study in most Universities in
India.
Recently, Dr Jadhav has been serving
as Chairman, Reserve Bank of India History Advisory Committee.
B.) VICE CHANCELLOR of SAVITRIBAI PHULE PUNE
UNIVERSITY
In 2006, Dr Jadhav was appointed as
Vice Chancellor of the University of Pune. Within three years, he
transformed the University into a vibrant and dynamic centre of excellence
and singularly contributed to making it the most favoured destination for
foreign students coming to India.
Dr Jadhav took several far-reaching
initiatives aimed at improving the access and equity (through
“Education Guarantee Scheme” for the unprivileged youth) and
quality (through a complete revision of all 484 curricula with
involvement of relevant industry), promoting the research environment
through innovative financial incentives, and improving the governance
(through an ambitious 'Pune University Network' (PUN) Program, connecting
the Main Campus with all 500+ Affiliated colleges using ICT). The vision
that Dr Jadhav had articulated and operationalized for Pune University led
him to Planning Commission as a Member (Chairman: Dr. Manmohan Singh)
in-charge of Education, Labour and Employment, and Social Justice and
Empowerment (2009-14), and as a Member, National Advisory Council (NAC)
(Chairman: Smt. Sonia Gandhi (2010-2014).
C.) MEMBER, PLANNING COMMISION
As Member, Planning Commission, Dr
Jadhav played an important role in formulating the 12th Five Year Plan,
especially in respect of Education and Skill Development. His contribution
to formulation of the ambitious scheme titled Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha
Abhiyan (RUSA) as well as for developing the eco-system for Skill
Development in India has been recognized.
D.) MEMBER, NATIONAL ADVISORY
COUNCIL (NAC)
As Member, National Advisory Council
(NAC) Dr Jadhav’s notable contributions include, inter alia,
implementation of the Right to Education (RTE) Act 2009, and empowerment of
SC, ST, Minorities and Denotified Nomadic Tribes (DNTs).
E.) PUBLIC POLICY EXPERT
Over the years, Dr Jadhav has
authored 31 Official Reports on a wide range of Public Policy issues. These
include Reports on ‘Preparation of Perspective Plan for Higher Education’
(Government of Maharashtra, 2015), ‘National Skills Qualification
Framework’ (Government of India, 2013), ‘Amendments to the Factories
Act, 1948’ (Government of India, 2012) and ‘Vision on Vocational
Education and Training’ (Government of India, 2011). Other Reports
authored by Dr Jadhav include (‘Guidelines for Scheduled Castes Sub-Plan
(SCSP) and Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP)’ (Government of India, 2011), ‘Amendments
to the Apprenticeship Act, 1961’ (Government of India, 2010) ‘Farmers
Suicides’ (Government of Maharashtra, 2008), ‘Hawala Market
Operations’ (RBI), ‘Development Needs of the Ladakh Region’
(Ministry of Home Affairs, 2011) and ‘Particularly Vulnerable Tribal
Groups (PVTGs) (Government of India, 2013).
F.) PROLIFIC WRITER IN ENGLISH,
MARATHI AND HINDI
Never a cloistered scholar, Dr Jadhav
has been a prolific writer, in spite of being engaged in Public Service
spanning more than four decades. He has written or edited 41 books
in three languages – 21 in English, 13 in Marathi, and 7 in Hindi,
besides over 300 Research Papers and Articles.
Dr Jadhav is a socially conscientious
litterateur. He has written or edited 21 books on Dr Ambedkar – nine
in English, eight in Marathi and four in Hindi comprising an intellectual
biography, picture biographies, edited speeches, and writings of Dr
Ambedkar. These books help establish Dr Ambedkar as an intellectual colossus
and truly a national leader and not merely on icon of the underpriviledged.
Furthermore, through his trilogy
on Rabindranath Tagore comprising an analytical biography, and
translation of selected poems, short stories, plays, parodies, articles and
speeches, Dr Jadhav comprehensively introduced Gurudev’s treasure trove to
the Marathi-speaking readership.
In addition, Dr Jadhav’s three
autobiographical novels i.e., ‘Aamcha Baap Aan Amhi’ (Marathi,
1993), ‘Outcaste’ (English, 2002) and ‘Untouchables’
(English, 2005) present deep humanistic values underlying the real life
story of struggle for human dignity by a Scheduled Caste family. ‘Aamcha
Baap Aan Amhi’ with 201 editions so far has reportedly become the
largest selling book in the history of Marathi literature. Moreover, ‘Untouchables’
published in the US and ‘Aamcha Baap Aan Amhi’ have been translated
into several Indian languages including Hindi, Gujarati, Kannada, Tamil,
Urdu, Konkani, and Punjabi (‘Sahitya Akademi Award’ winner), besides
French, Spanish, Korean and Thai. In fact, the book is a huge bestseller
in French and Korean languages.
G.) DISTINGUISHED PROFESSOR
Having worked as a Distinguished Professor at
Council for Social Development (CSD), New Delhi, Dr Jadhav is currently a
Visiting Professor in Ashoka University and in Indian School
of Business (ISB); Professor Emeritus - MIT School of Government
and a Master in Masters’ Union Business School.
H.) OUTSTANDING PUBLIC SPEAKER
Dr Jadhav is an outstanding Public
Speaker. He has delivered numerous Memorial Lectures, Convocation Addresses
and Guest Lectures in national and international forums aimed at educating
the general public and helping build consensus around the ongoing
educational and economic reforms in India.