Implosion: India's Tryst with Reality - Hardcover

John Elliott

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 9350297353 ISBN 13: 9789350297353

Publisher: HarperCollins India, 2014

Synopsis

The Great India Story by a respected international journalistSince independence in 1947, India has muddled through, turning confusion and adversity into varying degrees of success. From his experience and perspective as both a business and political correspondent, John Elliott examines how this came to be. At a time when there is a widespread clamour for change and for a new form of politics, he looks at how corruption has eaten into all aspects of Indian life and questions the decades of rule by the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, and suggests democracy provides a smokescreen for much that is wrong. He explores the impact of liberalization, traces the build-up of social unrest over corruption, women's rights, and the exploitation of land and the poor. He also reflects on the limitations of a hesitant foreign policy and looks in detail at why India's defence forces are so depleted.At the heart of the problem, he argues, is the 'quick fix' attitude known as 'jugaad' and the laissez faire acceptance of 'chalta hai' that together have eaten into the social and political fabric and heavily influence what India is, and is not, today. He uncovers a secrets 'M document' that mapped out the 1991 reforms, and reveals how was an unwitting spectator at a Pakistan briefing meeting for the 1991 Kargil war.Incisive and ambitious in its attempt to gather together the many strands that make up a controversial India narrative, Implosion is a timely contribution to the debate on nationhood,development, the exercise of power, people's rights and the changing demographics of a country facing a Tryst with Reality.

About this title

About the Author

John Elliott is a former Financial Times journalist based in New Delhi. He writes a blog on Indian current affairs, http://ridingtheelephant.wordpress.com/. He also writes for Asia Sentinel in Hong Kong and his blog appears on The Independent newspaper website in the UK. In Asia since 1983, he has also contributed to The Economist, Fortune magazine and the New Statesman.

Edition details

• Publisher: HarperCollins India
• Publication date: 2014
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 9350297353
• ISBN 13: 9789350297353
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 400