Mihir S. Sharma’s book, Restart: The Last Chance for the Indian Economy discusses how, India which a few decades ago seemed poised to become a major player in the global economy, but puzzlingly failed to do so. The author, a Harvard educated economist, started his career as a journalist for the Indian Express, and also serves as the Opinion Editor for Business Standard, not only tries to unravel the riddle by pointing out a number of serious problems that hold the country back, but also offers insights about what caused them and how these problems could be fixed.

    The author does not shy away from saying that, it is going to be very hard to get out of the mess which India finds itself in, unless India rethink its policies, its administrations and even its attitudes. Sharma faults the ineptitude of both the state and the private sector. According to the author, it all started, in 1991, when Mr. Narasimha Rao, Prime Minister and Mr. Manmohan....