India: the road ahead - Couverture souple

As former chief of bureau for the BBC in India, Mark Tully draws upon a lifetime's knowledge of this most diverse of countries to consider an emerging superpower at a pivotal moment in history.

Twenty years after his acclaimed book No Full Stops in India, Tully once again travels the length and

breadth of the country to discover how the ending of the economic controls which once stifled development has affected the sub-continent. What qualities does India possess today which will secure her central place on the world stage? And which traits might hinder her? Does rapid progress always come at a price?

Today, India is likely to become one of the major economies of the twenty-first century. But there are many unanswered questions about the sustainability of such growth and its effect on the stability of the nation. Tully considers whether the changes have had any impact on the poor and marginalised, and how the development of the country's creaking infrastructure can be speeded up to match its huge advances in technology and industry. With a gift for finding the human stories behind the headlines, he looks at the pressing concerns of different areas of life such as governance, business, spirituality and ecology.

In revealing interviews with captains of industry and subsistence farmers, politicians and untouchables, spiritual leaders and bandits, Mark Tully captures the voices of the nation. From the survival of India's languages and protection of wildlife such as the tiger, to the nation's thriving industries and colourful public affairs, India: the Road Ahead is a testament to India's vibrant history and incredible potential, offering an unforgettable portrait of this important country.