India's Century

A useful book to understand India’s current success and review the country’s social and economic situation. The author, a well-known national political figure, was a government minister several times, has represented India in international trade negotiations, and was closely connected with the reforms that transformed the country starting in 1991 – which he describes in detail in chapter 3.
The book heavily underlines the positive dimensions of these transformations, and the almost idyllic portrait drawn of India can seem exaggeratedly optimistic and a “commercial” for the country – even if chapter 11 also covers some of the country’s problems – inadequate infrastructure, insufficient basic education, etc. However, the precision of the facts related and the many anecdotes drawn from the experience of an elected official in the field convincingly demonstrate that something is happening in India. Chapter 2, for example, contains a remarkable table showing the changes underway, not only in cities, but especially, insists the author, in rural areas. Chapter 6, devoted to the power of Indian industry and the quality of its university system, is particularly recommended.