I am honoured to learn that the Australia South Asia Research Centre (ASARC) of The Australian National University (ANU) has instituted a ‘K R Narayanan Oration’ and that the inaugural Oration is being given by Dr Raja J Chelliah, Minister of State and Fiscal Adviser, Ministry of Finance, Government of India.
I have very pleasant memory of inaugurating the Australia South Asia Research Centre (ASARC) of The Australian National University in April 1994. I believe that it was one of the significant events that took place during my official visit to Australia. That a Centre for the study of the economic development of South Asia as a whole has been established at a reputed University like ANU is important in itself. South Asia is a sub-continent constituting nearly one-sixth of the world population. Endowed with rich natural and human resources it occupies a strategic position on the world map. From ancient times to our own it has been open to influences from and has influenced the rest of the world particularly Africa, West Africa, South East Asia, East Asia and the Asia Pacific. Today South Asia is going through a new phase of economic development and far-reaching liberalisation. It has created an objectively favourable environment for promoting regional cooperation among South Asia nations and for expanding cooperation with Australia and the wider circle of the Asia Pacific. In this context I am happy that the Australia South Asia Research Centre has taken the initiative to hold a Conference on Economic Liberalisation in South Asia. I congratulate ASARC for this very constructive initiative and wish it every success.
I am particularly glad that on this occasion Dr Raja Chelliah is delivering the ‘K R Narayanan Oration’ on the subject of ‘Reforming the Tax Base for Economic Development in India’. Dr Chelliah is a distinguished friend and an eminent economist who is part of the fundamental intellectual brain-work behind India’s liberalisation policy. I am sure that his oration and his participation in the Conference will throw light on the new economic policy that is transforming India into a dynamic economy and an active player in the evolving Asian and the global economic system.
K R Narayanan
New Delhi 1994