Pointing out that global interactions have shaped the progress of the world over thousands of years through trade, travel and migration, Dr Sen warned India against being a `kupamanduka' (frog in the well).Dr Sen was in Mumbai to deliver the Dorab Tata Memorial Lecture.

Delivering the lecture to a packed audience, with hundreds more waiting outside the auditorium or listening to it on a giant screen in the lobby of the Tata Theatre, Dr Sen pointed out that there was no real conflict between being determined to resist global inequality and injustice and at the same time understanding and facilitating the positive contributions of globalised economic, social and cultural relations accross the world.

According to him, the resistance to global disparities calls for both global initiatives and for national and local ones. But while arguing for a global agenda for ``a more responsive international architecture'', Dr Sen made out a strong case for appropriate domestic policies to supplement the global initiatives.

The renowned economist was particularly critical of the neglect of primary education in the country. "The neglect of basic education and of infrastructure are two important examples of domestic handicap", according to Dr Sen.

He also elaborated on other issues which have been close to his heart while listing the causes of India's failure to take initiative as regards basic products -- lack of basic healthcare, of land reforms, non-development of micro credit and the long-delayed empowerment of women.

While arguing that globalisation is neither new ``nor, in general, folly'', Dr Sen pointed out that India has been an integral part of the world in the most interactive sense.

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It was a classic case of the economist's example of excess demand - of too many chasing too few (in this case, just one!). This more or less sums up the situation at Tata Theatre as there was near-pandemonium at the venue due to the overflowing crowds.

At one stage, it seemed that Amartya Sen's lecture would get disrupted as agitated spectators tried to force their way in. Ultimately, it was left to Dr Sen to open the doors of the auditorium and allow people in.