To the Brink and Back: India’s 1991 Story by Jairam Ramesh (Hardcover)

“To the Brink and Back: India’s 1991 Story” by Jairam Ramesh is a book that delves into the critical period of economic reform in India during the year 1991. The author, Jairam Ramesh, is an Indian economist and politician who had a ringside view of the events that unfolded during this crucial time in India’s economic history.

The year 1991 was marked by a severe economic crisis in India, characterized by a balance of payments problem, high inflation, and stagnant growth. In response to these challenges, the Indian government, under the leadership of then-Finance Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, implemented a series of far-reaching economic reforms. These reforms included liberalization of the economy, opening it up to foreign investment, dismantling of the License Raj, and various measures to boost industrial and trade sectors.

Jairam Ramesh, having been an active participant in the policymaking process during this period, provides insights and behind-the-scenes accounts of the decision-making that took place. The book reflects on the political and economic challenges faced by the government, the resistance to change, and the eventual positive impact of the reforms on India’s economic trajectory.

In essence, “To the Brink and Back” offers readers a firsthand account of the circumstances leading up to the economic reforms of 1991 and the transformative changes that followed. It is a valuable resource for those interested in understanding the dynamics of India’s economic policy and the factors that shaped the country’s economic landscape during this pivotal period.