Our Founder
About Our Founder / Our Founding Vision
Padma Shri Dr. Samuel Paul
(11 April 1930 – 26 October 2015)
The Vision Behind Public Affairs Centre
Public Affairs Centre (PAC) was founded in 1994 by Dr. Samuel Paul, one of India’s foremost economists, public policy scholars and institution builders. After an accomplished career spanning academia, international development and public administration, Dr. Paul envisioned an independent institution that would strengthen governance by placing citizens at the centre of public service delivery.
Having served as Professor and Director of the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA), taught at leading international institutions including Harvard, and advised organisations such as the World Bank, the International Labour Organization and the United Nations, Dr. Paul returned to India convinced that governance reforms required more than policy prescriptions—they required listening to citizens.
The idea for PAC began taking shape during 1993, when Dr. Paul started bringing together academics, civil servants, researchers and development practitioners who shared a common belief that public institutions should become more transparent, accountable and responsive. Working initially from his home in Koramangala, Bengaluru, and later from a small rented office, he laid the foundation for what would become Public Affairs Centre, formally established in 1994.
From its inception, PAC sought to bridge the gap between citizens and public institutions through evidence-based research, independent assessment and practical governance reforms. Rather than merely studying governance, Dr. Paul wanted PAC to develop tools that could generate actionable evidence and help governments improve public services.
Dr. Samuel Paul quoted that“… pride plays no place in the delivery of citizen entitlements, often it is viewed as a favour, an opportunity to abuse the asymmetry of knowledge to make a quick buck….”.
Under Dr. Paul’s leadership, PAC expanded its work across governance, urban management, decentralisation, public service delivery, anti-corruption initiatives and citizen participation. The Centre earned national and international recognition for combining rigorous research with practical solutions that informed public policy and strengthened democratic governance.
One of PAC’s earliest and most influential contributions was the development of the Citizen Report Card (CRC)—a pioneering methodology that systematically captured citizens’ experiences with public services. First implemented in Bengaluru, the Citizen Report Card demonstrated that citizen feedback could become a powerful instrument for improving transparency, accountability and service delivery. The approach has since been adapted across numerous Indian states and several countries around the world, establishing PAC as a global pioneer in social accountability.
As PAC grew, so did its institutional foundation. What began from Dr. Paul’s residence evolved into a dedicated organisation with its own permanent campus in the KIADB Industrial Area, Jigani. The land was acquired in 2004, construction was completed in 2005, and PAC began operating from its purpose-built campus in 2006, reflecting the steady growth of the institution and the confidence placed in its work by partners and supporters.
Beyond PAC, Dr. Paul also helped establish several initiatives that promoted public accountability and civic participation, including the Public Affairs Foundation, the Coalition Against Corruption, and the Children’s Movement for Civic Awareness. He authored numerous influential books on governance, development and public accountability, many of which continue to guide practitioners and researchers today.
His contributions were recognised through several prestigious honours, including the Padma Shri (2004), the Jit Gill Memorial Award from the World Bank—the first awarded to an Asian—and the Riggs Award for Lifetime Achievement in International and Comparative Public Administration.
Although Dr. Samuel Paul passed away on 26 October 2015, his vision continues to guide Public Affairs Centre. The principles on which he founded PAC—evidence, integrity, innovation, citizen participation and accountability—remain central to the organisation’s mission of strengthening democratic governance and improving public service delivery.
A Life and Its Lessons: Memoirs
The autobiography of Samuel Paul, this book reflects on his journey from childhood and education to his tenure as Director of the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIMA), adviser to international bodies like the World Bank and United Nations, and founder of Bengaluru's Public Affairs Centre (PAC).
Citizen at Heart
This Special Edition is the story of this journey - the myriad collaborations and exciting intellectual exchanges that laid the foundation for each and every advance the Public Affairs Centre has made in the last 25 years.
