Imagining India  (English, Paperback, Nilekani Nandan)

Imagining India: Ideas For The New Century is a book that provides the readers with insights into the major issues prevalent in India and the future of the nation.

Summary Of The Book

Imagining India: Ideas For The New Century is written by the co-founder of Infosys, Nilekani, who tells the readers about the motivation behind this book. He says that even though the nation has seen tremendous growth in recent times, there are certain roadblocks preventing it from reaching its full potential. Despite being the fastest growing democracy in the world, India possesses the second largest slum worldwide.

He goes on to explain that the major barrier to growth is the disagreement between businessmen and politicians on the current problems faced in India. Nilekani then tells the readers that such conflicts in ideas are very difficult to move past, to find common ground. This is because the incentives of entrepreneurs, governments, the poor, and the middle class are poles apart.

The Indian government has recently begun to redistribute wealth as a means of tackling the issue of inequality. Nilekani explains that the government has not paid attention to the crucial role played by access. He states that individuals should have access to clean water, jobs, capital, good schools, social security system, and health facilities, regardless of their income.

Nilekani traces the effects of access denial to the reason why individuals find it difficult to break free from the income class they are born into, as they are denied capital to start businesses. He goes on to tell the readers that the country needs to undergo reform, where the citizens should be given chances to be a part of the economy. He then explains that people have two choices, either to be united by their horizontal aspirations or divided by their vertical differences.

In Imagining India: Ideas For The New Century, the readers are also reminded that the country’s greatest economic strength is in its democracy. The author concludes by telling the readers that the main reason for him continuing to remain motivated towards a bright future for the country is the ‘can-do’ spirit, which is prevalent at large in the nation.

About Nandan Nilekani

Nandan Nilekani is an author and entrepreneur.

Nilekani was born on 2nd June, 1955, in Sirsi, Karnataka, India. He completed his schooling from St. Joseph High School Dharwad and Bishop Cotton Boys’ School. Nilekani finished his undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering, from the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay. He then started working for Patni Computer Systems, where he met N. R. Narayana Murthy. He co-founded Infosys and has held the post of the CEO, from 2002-2007. Nilekani currently holds the post of the Chairperson of the Unique Identification Authority of India. He has been presented the Transformational Idea of the Year Award by NDTV Indian of the Year. He is married to Rohini Nilekani and they have two children together.