India: From Midnight to the Millennium (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "India" Winston Churchill once barked, "is merely a geographical expression..." (more)
Key Phrases: other backward classes, billion rupees, prime ministry, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, United States (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Author Shashi Tharoor has spent half of his life outside of India, yet his position as a "NRI" (Non-resident Indian) has given him the distance and perspective necessary to produce India: From Midnight to the Millennium, an in-depth critique of the country's first fifty years of independence. Tharoor, currently executive assistant to the secretary general of the United Nations, is known for both his fiction (The Great Indian Novel, Show Business) and his journalism; in this effort, he blends fine prose with a reporter's talent for analysis, resulting in a skillful examination of some of the greatest challenges India has faced over the past five decades, as well as what lies ahead for the nation.

In chapters devoted to such diverse topics as caste, the free-for-all nature of Indian democracy, the troubled legacy of Indira Gandhi, and the partition of India and Pakistan in 1947, Tharoor both explicates the history of India since independence and attempts to define what makes India one country and Indians of various ethnic, religious, and cultural backgrounds one nationality. He is forthright in his discussion of the sectarian violence that has ripped through the country, the corruption that is rife throughout the ranks of the Indian civil service, and the difficulties that face a nation in which 48 percent of the population remains illiterate. Yet Shashi Tharoor writes of these problems with a sense of optimism about the future, confident in the ability of his countrymen to find solutions within a democratic political system.

From Library Journal

Tharoor, an Indian diplomat, offers "an insightful and provocative analysis of the accomplishments and failures of the past 50 years" that will be "useful to anyone interested in modern India."
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Arcade Publishing; 1st edition (August 15, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1559703849
• ISBN-13: 978-1559703840
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,885,192 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, India's past & present in living 3 D, August 13, 1998

By A Customer

As an citizen of India, who immigrated to America at the age of 9, I have a profound connection to my motherland. I have several times tried and failed to find a good history book on India. However, Mr Tharoor's book is beyond compare. It bring history alive with all of the major players from PM Nerhu, PM Indira Gandhi, and many others. The book is a running dialogue between the author and the reader combined with insightful comments and even humor. From its opening which is stunning and very provacative,this book keeps your interest and even increases it. I highly recommend this book to those who are searching for a good book on India's history and for those who want a glimpse into understanding modern India. The best quality is that it contains information about current topics like economic liberalization and Hindu fundamentalism. I liked the book so much that I read The Great Indian Novel which is equally facinating satire of India's political dynasty. I can say with confidence that many NRI's will identify with author's unique background and his feelings about India. In short, this book fills a much needed void.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent work on present day India., May 14, 1998

By	Pratip Mitra (Kenmore, NY USA) - See all my reviews

Tharror's work is one of the best that I have read so far on modern India. Tharoor's unique background of being born and raised in India (responsible for his love for her) and currently residing out of India in the US (responsible for looking at India more objectively and not being blinded to faults due to patriotism), gives this book an unique flavour. What I found most heartening throughout the reading was that the concept of India was almost holy to him. India with all its faults and shortcomings is beautiful. It's pluralism and democracy are its greatest strengths and Tharoor brings this out most aptly.I think Tharoor reflects the viewpoints of the educated liberal middle class in India,which in my opinion is the most balanced position that we as Indians can take. In conclusion, I would state that this book is a must for Indians or anybody interested in India as she is today.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sweeping, breathtaking analysis of contemporary India., August 20, 1997

By A Customer

From a stark and honest review of India's myriad problems and past policies to a positive articulation of an Indian vision for the future, Sashi Tharoor led me through India's independent 50 years with a blend of impressive historical and current analysis, erudition, common-sense pragmatism and pride.

I came away with some important conclusions:
* An affirmation of the multi-religious, multi-ethnic, pluralistic definition of the Indian identity.
* India can only be compared with India. This allows me to view its tortuous progress with an enhanced understanding of its problems.
* Democracy is its greatest strength and hope.