Book

Imagining India

The Idea of a Renewed Nation

Nandan Nilekani

Penguin Group (USA), 2009

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Many businesspeople believe that India’s national economy will be a dominant international force in the future. India’s vast resources, untapped human capital and enterprising businesses cast it firmly in the role of global economic powerhouse. Nandan Nilekani, co-founder and co-chairman of Infosys, the corporate services giant, offers an insider’s view of his home country’s remarkable progress and ever-present challenges. He pulls no punches in detailing India’s problems, ranging from political to cultural to economic matters, but in so doing, he paints a revealing portrait of a nation slowly coming to grips with myriad issues. This substantial book is detailed, sometimes too much so for the casual reader, but its wealth of insight and information make reading it a worthwhile endeavor. getAbstract recommends Nilekani’s honest assessment of India – past, present and future.

Summary

Great Technology, Bad Roads

India presents the outsider with a complicated and often contradictory face: Some of its most modern office complexes are difficult to reach because of unpaved, jammed roads; its democratic society tolerates one of Asia’s largest slums; its large numbers of well-educated “knowledge workers” disguise the world’s highest tally of school dropouts; and globally renowned companies operate in an often hopelessly bureaucratic home market.

Dwelling on these anomalies obscures the road to progress India has traveled since its independence in 1947 and its rise to global economic superstardom in the past few decades. Since the early 1990s, annual growth rates in excess of 6% have spurred a mushrooming domestic and international economy that provides enough money to create a viable middle class and to raise millions of people out of poverty. The thousands of Indians who are well educated and English speaking comprise an in-demand workforce that has made the country the home of world-famous technology and service industries.

That’s the face India presents to the outsider. Most of the experts who observe India anticipate that its role in a globalized...

About the Author

Nandan Nilekani is co-founder and co-chairman of Infosys Technologies Limited.

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A. S. 1 decade ago

I read the book a while ago. One of the idea proposed by Nandan in his book subsequently prompted the Indian government to invite Nandan to set-up the authority to provide unique identity to all the Indian citizens. The purpose behind driving this initiative is to efficiently manage the various benefits programs which are driven by Government of India.

On similar lines he has spoken about many other ideas which could be of significant impact if implemented especially the one on energy tapping around central India. This idea also has a big potential to lead India towards self-sufficiency in energy space.This is one of those books which everyone should read who is looking to explore some innovative options for problems which we may be facing as a country today. It definetly adds different perspectives on looking at the issues.

Though the name suggests the book to be on India but the ideas suggested and discussed could be very much relevant for many other countries who share the similar geographical profile as India has.