BOOK REVIEW INDIA UNBOUND

BY GURCHARAN DAS

About the Author

Gurcharan Das born, 1946 is an Indian author, consultant and public intellectual. Born in 1946 at Lyallpur, India (now Pakistan) into a Punjabi Hindu family, Das spent the better half of his childhood in New York as his father was posted there. He graduated with honors from Harvard University in Philosophy and Politics. He

later attended Harvard Business School (AMP), where he is featured in three case studies. He is a columnist for The Times of India and other newspapers. Currently he is a Venture Capitalist and a consultant to Industry.

Part wise synopsis

This book is divided into 3 parts that are Our spring of hope (1942-65), The lost generation (1966-91) and The rebirth of dreams (1991-99) Part one : Our spring of hope The book starts with the pre-independence era, when India was ruled by imperial masters. Surely, imperialism was never about facilitating prosperity and development in one s colonies. So, we aren t surprised to learn that under the Brits, India recorded dismal progress. Part two : The lost generation according to Das it was in the post-independence era where we really failed to realize our economic goals, and the prime reason for that was Nehru s socialistoriented policies. Profit is evil, is what Nehru promulgated. If India was dismal, economically, under Pt. Nehru, then under Indira Gandhi, it was further wretched, with all manner of draconian controls being imposed on Indian industry. License Raj wouldn t let companies expand or produce over a government-specified limit. Pricing was controlled. MRTP and FERA made business houses bleed. With no foreign competition, Indian companies cared minimally for the quality of their products or services. PSUs enjoyed monopoly in their sectors Das pictures this era very intensely; perhaps he experienced it most intimately as the head of P&G in India. Part three : The rebirth of dreams

Finally, the book reveals the new dawn, the golden year of 1991 when India had to forcibly, I dare say liberalize and deregulate its economy, scrap all the stupid controls, and open its market for foreign companies. The rest, as they say, is history. Das also speaks about the magnates of Indian industry, who ruled in their respective eras. Be it Ambani s all too familiar rags-to-riches story, or JRD s (who use to pay a whopping 97% tax) meeting with Nehru, or the mention of first generation IT czars of India Das describes them all very neatly. Insight into the personality and enterprising attitude of the Merwari community is also wellpresented in a chapter dedicated to the community. Another chapter deals with the confident and burgeoning Indian middle-class, which is now the backbone of the Indian economy.

Author's style
It is an autobiography that touches on every area of life but focuses a keen eye on economic development, Das's account is jam-packed with detail. At every chance, he sets the personal story of his family and ancestors in the wider context of

history (often for full chapters at a time), creating a broad and richly detailed picture of Indian life. Though he writes in colorful, descriptive prose, Das's succinct and matter-of-fact statements occasionally seem to belie the complexity and ambiguities of historical and cultural transitions. However, India Unbound is a vast undertaking, and Das's combination of historical account, economic analysis, cultural observation, and personal experience is often intriguing and always informative.

Why do you recommend the book?

This book serves multiple purposes. The book is basically an account of a chaotic period and its effects on the native family who thought apart from the norms of society at that time. It can also be read as a starting point to debate the way India can transform itself as referenced by change agents within the country across enumerable sectors. The book provides a useful starting point for any nonnative-Indian seeking to understand the nature of globalization as it has effected India. The writer encourages an advancing India by way of his experience in the international arena, having seen the many sides of India i.e. political, cultural, economic etc. In this regard, the book stands as unique. The book is a very vivid and a well argued book in favor of advancing the world s largest democracy by applying the lessons from a lifetime of successful experience.

India Unbound is a very readable book. Especially if seen from the perspective of the business classes, it makes a lot of sense. It provokes discussion. After reading the book one realizes that it is strongly argued, well-written, easy to read, understand and comprehend, and offers an honest account of India's problems.

This book will help which individuals & why?

This book is a must-read for every Indian, and for anyone who wants to understand the factors that have and are shaping the contemporary Indian psyche, which, unlike the past, is now progressive, assertive, confident, and vibrant. And also because we should understand this age, the age in which India will be ushered towards awaiting glory.