Backstage: The Story Behind India's High Growth Years

This is one of the finest books on the story of India’s economic transformation in the last three decades. To put it in perspective, India from being once termed as a basket case with the ‘Hindu’ rate of growth, is now a part of the middle-income countries albeit at the lower end. Clearly the year 1991 was a watershed year when we decided to proclaim independence from the shackles of the licence permit raj. The rest, as they say is history.Montek Singh Ahluwalia (MSA) sets the right tone at the beginning of the book. This is not a selfie in book form. Neither is this book an adulation of any political party or leader. It is the exciting journey of a brilliant professional economist, through the chequered landscape of a variety of assignments at home and abroad and serving in multiple roles in both staff and line functions.The humble beginnings of MSA, born in a middle-class family, his father a clerk in the Govt Of India, and a family highly committed to hard work, core values and the importance of quality education, is a great example and inspiration for our youth.The student days at St Stephens and Oxford is another example of hard work and passion to excel. I can imagine how proud the parents would have felt when MSA was among the two Indian students selected for the Rhodes scholarship. It pains me to see that these days obtaining a ‘management seat’ is a fashion, where the ‘donation’ for obtaining a seat for a professional course is inversely proportional to the marks obtained by the pampered child.MSA’s jobs at the World bank and IMF at different points in his career gives him excellent exposure in multiple projects in a wide range of countries including Turkey, Mexico, and the Far East. This experience is put to good use in all the key positions that he occupied in India.From being an economic advisor, joint secretary, secretary in the ministries of finance, economic affairs, PMO and as member and deputy chairman of the planning commission, working under several Prime Ministers and Cabinet Ministers, from a wide spectrum of political parties, is not an easy task. Yet, the book clearly brings out the fact that at the highest level, there is commitment to sound economic policy, though the stand may change based on which side of the bench one occupies in parliament. The good news is that once a politician is on the ruling side, the policy is accepted, and fortunately this has given the country continuity in economic reforms.The three pronged approach of high growth rate ( to ensure trickle down of prosperity), focus on agriculture and direct pro-poor programs result in the highest ever average GDP growth rate of 7.8 percent during the years of the UPA Government from 2004 to 2014.A wide range of topics including agriculture, industry, infrastructure, public services, banking, and institutional reforms is discussed. One also gets a clear picture on the working of the central and state governments in economic policy formulation and implementation. There is also a full chapter on the controversies and allegations of corruption under the UPA.MSA’s close interactions with Dr Manmohan Singh is the hallmark of this book. Dr Singh’s depth of knowledge, breadth of perspectives, simplicity and strength of character are sterling qualities of professional leadership at the highest level in Government. Unfortunately, politics takes precedence over professionalism in a large multiparty Democracy. As aptly pointed out in the concluding paragraph of this book: ‘Good economics may not seem to be good politics in the short run, but wise political leaders will realise that it is almost always the best politics in the long run’. Hope this wisdom dawns.A senior politician once remarked ‘Sardar bahut bolthe hai’ (the sardar speaks a lot) after meeting MSA. In my opinion, we need more of him and more like him, and the freedom to talk, debate and prosper.Unstoppable, and unmissable book. JAI HIND.

A masterclass in modern Indian economic history just before and post reform (1991). A must read. What one gets is not just data and fact, but wonderful insights on the workings of the State and its functionaries. Especially striking to me was the book’s dedication, which mentioned how it is our generation which has the ‘greatest stake’ in our nation’s growth story. The book is “objective” and full of wisdom from a great master of Indian economics. There are two or three ways the country can move forward, and the book, I think, offers one path, it seems to me, which has development with inclusivity in mind — the best of all paths.

Informative and throws light on how and why particular decisions Re taken or not taken in Govt. À little dragging but still readable.

India is phenomenon, intensity of which is so unrealised until you end up immersing yourself in the same. Economic history is just another fascinating part of the phenomenon. And when it comes about exploring the shades of economic trajectory since 1980's, I think i havent ever read anything more fascinating than this my the man Called Montek, who himself was at the helm of the affairs in various capacities.One needs to outrightly discard away the prejudices about the growth stories of India for the 70 year narrative being endorsed by a few sections is falsehood epitomised. Coz it indeed is a roller coaster which is so thrilling. The range of personalities like Rajiv, PVN Rao, Manmohan Singh, Vajpayee who lead from the front coupled with the quality bureaucratic brass make it a folklore of development years worth to be cherished. The book is extremely readable and extremely insightful. Go for it. You need to be informed by such masterpieces, before the vulnerability driven by misinformation makes you a trap of propoganda which lives after diminishing the sheen of the era under consideration in the book.

I am half way through this book, and the reason i bought it was because i was an Economics student. As the forward states, it is a travelogue of India's journey. I do have some disappointments though. The editing could be lot tighter (Rupa could have appointed some editor to work alongside the author) and some references for students could have been printed at the end. I like the pics but only the professionaly taken ones are good to see, the others seem blurred. Above all, it is great to read what PM Singh and Montek, the Sikh duo did for India. May their inspire others as well especially in our troubled times