Imagining India: Ideas for the New Century

‘A sprawling book of ideas and idealism’—India Today

‘A tome as memorable and, perhaps, as appropriate as Barack Obama’s Audacity of Hope . . . this is a story told by one of India’s greatest dreamers who, having realised his dreams, is now impatient to help his countrymen realise theirs’—Businessworld

‘This is an inspirational, optimistic book that makes you more hopeful about India . . . Nilekani is a liberal and a renaissance man. He not only shares the values that define the Indian republic, he embodies them. He offers a convincing and balanced perspective on the future direction of public policy in India’—Outlook

‘Laced with personal experiences and interactions with over 100 opinion leaders from different walks of life, Nilekani pieces together an exciting journey for the reader’—The Hindu

‘It is hard not to be impressed by an author who alludes to Milton on one page, then turns to the charms of the National Municipal Accounting Manual on another . . . There are shorter, gentler introductions to India. But this is the second book everyone should read about this compelling country’—The Economist

In this sweeping and comprehensive book, Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani offers an original perspective on India’s past, present and future. Looking closely at the country’s recent history, he discusses how our early socialist policies, despite good intentions, stifled growth and weakened democracy; how our large and overwhelmingly young population has now become our greatest strength; and how information technology is revolutionizing not just business but also governance in the everyday life of a vast majority of Indians.

Nilekani also gets to the heart of charged debates about caste politics, labour reform, infrastructure, urbanization, higher education, the English language in India and the role of the state in a globalized world where the wealth of big corporations exceeds that of some nations. Calling for reform and innovation in all sectors of public life, Nilekani argues that only a safety net of ideas—from genuinely inclusive democracy to social security, from public health to sustainable energy—can transcend political agendas and safeguard the country’s future.