2146th BLOG POST
13th Book of 2025
Anyone
who regularly reads newspapers knows how often we come across discussions about
India’s economic growth, its vision of becoming a developed nation,
and the dream of achieving this by 2047. Most of these articles,
however, feel incomplete—they leave us wondering how this progress is
actually measured and when it could realistically happen. That’s exactly
what Prosenjit Datta attempts to explain in his insightful book “Will
India Get Rich Before It Turns 100?” Published by Aleph Book Company,
the book carries the apt tagline “A Reality Check.”
This
120-page analysis is divided into three main parts. The first section explores
how predictions are made, how a nation attains the “developed” status, and the
role of assumptions, macroeconomic modeling, and optimism. The second
section focuses on critical issues such as whether India’s demographic
dividend is a boon or a curse, job scarcity, and recurring factors
behind India’s economic slowdowns—wars, global disruptions, the pandemic, demonetization,
and GST. The third and final section outlines policy direction and economic
stability, offering Datta’s thoughts on how India might still reach its
ambitious 2047 milestone.
Datta
begins the book on a witty and relatable note, recalling how politicians once
made short-term predictions for 2020 or 2025 but, after facing uncomfortable
questions about unmet goals, have now safely shifted their forecasts to 2047
and beyond. It’s a clever and engaging start—especially for a book tackling
such an academic and socio-economic topic.
Throughout
the book, Datta explains various economic ratios and calculation methods used
by institutions to assess India’s current and future standing. He insightfully
argues that GDP alone cannot define a country’s success, as it fails to
capture citizens’ quality of life and everyday realities. The book also
introduces readers to several useful abbreviations and concepts that broaden
one’s understanding of how multiple factors determine a nation’s growth
trajectory.
One
of the recurring themes Datta emphasizes is the absence of an updated census
for more than a decade, which hinders effective policymaking. He also discusses
Artificial Intelligence (AI), acknowledging both its overhyped
expectations and its transformative potential. Impressively, Datta remains
objective in his tone—he points out how under both Congress and BJP
regimes, India’s economy has seen phases of stagnation rather than the
continuous upward trajectory one would expect.
Overall,
Will India Get Rich Before It Turns 100? offers meaningful insights and
a fresh perspective on India’s developmental challenges. That said, I felt the
author could have explored more dimensions to strengthen his arguments—perhaps
by referencing other economists or reputed media analyses. Dividing chapters by
major sectors like Banking, Agriculture, IT, Manufacturing,
Retail, and MNCs could have further clarified how each
contributes differently to India’s economic journey.
This
book is a quick yet impactful read for anyone curious about India’s growth
story, economic policy, and the country’s long-term vision.
I would rate it 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Thanks!
WRITING BUDDHA
