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A book by former Union Minister Jairam Ramesh - an insider's account on the ushering in of the economic liberalisation in 1991, which was India's "Greece moment", will be released here on August 30.
"To the Brink and Back: India's 1991 story" is claimed to be the first account of the fast paced change narrated by an insider, a key aide of the Prime Minister, uniquely positioned to both participate and observe.
It carries brisk account of early days of survival, the compulsions and convictions that propelled the paradigm shift in India's economic policy and the ups and downs, the twists and turns in the saga of fiscal reforms, Ramesh said.
Its blurb says: "1991 was India's 'Greece moment'. It faced an unprecedented financial crisis in the backdrop of political uncertainty and crumbling investor confidence. On 21 June 1991, P V Narasimha Rao became Prime Minister and appointed Manmohan Singh as Finance Minister. In less than 35 days, the Rao-Singh duo ushered in momentous changes in economic policy-those that transformed the country."
Along with the author's insights, the book holds key documents and notes, placed for the first time in public domain, the personal papers of Narasimha Rao, private conversations with Manmohan Singh, Parliament proceedings and minutes of seminal Congress meetings.
Coming as it does on the silver jubilee of India's economic revolution, 'To the Brink and Back' will not appeal only to those interested in political history but also to readers who wish to know how countries can be led from the brink to a radical economic future, the publisher says.
As an economist and policy expert, Ramesh has been the advisor to the Prime Minister and Finance Minister. He has also served in the Planning Commission, Ministry of Industry and Advisory Board on Energy.
