NON-TECHNICAL

BOOK REVIEW

Submitted by
Sanjeev Kumar Sahoo

1. General Details of the book:

(a). Author of the Book:
Y.S.Rajan

A.P.J.

Abdul

Kalam

(b). Title of the Book:

Mission India

(c). Name of the Publisher:

Penguin Group

(d). Place of Publication:

Puffin

(e). Year of Publication:

2005

(f).

104

Pages:

(g). Cost:

Rs 95

(h). ISBN No:

ISBN 0-14-333499-9

with

2.

About the Author:

(a)

Apart from being a notable scientist and engineer, Dr

APJ Abdul Kalam served as the 11th President of India from

the period 2002 to 2007. He is a man of vision, who is always
full of ideas aimed at the development of the country and is
also often referred to as the Missile Man of India. People loved
and respected Dr APJ Abdul Kalam so much during his tenure
as President that was popularly called the People's President.
(b)

APJ Abdul Kalam was born on 15 October 1931 at the

South Indian state of Tamil Nadu and received honorary

doctorates from about 30 universities globally.
(c)

In the year 1981, the Government of India presented

him the nation's highest civilian honor, the Padma Bhushan

and then again, the Padma Vibhushan in 1990 and the Bharat
Ratna in 1997.

3.

About the Book:

(a) This book is based on the book India 2020: A Vision for
the New Millennium. This is a students edition and is
primarily intended as a road map for young people. All the
facts, figures and tables have largely been taken from India
2020.

(b) The book begins with the poignant question: Can India
become a developed country? It discusses and analyses our
strengths and weaknesses using facts and figures. Finally,
coming to a conclusion that we must have faith in ourselves
and give our undivided attention to the goal of making India
a developed nation.

(b) The author has given a well written and comprehensive

analysis of, potential of our nation. This inspirational book
introduces the unknown success stories of India and
discusses countrys problem at the beginning of the twenty
first century. It looks at different aspects of the national life
and clearly explains the achievements and challenges in
these areas. The book weaves past and present to urge the
readers to accomplish the mission of a developed nation. The
book dedicates each chapter to agriculture and food
processing, materials and the future, chemical industries,
biotechnology and strategic industries to discuss the present
state and its future potential. It explains what can be done to
develop these industries and what we must aim for.

(c) Out of various problems and its simple approach to

solve it, one of them is Enabling Infrastructure and Power

Generation. The author first explains what does

infrastructure consists of and how power is crucial for
growth? He gives facts and figures of aggregate investment
in these sectors since 1980 followed by target of next 5 year
plan. He gives realistic figures of power generation by various
methods like hydro, thermal, nuclear, non-utilities from 1950
onwards. He discusses traditional power sources and non
conventional power sources like biomass, biodiesel, wind
power, nuclear power etc He gives the figures showing our
capacity of nuclear plants to produce power. He raises
concern over power distribution as 80,000 villages are yet to
get electricity connection. He gives a solution to the problem
Networking of rivers which can yield 65,000 MW of power.
Focusing on non conventional energy sources in rural areas,
increasing investment in hydroelectric projects, emphasis on
nuclear, wind, solar and other non conventional energies,
attention to quality power and energy conservation method
are few other ways to look forward to solving this problem.
(d) India is growing strong in services sector and can
dominate it completely in coming future. Special attention
need to be drawn towards Indian education system. Thus it
emphasis the need for inputs relating to research and inquiry,
creativity and entrepreneurship in our educational system to
make an attitudinal change in the young minds, and look at
the latest technological tools that can be used to take quality
education to all corners of the country.

(e) The book later quotes examples of role played by

emerging technologies in fields of healthcare and
Infrastructure. It first looks at the present condition and then
analyses what can be done in these vital areas.

(f) In the final chapter, Realizing the Vision, it takes us

through the present trends of Indias development and our
future Vision 2020. It further outlines the integrated action
and also the role that can be played by every individual and
organization to achieve our goal. Thus it places a question for
the reader as what he/she can do to make the mission a
success the mission of transforming India to a developed
nation.

(g) The book is written in a very simple language to be

understood by any reader. It pumps energy in the reader
urging him/her to work towards the mission as at the end of
the book there are ten oaths that every individual has to live
up to, ensuring that the reader does at least a bit realizing
vision 2020. It makes us realize our potential and by means
of realistic facts and figures. Thus based on central tenets of
the runaway best sellers, this book seeks to inspire readers
with the crucial sense of purpose which is essential for
developing a strong and prosperous nation.

4.

Recommendation:

Though the book is specially written for the youth of

India, I would like to recommend this book to every citizen to
understand their responsibilities and duties before asking for
their rights and also to work towards the mission of a
developed nation.