Book review
Ideas That Have Worked brings together twenty fascinating and enlightening essays by some of India's leading industrialists, statesmen, bureaucrats and social workers about how they have overcome challenges and developed indigenous, innovative technologies that have paved the way for the nation's progress.

Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam talks about the challenges and success of India's space programme and identifies five mega projects that could transform the country into a developed nation, even as N.R. Narayana Murthy recounts how he and his team built Infosys Technologies into a world-class, Fortune 500 company. Ratan Tata describes the hard work and determination that went into designing and manufacturing the Indica, India's first indigenous car, while Mukesh Ambani elaborates on his dream of India assuming global leadership of the knowledge economy by 2005. Alok Sharma tells us about the two years that it took to organize the Kumbh Mela, the largest religious gathering on earth that brings together an estimated 20 million people on a single day, and Vilasarao Salunkhe describes the evolution of the Pani Panchayat, a landmark experiment in the area of water conservation which has transformed the lives of farmers living in drought-prone villages of Maharashtra.
.Edition: Hardback
• Format: Demy
• Extent: 304pp


About the author Former scientific advisor to the Prime Minister and father of the Indian missile program, A. P. J. Abdul Kalam surprised few when he rolled up to Raisina Hill from small town Rameshwaram to become the President of India. His career has been sketched by many before. The strength of his writing, indeed, of his character, is his ability to mix scientific vision with the destiny of the nation. The style and diversity of his writing is like his career itself: Rich, diverse and simple. And unlike the ravings of scientists driven by their visions of excellence, Abdul Kalam draws on the collected experience from his diverse career, starting with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering to working in 3 of the nations premier research establishment namesly Indian Space Research Organisation, Defence Research and Development Organistion and Bhabha Atomic Research Centre