India Unbound

After thinking for quite a long time, I finally fixed on to writing a review of the book I recently read- “India Unbound” by Gurcharan Das. The author is a graduate from Harvard College & Business School. Former CEO of P&G, India. To know more about him click here.

The book eloquently analyses India socially, economically, politically in the post-independence era. How the leaders took wrong lessons from history and stuck to the Nehruvian philosophy for 40 good years which, to a great extent or completely, restricted liberalization and made India rigid when the globe and the Asian tigers revolutionized.

The British-Raj, The License-Raj, The Inspector-Raj, The plight of entrepreneurs, The bondages of Socialism and finally the reforms of 1991 followed by emergence of the economy as an uncaged tiger. Each period so powerfully expressed providing a deep scrutiny to the economic & political changes in India. The author grooves not only into the socio-economic India but also the managerial failure of the leaders post independence.

Author cites various examples from ancient history, relevant in the context of new India. Here I state one such, Alexander-Porus battle (326BC) signified the lack of team work of the Puru’s infantry-cavalry. The caste system in India since the very beginning engendered this disarray which prevails even today !

Author also elaborates on Marwaris’ and Gujratis’ acumen for business. What makes them so successful in their ventures and what exactly distinguishes them from others. He has quite satisfactorily tried to answer “If we were once rich, why are we now poor?”. Comparison between India and other nations (esp. China) made by the author at every significant point of time provides a lot of understanding.

In narrating the stories of most of India’s entrepreneurs, he paints his personal story into the framework of contemporary history. His family moves to America in mid 1950’s, his education in Harvard, his years in India as a young marketing executive, wrestling with social system which he feared would underestimate the country’s vast potential .His final decision to retire at the culmination of his career as a CEO in USA company and return to India in order to ‘make a difference’ in the Indian society and economy.

He concludes saying that, “India will never be a tiger .It is an elephant, which has begun to lumber slowly. It will never have speed but will have stamina. Although slower, India is more likely to preserve its way of life and its civilization of diversity, tolerance and spirituality against the onslaught of global culture.”

Well, I could have written more in the review, but I’m thrilled…..!!!!!
Wait for my next post ! sorry for leaving the review halfway thru…… :P but i gotto rush upstairs right now...

see ya...