This work has been presented in five chapters. Chapter-I (The place I come from) gives a brief account of the village the author has come from, its beautiful features, the caste structure in the village, inter caste relationship, land ownership etc. A brief attempt has been made here to throw some light on the state of the village and its level of development. In discussing an ordinary oil seller and his method of measurement, an attempt has been made to throw light on the socioeconomic position of the village and its people. It includes the picture of the rural elite who helped resolution of conflicts. The chapter-II (the author, his friends and family) is devoted to description of his parents, family, relations etc. This is a short one. Chapter III is on his professional career. The author has worked in Utkal, Berhampur, Sambalpur and Fakir Mohan Universities.

The two chapters (IV and V) relate to his days and activities in Fakir Mohan University. The chapter IV (F. M. University: Efforts for recognition) gives details about the way a university could be established at Balasore. It was at the nascent stage, and I had to bring it to a productive institution, various things were to be done, cooperation and help from several persons had to be sought and achieved. The university had to fulfil the conditions necessary for accordance of UGC recognition u/s 12(B) of the UGC Act, 1956. The university had to work like a university and function as such before the UGC Committee visited for grant of recognition. The Chapter-V (Post recognition developments) gives information about how the university prepared development projects for financing by the UGC and other funding agencies. And how the funds so received were fruitfully utilized in time. Also, in this chapter, the author has described how the new campus was built and how the university had to fight evil forces who created various types of difficulties. This chapter also includes author’s post retirement days.

This book is a compelling anthology of eleven essays by Ravindra Garimella, a seasoned parliamentary bureaucrat with over four decades of experience. It delves into the vibrant and multifaceted journey of Indian democracy, exploring topics that are pivotal to understanding the workings of the Indian Parliament and the country’s democratic ethos.

The essays span a broad range of subjects, from the history and symbolism of the Indian National Flag, constitutional values, to contemporary issues like marriage equality following the Supreme Court’s 2023 verdict. The book also sheds light on the inner workings of Parliament, such as procedural tools available to MPs, budgetary processes, and no-confidence motions, offering readers a deeper appreciation of parliamentary traditions and mechanisms.

The volume stands as a valuable resource for students, scholars, and anyone intrigued by the nuances of India’s democratic journey. With a foreword by Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, this compilation is both a tribute to and a guide for understanding the enduring legacy and evolving dynamics of Indian democracy.

Through this collection, the author not only shares insights into parliamentary procedures and historical contexts but also engages with contemporary debates, making it a timely and thought-provoking addition to literature on Indian polity.

In this book the author tries to find out answers to his queries from the authentic archives, historical publications & a large range of reference materials including folklores. He holds the view that, Jagannath is not only an ancient deity for worship across communities, sects and religions but also a veritable fulcrum around which regional, subnational, national and even global mainstreams of knowledge, philosophy, religion, arts and culture and contemporary socio-political discourses have evolved over the millennia. So the Jagannath Cult can be truly conceived as the culmination of human cultural evolution.

This is evident from the name itself of the deity as the Lord of the Universe. Located in the hallowed land where great ancient sages composed richa of Rig Veda which led to the setting of the Gobardhan Peeth by Adi shankaracharya as a centre for preservation and promotion of Rig Ved., Lord Jagannath is thus the ‘Purusottama’ and Puri is the “Purusottama Kshetra’ as described in the hallowed magnificent ancient treatise the “Skanda Purana”. Therefore, Jagannatha is the nucleus (Navi kendra) of the Great Indian Knowledge Tradition, mentions the author. Lord Jagannath is truly India’s National Deity.