SynopsisWhen Narasimha Rao became the prime minister in 1991, just a billion dollars separated India
from bankruptcy. He was told by Finance Minister Manmohan Singh, that petrol pumps would run
dry after two weeks. India was forced to ship 46.8 million tonnes of gold to secure $400 million
in loans from the Bank of England and Bank of Japan. This blow to the national pride may not
have been comparable to the military humiliation of 1962, but it was bad enough.
Carved in riveting prose, India’s World is about such trials and many triumphs of the country.
Since Independence, eight prime ministers, in particular, have been the principal architects of
India’s rise. From Nehru, venerated as a resolute statesman and one of the great political minds
of the last century, to Modi who is acknowledged as a determined doer, the book offers a crystal
clear portrait of India’s leaders.
This lively volume celebrates the myriad ways in which they have made history. It asks and answers
questions that people often debate about. Who was the great Indian prime minister, complete
in every respect? If there was one, could it be Nehru, Indira or Rao? Or, is it Modi? Elegantly
written by one of India’s finest strategic minds, it is a must-read for those curious about India’s
place in the world. There are messages too for a future Indian prime minister on what to expect.
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Binding: Hardback
About the author
A former diplomat, Rajiv Dogra is a writer, television commentator and an artist. An active
public speaker, he received the honorary doctorate from University of Oradea, Romania. After two
novels he has written two non-fiction books: Footprints in Foreign Sands (1997) deals with the issues
of migration, while Almost an Ambassador (2005) takes a satirical look at the diplomatic corps.
Where Borders Bleed came out in 2015 and Durand’s Curse followed in 2017. Commenting on it,
the New Indian Express wrote, ‘Dogra tells a riveting account… He had previously penned one
of the most respected books on the India–Pakistan relationship, Where Borders Bleed… Durand’s
Curse keeps up that legacy.’