BOOK REVIEW

GROUP 7 IMAGINING INDIAIDEAS FOR THE NEW CENTURYNANDAN NILEKANI

It is primarily about ideas: the ideas that have held India back, the ideas that are allowing it to forge ahead, and the ideas that it still needs to embrace.

1GROUP MEMBERSMahaling (Group Co-ordinator)Benjamin KVidhya CRemya PAvneet Kaur

Arvind KumarSandip KoteManish AnandAadesh RaiShiva Prakash

Non-fiction

Penguin books

2008; 2009

Rs.425 only

B.Tech in Electrical Engineering in 1978 Infosys Technologies Ltd 2002Padma Bhushan 2006NDTV Indian of the Year 2011The Chairman of the new UIDAI 9 July 2009

Nilekani is co-founder of Infosys, one of Indias biggest IT firms, and a corporate icon in his homeland. This book, however, is no primer on business strategy or economic policy. There are many difficult issues over which Nilekani skates.

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INTRODUCTIONPURPOSEThe author has attempted to understand India through the evolution of its ideas.

OVERVIEW

Imagining India is divided into four parts:Globalization, demographic advantages.Infrastructural challenges.Conflicting political ideologies, labour reform and higher education.Democracy and technology, health, pensions and entitlements, the environment and energy.SUMMARY / BODYIndia re-imagined

All aboard

Fighting words

Closer than they appear

Part I - INDIA RE-IMAGINED

Demographic dividendEntrepreneurs as the devious capitalists to respected businessmen English global languageIT revolutionGlobalisation Democratic setup

Part II - ALL ABOARD

Dichotomy in school education

Lack of infrastructure

Rural to urban migration

Emerging single market

Part III - FIGHTING WORDS (Ideas in battle)Left vs. rightReform vs. populismCaste structuresLabour lawsRural IndiaHigher education

Part IV - CLOSER THAN THEY APPEAR

Use of IT and e-governance

Ultra-capitalism and inequality

Declining environment

Energy crisis

Networking effect in hospitals

EVALUATIONSTRENGTHSInnovative and realistic ideasHigh level of detailingWide coverage of subjectsOptimistic view about India in future

WEAKNESS

Over assessment of the liberalised eraHuman capital as a major strength of economic transformationGlorifies the proliferation of mediaSocio cultural issuesImportance for Corporate philanthropyImplementation is India's weakest spot

CONTENT

LANGUAGE - No pedantic prose or satire Compendium of events

WRITING STYLE - Light conversational

RECOMMEND - every Indian should read the book

CONCLUSIONThe author envisions the future challenges and provides solutions based on his wide experience in different aspects (social, political and economical) of India.

Thank you.