This is a remarkable book on Indian urban middle class. Indian urban middle class is one that has lost the most as they expected a lot from democratic India born out of the British Empire. The class of Indian society has given more than it has been rewarded but still, they are eternally hopeful. This book traces one such 'khatri' family through World War I, the Rowlatt Act of 1919, the softening of British Empire, the Quit India Movement, the error of Gandhi and his time in jail, rise of Jinnah and the two nation theory, Lord Mountbatten and the Radcliffe Line, the ensuing riots/genocide on both sides of the border, the perceived loss of Hindu's, idealistic dreamer named Nehru, Indo-China ties, the rise of the Indian bureaucrats, the convoluted democracy led in succession by Nehru family, tyranny of Indira Gandhi, Sanjay inspired emergency and search for spirituality among the new Indian middle class.

Gurcharan Das relates the life of Bauji, a 'khatri' lawyer from East Punjab who represented the pre-independence progressive Indians. The ones, who used education to further the development of their people, who will lead India from freedom to glory. But Bauji got caught on the wrong side of the Radcliffe Line and did not believe that his countrymen will turn the joyous occasion of their freedom to one of the most hateful episode of communal riots in the modern history. Like many other unfortunate but brave souls with similar experience, Bauji builds his life again in free India, better life than his more fortunate countrymen. Alas, he finds out that the country he dreamed about is being run as an inefficiency and bad politics. His grandson, Arjun, carries his torch of middle class honesty, stubborn sense of justice and good-natured industry. The boundaries of a rigid Hindu society are extended by these bold, sensuous 'khatri' males.

I hope some day; all Indians are literate to read books like these. So that we can hang our head in shame for religion based politics and riots. This will stop politicians, from asking us to be Hindus, Tamil, Muslim, etc., before being human.

I enjoyed this book very much. It's a highly personal look at the Indian economy and Indian society since independence. Mr Das reflects on the path India has taken, and weaves into the narrative his own and others' personal stories to illustrate the points he wants to make. The villains of the piece (if you can call them that) are in particular Nehru and Indira Gandhi who introduced and then perpetuated what Mr Das would term state socialism, which strangled Indian capitalism. Even - hold your breath - Mahatma Gandhi comes in for criticism. Yet withal, this is an optimistic and energetically-written book, Mr Das seeing the reforms instigated by Narasimha Rao in 1991 as being the catalyst for change.

Yet, even though I enjoyed the book and found it very instructive, I cannot give it the full five stars. As a consumer, (I bought the book) no doubt Mr Das would agree entirely that I've a perfect right to point out what I think are the flaws in his arguments (or to be exact, the way he presents his arguments and the thought processes behind them).

I found many of the arguments in the book disconnected or just plain weird. For example, "...if the Japanese had succeeded in overrunning India, we might have been tempted to follow the successful Japanese model of export-led economic development after Independence..."(p8). An utterly extraordinary statement on just about every level. Then there's pure carelessness, stating that Churchill was trying to tempt the USA into World War Two in 1942 (!).

Mr Das dismisses socio-cultural explanations early on for India's economic failure yet goes on to explain that failure precisely in those terms later in the book, concentrating on caste in particular. Perversely, he then thinks that caste is a strength (the "baniaization" of Indian society will underpin the necessary changes in society). Blame for economic failure is then laid primarily at Nehru's door, but surely politicians don't just appear from Mars - why was there "an underlying assumption that business was dishonest"? (p95)

Globalization is welcomed with one hand, dismissed with the other (KFC is "dreaded" on p71 and OK on p303 because it produces jobs). Das appears totally confused about the effects of globalization, not wanting India to end up with "banal [Western-style]societies" (p303 and p355), but avers that Indian society will be able to resist this and benefit from globalization. But can you really pick and choose like that??
As for Mr Das's regret that Indian railways are not privatized, try coming to the UK, where they are, and the story is horrific!! Privatization is not a panacea - to be fair to Mr Das elsewhere in the book he recognises this.

In summary, a thought-provoking book, enjoyable as much for its faults as its successes.

India's recent leadership in information technology and software design is just one facet of the country's economic transformation and re-birth. Journalist, former CEO and Harvard graduate, Gurcharan Das was born in India shortly before its independence. He moved to the United States in the 1950s, then returned to India as a marketing executive. Das deftly weaves history, cultural commentary and astute economic insight into a page-turning tale, and then brings it to life with the connective tissue of his personal story. We [...] were spellbound by his splendid book, which details India's emergence into the global economy, while delving deeply into why it took the country so long to come into its own.

This is a very informative book (and a thrilling one for every Indian) on the current state of Indian economy, what policies and factors shaped it and what can be made of it in the new century. The book blends government policy details of the past half a century (of independence) with interesting anecdotes of successful businessmen. The author is a strong advocate of free market policies and comes down heavily on Nehruvian thinking. The statistics and facts that are presented to support his reasoning are compelling.

After reading this book, one would tend to see a lot of mistakes in Nehru's view of modern India. The book squarely blames Indira Gandhi for most of the damage done to the system, citing the nationalization of banks and enactment of laws thwarting entrepreneurship. Overall, the book is very positive in what the new millenium holds for India. It presents a glowing future in the face of the recent economic liberalization.

A must read to catch up with post-independence Indian economy.

A well written and passionate summary of economic and political changes in India since independence. It was an eye-opener in many ways: readers of Ayn Rand would appreciate parallels to situations described in Atlas Shrugged. Coming from a former CEO of P&G India, the book offers a useful perspective on economic policies and changes over the last few decades. Though often repititive in its ranting against policies of earlier Indian governments, the book is still fairly engrossing.

This is "must" read book for , who doesn't know India and who does.

Thanks

This book covers India over a broad enough frame of time .. the last 50 years since Independence. Since the author has worked in industry .. his views have a practical perspective. It also throws light on doyens of Indian industry the Birlas, the Tatas , the Amabanis.. and their efforts to power growth and simultaneously battle the bureaucracy.
The author has made a convincing attempt at pointing out the ills of bureaucracy and licensing .. and their effects in keeping economic growth down.

The book makes good reading , an understanding of fundamental economics is unnecessary and anyone who has an interest in India should find this book a very good read .