The Sun Will Always Shine on the Iconic Buildings of Raisina Hill
By Mohan Shukla
Chairman, Board of Governors, News365 Times
There are some places that transcend brick and mortar. They become institutions. They become symbols. They become living chapters of a nation’s history. For me, the magnificent North Block, standing majestically atop Raisina Hill in New Delhi, is one such institution. Every time I look at this legendary edifice, a wave of nostalgia washes over me. The memories are vivid, intimate, and deeply personal. They represent nearly four decades of my professional journey in public policy, government affairs, corporate communications, and nation-centric industry engagement. My association with North Block began during my formative years in the Tata Group, where I embarked on my career as a dedicated Public Policy and Government Affairs professional. Representing one of India’s most respected business houses, I frequently visited the Ministry of Finance to engage with some of the finest minds in Indian governance. Over the years, my responsibilities expanded across leading Indian corporations, global French multinationals, industry associations, and strategic business platforms. Yet, North Block remained a constant destination—an institution where ideas, policies, economic visions, and national priorities converged. Within those historic corridors, I had the privilege of interacting with generations of distinguished Finance Secretaries, Revenue Secretaries, Economic Affairs leaders, and senior civil servants who shaped India’s economic destiny. Looking back today, I remain profoundly grateful to these remarkable individuals.
Their intellectual brilliance, institutional wisdom, administrative acumen, and unwavering commitment to India’s progress helped shape my own understanding of public policy and governance. Interestingly, my connection with North Block extends beyond my own professional life. My late father, too, had his own association with the Ministry of Finance during the annual Union Budget preparation process. North Block taught me one enduring lesson: Public Policy is not a profession of shortcuts. It is built on patience, credibility, knowledge, persistence, trust, and continuous engagement.
The finest lessons I learned were not from textbooks or seminars, but through countless interactions with policymakers, bureaucrats, economists, and institutional leaders who carried the responsibility of steering India’s development journey. Today, as India stands on the threshold of becoming one of the world’s leading economic powers, the significance of institutions like North Block has only grown. Policies crafted within these walls influence millions of businesses, entrepreneurs, investors, innovators, and citizens.
For me, North Block will always remain more than a building. It is a university of public policy, a repository of institutional wisdom, and a symbol of national purpose. Indeed, the sun will always shine on the iconic buildings of Raisina Hill.
