Implosion: India's Tryst with Reality

by John Elliott

Since independence in 1947, India has basically muddled through, turning confusion and adversity into varying degrees of success. From his experience and perspective as both a business and political correspondent, John Elliott examines how this came to be. He looks at how corruption has eaten into all aspects of Indian life and questions the decades of rule by the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty. He explores the impact of liberalization, traces the build-up of social unrest over corruption, rape and exploitation of land, and reflects on the limitations of a hesitant foreign policy and depleted defence forces. At the heart of the problem, he argues, is the quick fix attitude known as jugaad and the laissez faire acceptance of chalta hai that together have eaten into the social and political fabric and heavily influence what India is today.

Incisive and ambitious in its attempt to gather together the many strands that make up a controversial India narrative, Implosion is a timely contribution to the debate on nationhood, development, the exercise of power, peoples rights and the changing demographics of a country facing a Tryst with Reality.

Genres: India, Politics, Ebooks, Nonfiction

480 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Budd Margolis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Essential guide for understanding India, an impossible task done with thorough & expert historical and analytical writing. This book filled in some gaps I had about India and helps one understand how India manages, lives and behaves and works, how India does not work, how India succeeeds & cheats itself.

John Elliott gives it to us straight and hard. Elliott oviously cares about India and is frustrated by the wasted potential. Governments, corporations, students of India and Indian's would all benefit from this book.

Written and published before the empowerment of the Modi Government and recent Delhi elecitons, I look forward to his take on this administration. Elliott has a very good blog: https://ridingtheelephant.wordpress.com/

[Saloni Mehra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honest, hard- hitting and a very important book that reveals that which we as Indians are often too afraid or biased to see. Elliott hits the hammer on the nail with his piercing, critical and highly comprehensive review of the imploding affairs of the country covering important areas such as governance, administration and international relations. Such a candid thesis on the country's functioning (or the lack of it) is best to be looked upon as a guide, rather than irksome criticism, so that it can help stimulate real change. A must read for anyone interested in understanding what plagues the country and why, and how we entered the mess that we find ourselves deeply submerged in today.

[Umesh Kesavan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two ways to enlighten oneself on the developments on the three fronts of politics,economy and society in the past two decades in India :

1.Web archives of The Hindu or
2."Implosion" by John Elliott.

Yet another good addition to the burgeoning literature of foreign journos writing on India. The only gripe is the repeated invocation of our "Chalta Hai" attitude.

[Vineeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Implosion : India's Tryst with Reality by John Elliot gives a no nonsense account of the events that are shaping India's future. The author dispassionately highlights the fundamental flaws in the Indian mindset, that of a quick fix solution to all problems -'jugaad' and the 'chalta hai' attitude which is proving detrimental to the progress of this nation. This book will definitely make every Indian, who is concerned about the welfare of their country, think about how much further we have to go, when compared to the western nations, to achieve the greatness that our country really deserves. The books highlights many anecdotes which shows why in spite of the rich history and heritage we Indians have failed to attain a great stature among world nations because of our regressive and selfish mindset. The author warns that if we don't take enough steps to root out the corruptions that has entwined our government and bureaucracy at all levels, it won't be long before the great Indian dream implodes.

[Prateek · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very candid and somewhat neutral take on India as a whole. This book can be termed as supplement to the post independence history of India.

[Ashwath · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very honest book about India.

[N · Rating 3 out of 5]

God og kritisk oversikt over økonomi og politikk i dagens India.

[Mahesh Kumar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book by a Journalist, Insightful with Details and Bold in calling truth.
A hard look at what's wrong with India.

[Gaurav Agarwal · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author is very very conversant with India. There is obviously a perspective, but the author is very accurate with what he presents.

[Vijay · Rating 3 out of 5]

A critical and blunt review of current situation in India; though at times too pessimistic. It very vividly puts on table what is wrong with the Indian system of doing things and the government; especially last 10 years on Congress Raj. Excellent read to understand why India is not able to realize its potential and watch-outs for coming years if India needs to reap the demographic dividend.

[Mohan Gulrajani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative well researched book.

[Anil Tulsiram · Rating 4 out of 5]

Depressing negative book on India's past and present, but well worth reading....