In this sweeping and comprehensive book, Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani offers an original perspective on India’s past, present and future. Looking closely at the country’s recent history, he discusses how our early socialist policies, despite good intentions, stifled growth and weakened democracy; how our large and overwhelmingly young population has now become our greatest strength; and how information technology is revolutionizing not just business but also governance in the everyday life of a vast majority of Indians.

Nilekani also gets to the heart of charged debates about caste politics, labour reform, infrastructure, urbanization, higher education, the English language in India and the role of the state in a globalized world where the wealth of big corporations exceeds that of some nations. Calling for reform and innovation in all sectors of public life, Nilekani argues that only a safety net of ideas—from genuinely inclusive democracy to social security, from public health to sustainable energy—can transcend political agendas and safeguard the country’s future.