Recasting India: How Entrepreneurship is Revolutionizing the World's Largest Democracy - Hardcover

Sengupta, Hindol

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1137279613 ISBN 13: 9781137279613

Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan, 2014

Synopsis

Twenty years after India opened its economy, it faces severe economic problems, including staggering income inequality. A third of its citizens still lack adequate food, education and basic medical services, while Mumbai businessman Mukesh Ambani lives in the most expensive home in the world, which cost over a billion dollars to build, and despite the fact that India now has a Mars mission there are still more mobile phones than toilets in the country. In most places, such a disparity would have the locals pounding at the gates. So why no Arab Spring for India? Hindol Sengupta, senior editor of Fortune India, argues that the only thing holding it back is the explosion of local entrepreneurship across the country. While these operations are a far cry from the giant companies owned by India's ruling billionaires, they are drastically changing its politics, upending the old caste system, and creating a "middle India" full of unprecedented opportunity. In fact, India's 7,000 biggest companies only employ around 7% of its workforce. The other 93% work in this so-called 'unorganised sector,' - like Gazalla Amin whose flourishing horticulture business from the heart of Kashmir, where nearly 50,000 people have been killed in a 20 year old militancy, has given her the title 'lavender queen'. Or Sunil Zode, who stole the first shoes he ever wore and now drives a Mercedes andwhose pesticide business istearing apart India's centuries old vicious caste system. And, in one gripping example of invention growing out of necessity, Calcutta's Pranaadhika Deb Burman, who has been molested more than 25 times in her 26 years, makes homemade pepper sprays that sell out instantly. Sengupta shows that the true potential of India is even larger than the world perceives, since the economic miracle unfolding in its small towns and villages, as opposed to large financial and tech companies, is not reflected in its stock markets. He reveals an India rarely seen by the larger world or even spoken of among Indians themselves - the millions of ordinary, enterprising people who are redefining the world's largest democracy.

About this title

Review

""Recasting India" does just that--it recasts India in our imagination. Hindol Sengupta breaks every cliche about India from caste to class, gender and poverty and shows us, through imaginative, vivid storytelling, the outstanding efforts of little known people and how they are tackling India's most daunting challenges through the sheer dint of everyday enterprise. Hindol brings us, finally, with startling clarity the little appreciated real story behind the rise of India. This is business at its best."--Vijay Govindarajan, Coxe Distinguished Professor at Tuck at Dartmouth and WSJ and NYT Best Selling Author

" "

""Recasting India" brings to the fore our nation's ever-progressing entrepreneurial streak. Hindol Sengupta powerfully steers the book with his lucid opinion on free enterprise in India and its potential to transform our socio-economic landscape. His expert use of language and a riveting storyline create an interesting reading experience. The author's research-led approach captures the imagination, making it a worthwhile read for both aspiring entrepreneurs and business leaders."-- N. R. Narayana Murthy, Chairman, Infosys "As India transforms from traditional to modern, rural to urban, agrarian to industrial and old to young, this book offers a fascinating look at the change from below: as seen by the entrepreneur, the consumer and, above all, the ordinary citizen. The added attraction is the lucid and engaging writing style of the author."--Arvind Panagariya, Professor of Economics, Columbia University

"Recasting India" does just that--it recasts India in our imagination. Hindol Sengupta breaks every cliche about India from caste to class, gender and poverty and shows us, through imaginative, vivid storytelling, the outstanding efforts of little known people and how they are tackling India's most daunting challenges through the sheer dint of everyday enterprise. Hindol brings us, finally, with startling clarity the little appreciated real story behind the rise of India. This is business at its best. "Vijay Govindarajan, Coxe Distinguished Professor at Tuck at Dartmouth and WSJ and NYT Best Selling Author"

"Recasting India" brings to the fore our nation's ever-progressing entrepreneurial streak. Hindol Sengupta powerfully steers the book with his lucid opinion on free enterprise in India and its potential to transform our socio-economic landscape. His expert use of language and a riveting storyline create an interesting reading experience. The author's research-led approach captures the imagination, making it a worthwhile read for both aspiring entrepreneurs and business leaders. "N. R. Narayana Murthy, Chairman, Infosys"

As India transforms from traditional to modern, rural to urban, agrarian to industrial and old to young, this book offers a fascinating look at the change from below: as seen by the entrepreneur, the consumer and, above all, the ordinary citizen. The added attraction is the lucid and engaging writing style of the author. "Arvind Panagariya, Professor of Economics, Columbia University""

Recasting India does just that--it recasts India in our imagination. Hindol Sengupta breaks every cliche about India from caste to class, gender and poverty and shows us, through imaginative, vivid storytelling, the outstanding efforts of little known people and how they are tackling India's most daunting challenges through the sheer dint of everyday enterprise. Hindol brings us, finally, with startling clarity the little appreciated real story behind the rise of India. This is business at its best. Vijay Govindarajan, Coxe Distinguished Professor at Tuck at Dartmouth and WSJ and NYT Best Selling Author

Recasting India brings to the fore our nation's ever-progressing entrepreneurial streak. Hindol Sengupta powerfully steers the book with his lucid opinion on free enterprise in India and its potential to transform our socio-economic landscape. His expert use of language and a riveting storyline create an interesting reading experience. The author's research-led approach captures the imagination, making it a worthwhile read for both aspiring entrepreneurs and business leaders. N. R. Narayana Murthy, Chairman, Infosys

As India transforms from traditional to modern, rural to urban, agrarian to industrial and old to young, this book offers a fascinating look at the change from below: as seen by the entrepreneur, the consumer and, above all, the ordinary citizen. The added attraction is the lucid and engaging writing style of the author. Arvind Panagariya, Professor of Economics, Columbia University

"

About the Author

Hindol Sengupta is the Senior Editor for the Indian edition of Fortune magazine and the founder of India's only open-government nonprofit, the Whypoll Trust. He has worked as a political interviewer on Bloomberg TV and as an anchor and reporter with the Indian editions of CNBC and CNN. He is the author of The Liberals, which won praise from globally renowned economists and public policy experts like British Labour peer Lord Meghnad Desai.The online ideas platform IdeaMensch included him on its list of 33 global social entrepreneurs who make the world a better place.

About this edition

• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 1137279613
• ISBN 13: 9781137279613
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 336