There is always a purpose, an objective and a target audience behind the exercise of writing and publishing any book. Measured against these classical parameters, the book on `Vimarsh` might appear a bit different from the normal. This is a book that seeks to present a glimpse of the evolving thinking by experts in different fields on different critical aspects of India`s growth story. That story is conveyed through a carefully compiled narrative emerging out of a series of public lectures delivered by eminent personalities on a variety of issues and subjects over a span of ten years commencing in 2010 - which marked the founding of Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF). These lectures have been carefully converted into articles with minimal editing, ensuring that the essence of the speakers are retained in the narrative presented before the readers.

The journey begins with exploration of India`s civilisational past through fascinating discourses on the Saraswati River and the contemporary relevance of Swami Vivekananda. The narrative then moves on to incisive examination of a variety of complex challenges of governance, national security and international diplomacy that an aspirational India confronts. What is truly remarkable is that the key messages emanating from these articles are relevant even today as the country continues its march for establishing a modern state.