Shashi Budhiraja Memorial Dialogue Brings Together Voices on Accountability and ...
The Shashi Budhiraja Memorial Dialogue, held at the India International Centre in New Delhi, brought together policymakers, administrators and thought leaders to reflect on governance, public systems and institutional accountability, while paying tribute to a life remembered for its warmth, integrity and enduring relationships.Organised in collaboration with BW Businessworld, the dialogue was both a commemoration and a continuation of the values that Shashi Budhiraja stood for. The gathering served as a space for conversation and reflection, echoing the spirit of engagement and intellectual exchange that defined his legacy.
The session opened with a welcome address by Dr Annurag Batra, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of BW Businessworld Media Group and Founder of exchange4media Group, who underlined the importance of building platforms that foster meaningful dialogue on issues of national importance. He noted that governance remains central to India’s development journey and requires constant introspection and reform.
At the heart of the dialogue was a panel discussion on governance, anchored by a distinguished group of speakers who brought with them decades of experience across public administration, diplomacy and institutional leadership. Ambassador Yash Sinha, former Chief Information Commissioner of India and former High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, reflected on transparency and the evolving expectations from public institutions. Lt Gen Raj Shukla, former Army Commander and current Member of the Union Public Service Commission, spoke about leadership, discipline and decision-making within complex systems.
Dr Aruna Sharma, former Secretary in the Ministries of Electronics and IT and Steel, emphasised the role of technology and policy alignment in strengthening governance frameworks. Tripurari Sharan, Chief Information Commissioner of Bihar and former Chief Secretary of the state, brought in the perspective of administrative reforms and the challenges of implementation on the ground. The discussion was moderated by Rajeev Budhiraja, Senior Advisor and former CEO of McCann Worldgroup, who is also the author of The Governance Gap: Reimagining India’s Future for 2047, the book that set the context for the dialogue.
The conversation explored gaps in governance systems, the need for accountability and the importance of bridging policy intent with execution. There was a shared emphasis on institutional trust, citizen-centric governance and the urgency of reimagining frameworks to align with India’s aspirations as a global power.
A key highlight of the event was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for the Manorama and Shashi Budhiraja Vocational Skills Center. The agreement, signed between Mrs Manorama Budhiraja and Himadri Das, Director General of IMI Delhi, marked a step towards building capacity and enabling skill development, reflecting a commitment to social impact and inclusive growth.
The dialogue concluded with a conversation between Rajeev Budhiraja and Dr Annurag Batra on the theme “Governance Reimagined: Unlocking India’s True Potential.” The exchange brought together insights from policy, media and leadership, reinforcing the need for collaborative thinking in addressing systemic challenges.
More than a formal gathering, the memorial dialogue stood as a reminder that ideas, when shared and debated, can shape institutions and societies. In remembering Shashi Budhiraja, the event reaffirmed a belief in dialogue as a powerful instrument of change, ensuring that his legacy continues to inspire conversations that matter.
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