- ISBN13: 9781400079773
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
Product Description
As the world’s largest democracy and a rising international economic power, India has long been heralded for its great strides in technology and trade. Yet it is also plagued by poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, and a vast array of other social and economic issues.
Here, noted journalist and former Financial Times South Asia bureau chief Edward Luce travels throughout India’s many regions, cultures, and religious circles, investigating its fragile balance b… More >>
Though the author covered extensive length on the geopolitical differences, he focused more on the political scenario and missed some of the complex cultural intricacies. Anybody who had thorough knowledge of the epics such as Mahabharat and Ramayana would understand that the context of so called invisible/laser alarms (lakshman rekha) and modern guided missile technology(asthras) were used hundreds of years ago. Though it is not easy to harness the large cross section of geopolitical and complex cultural heritage, India is still driven & run by Gods and Godmen.
Rating: 3 / 5
Many a books on India including the present one do not take the long term view. Any country, more so India, will improve only with time. If you expect the living standards of Indians to reach that of Swedes in 10 years, you are only deluding yourself. Because a superfast turnarund like that takes a revolution and the human costs of revolutions are high. Case in point, China and it’s great leap forward, don’t forget the millions massacred and the Tiananmen square.
There is no revolution happening in India. Among the hundreds of things wrong, a few are being corrected. The current government of Singh should be commended for being on the right path. Have they managed or even tried to tackle all that is wrong with India? Of course not, nor is there any near future possibility of any other political leaders capable of that.
So, India will stumble and move forward at it’s own pace. The elephant has risen and it will sometimes trot, sometimes walk and may even take naps. It will take a generation of two to reach the goals.
I also believe many a nations like China, England etc will throw spanners in India’s wheels when they start looking like a threat. Indians will never forget how their ultra romantic and pacifist first prime minister Nehru was stabbed in the back by the Chinese. The English know from their 300 years of rule over India, how to divide and rule. Unfortunately, India is still susceptible to many of their nefarious designs.
Rating: 3 / 5
This book is essential reading for anyone planning to do business in India. It gives a good “lay of the land.” The writing is very good prose which makes it an easy read as well…Highly recommended.
Rating: 5 / 5
Luce is very candid and honest about the good & bad of India. Good book to read for an “outsiders” (non-Indian) viewpoint.
Rating: 5 / 5
This is an excellent book which gives a birds-eye view of India in motion. It strikes close to the right balance between gloom at the myriad problems besetting India and the great enthusiasm and energy with which Indians are at work readying their country for greatness. It is written by a westerner, but manages to be in-depth enough to please those in the know about India as well as keep those who are coming new to India happy. Only issue is with the rapid pace of events in India, I hope the author comes up with a new edition within the next 5 years or so.
Rating: 5 / 5