India has had a fascinating history and is characterized by diversity seldom seen elsewhere. Edward Luce, working for the prestigious Financial Times, travels the vast expanse of India and notes his reflections with respect to the country's history and future in his book, relative to its own past and to the global economic condition. Taking the liberalization-privatization-globalization phase of the 1990s as the reference frame, Luce observes how the country has achieved growth rates only second to an emerging superpower like China in numbers. All of this, without a booming manufacturing sector or an industrial revolution. The peculiarity of India lies in the budding service sector that holds up the national income, fed by the sea of engineering and management graduates every year. The economic growth is strange in the face of deep-rooted casteism and corruption that is prevalent in the society and the political system here, which is expected to pillar a country's framework. Edward Luce vividly pens his experiences in different regions all over India, his encounter with people and religious sects that intrigue him and his sense of associating all that he observes in this giant subcontinent with the country's global economic outreach. For a true insight into the interesting facets of India and its importance in the macro economy of the world, 'In Spite of all the Gods' may be given a read.
