A Sixth Of Humanity: Independent India's Development Odyssey: Independent India's Development Odyssey - A Financial Times Book of the Year (2025)
Devesh Kapur and Arvind Subramanian present a sweeping examination of how India orchestrated multiple transformations simultaneously. The nation chose an unconventional route, embracing democratic institutions whilst prioritising service sector growth and talent export over manufacturing expansion. What emerges is a portrait of contradiction: a socialist framework that morphed into inefficient capitalism, coupled with sporadic advances in state capacity. The results? India has somehow preserved functioning democratic systems and a functional social fabric, yet these hard-won institutions now face pressure from nationalist ambitions for prestigious infrastructure projects. Over four decades, economic expansion has enabled the state to deliver basic necessities to millions, though execution remains uneven. The authors, drawing on rich policy backgrounds and scholarly expertise, trace how one nation juggled state-building, economic transformation, social upheaval and national cohesion under universal suffrage. Their narrative spans multiple disciplines and geographies, grounded in meticulous research and lucid argumentation. This work stands apart because it captures India at a pivotal moment, when contradictions between democratic values and development aspirations demand urgent attention. The book offers essential perspective for anyone seeking genuine insight into the country's trajectory and what comes next.
- Author: Devesh Kapur
- Publisher: HarperCollins India
- Genre: Economics
- ISBN: 978-9369891092
- Pages: 760 pages