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Montek S. Ahluwalia
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Back Stage Hardcover – February 5, 2019

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 753 ratings
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Tracing the spectacular trajectory of Ahluwalia's life from its humble beginnings in Secunderabad to the corridors of power in New Delhi, this book is a classic insider's account of how the India story was shaped and script Ahluwalia played a key role in the transformation of India from a state-run to a market-based economy, and remained a constant fixture at the top of India's economic policy establishment for an unprecedented period of three decades.
Previous page
  1. Print length
    466 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Rupa
  4. Publication date
    February 5, 2019
  5. Dimensions
    6 x 1.19 x 9 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    9353338212
  7. ISBN-13
    978-9353338213
  8. See all details
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From the Publisher

14

As soon as the election results were declared, I went to see Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to hand him my letter of resignation. It was an emotional moment for me. Manmohan Singh had played a major role in my career: encouraging me to move to India and join the Government in 1979, bringing me to the Ministry of Finance when the reforms began, and appointing me deputy chairman of the Planning Commission.

41

In our long association, I had come to admire his deep knowledge of India, and his patience in trying to bring about change. And yet, as I walked out of his office, I could not help reflecting on how things had drifted in the past two years and how the public mood had turned against the Government.

41

The perceived weakness of the Government had encouraged a number of institutions to assert themselves: the press, the courts, the opposition, civil society, and even the CAG. It created an environment in which there was a hankering for a strong government that could deliver results. The BJP fashioned its campaign for the 2014 election to respond to this feeling and won a resounding mandate.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Rupa (February 5, 2019)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 466 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9353338212
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-9353338213
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.84 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.19 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 753 ratings

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Montek S. Ahluwalia

Montek S. Ahluwalia

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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
753 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Professor Mahapatra
5.0 out of 5 stars People who carried out Political Direction
Reviewed in the United States on November 11, 2020
It was a very concise history of fifty years of economic events.It is a must read for those who want to know how India changed it's economic growth curve.
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Sumi
1.0 out of 5 stars Second Part is Bit Biased
Reviewed in the United States on December 16, 2022
The first part of the book is very good and gives a good overview of India's economic history from independence to progress made under successive prime ministers. But the issue is with the second part of the book from the year 2004 under the UPA 1 and UPA 2 government. The author was part of the government and has completely downplayed various scams under this government and the complete policy paralysis which plagued the government during its later part. It is a well-recorded fact that the dream economic team comprising of the author himself, and various teams of economic experts failed completely to deliver the results, but the book provides various excuses justifying the failures and downplays the corruption scandal which affected the government. But the author has been very generous at blaming low growths and mistakes done under other governments where he himself was not part of any economic team or planning commission. This was a good read, except for these biased views (which is natural as everyone will want to justify mistakes under their regime and blame others when they do the same).
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Top reviews from other countries

B.Sudhakar Shenoy
5.0 out of 5 stars ‘Sardarji bahut bolte hain’ (The sardar speaks a lot)
Reviewed in India on June 19, 2020
Verified Purchase
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.
7 people found this helpful
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CA Ashish Peety
4.0 out of 5 stars Backstage by Montek Singh Ahluwalia
Reviewed in India on March 24, 2020
Verified Purchase
Book- Backstage
Author- Montek Singh Ahluwalia
Type- Non-fiction (Economic Affairs)
Format- E Book (Kindle)

Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Chief Economist, needs no introduction for those who born in 20th Century. Back stage by Montek Singh Ahluwalia is a book which deals with historic economic matters of the country.

Author has taken the reader deep in the history back before 1990s. Book has four parts- each part talks about a different subject matter. Part one was focused more on the life of author whereas remaining three parts were focusing on states of affairs of economy in various decades. Part two talked about Indira Ganghi’ regime and 1990’s Economic crisis, part three talked about how India managed to overcome 1990’s crisis and part four talked about how India achieved high rate of growth under UPA II regime.

Book has eloquently covered various points such as Public private partnership, Centrally laid down schemes implemented by states, inclusive growth, liberalisation and many more. Book is worth reading on such points. At some places, narration struck into political matters. This is a long book about 700+ pages on Kindle. However it could be kept more crisp and point to point, much like Mr. Arvind Subramanian’s “Eclipse” or “Of Counsel”.

Layman’s point of view, this book is excessive descriptive. It is more based on historic content and does not lays down concrete vision for the upcoming future. More on this, politically biased narration can not be neglected. It is better for a reader to go with the facts based on situation rather than dwelling too much in the narration.

Reading is worthy if you are interested in historic economic matters.
3 people found this helpful
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Navendu
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic read
Reviewed in India on November 24, 2023
Verified Purchase
Montek Singh has done justice to a herculean task of making such a complex topic readable to novice like me. Thoroughly researched. He had ensured it that the book remains enjoyable at the same time explaining the complex issues of economics India was and is going through. Congratulations to him and his team.
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Vhyome Tiwari
5.0 out of 5 stars Masterclass
Reviewed in India on March 9, 2023
Verified Purchase
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.
One person found this helpful
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KS Pillai
5.0 out of 5 stars India’s Economic Transformation from “Papua to Butterfly”, written by the Leaf it consumed it!
Reviewed in India on October 30, 2020
Verified Purchase
Montek Singh Ahluwalia’s “Back Stage - The Story behind India's High Growth Years” is probably the best book on Economic History of Modern India … Voice of Cricket Harsha Bhogle compared Sachin Tendulkar and Manmohan Singh (implicitly) as torch bearer of Modern India, on that sense Montek Singh Ahluwalia (MSA) is Rahul Dravid of Indian Economy.

His assessment of incompetent judiciary is the biggest challenge of India, probably the most telling part of the book. The second challenge is the political upmanship where in the political parties holding the country for ransom for political capital (same policy was blocked during opposition got introduced when they become ruling party.

The Book is unique in its treatment, it gives you ringside view of the most challenging economy in the world. He addresses the Challenges of Federalism, Inclusive Growth, Bureaucracy, Short-sighted Political approach and the perpetual monkey on the back, the Indian Left. MMS and MSA rebranded socialism to “Inclusive Growth”.

He also gives an idea for technocrats who wish to return to India on how to manoeuvrer the bureaucracy and be effective in Indian setting. He discusses Indian “Jugad” (Networking), which indirectly address the challenges of Current government (lack of Network of the PMO in Delhi bureaucracy).

I wish the editor cut out the Chapter 16 and 17, because it was half baked chapters, didn’t go far enough to explain in detail, end up looking like an excuse.

A Must-Read book for the anyone who want know India’s Economic Transformation from “Papua to Butterfly”, written by the Leaf it consumed it!
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