A quirky look at India using popular economics Why does the stock exchange dip during a lunar eclipse? Why don’t cars with safety features lead to fewer injuries? Why did Nehru ignore the Chinese threat in the lead-up to the 1962 war? Why is it that a stranger might risk his life to save yours on one day, and a street full of passers-by might casually watch you bleed to death on another? Why did pollsters wrongly predict a BJP victory in 2004, and what was the real reason for their defeat? And why is India’s Independence Day not, in fact, on the day on which it’s celebrated? In pithy, sparkling, bite-sized chapters, economists Vivek Dehejia and Rupa Subramanya tackle these seeming mysteries and unearth the real reasons why ‘we are like this only’. The answers are entertaining and surprising at every turn, and reveal a picture of modern India as never seen before.

The Pro-Incumbency Century: How Leaders Are Fashioning Repeat Mandates in India by Yashwant Deshmukh: Explore the dynamics of political leadership and governance in India with The Pro-Incumbency Century by Yashwant Deshmukh. In this insightful book, Deshmukh delves into the phenomenon of repeat mandates, where leaders secure consecutive electoral victories. Drawing on extensive research and case studies, he examines the factors, strategies, and public sentiments that contribute to political longevity, offering a compelling analysis of the changing landscape of Indian politics. Key Aspects of the Book The Pro-Incumbency Century: Political Leadership and Governance: The book provides a comprehensive analysis of political leadership and governance in India. Deshmukh explores the strategies employed by incumbent leaders to secure repeat mandates and examines their impact on policy implementation, public sentiment, and political stability. Factors Influencing Repeat Mandates: The author delves into the factors that contribute to pro-incumbency, such as economic performance, welfare programs, charismatic leadership, and effective communication. By examining these factors, Deshmukh offers insights into the changing preferences of Indian voters and the evolving dynamics of electoral politics. Case Studies and Research Analysis: The Pro-Incumbency Century presents case studies and research analysis of notable political leaders who have secured repeat mandates. Through a combination of data-driven insights and anecdotal evidence, Deshmukh provides readers with a nuanced understanding of the strategies and challenges faced by leaders aiming for long-term political success. Yashwant Deshmukh is a renowned political analyst, psephologist, and founder of a leading research organization in India. With his expertise in data-driven analysis and public opinion research, Deshmukh offers valuable insights into the complexities of Indian politics. The Pro-Incumbency Century reflects his deep understanding of political dynamics, providing readers with a comprehensive exploration of the factors that shape the success and longevity of leaders in contemporary Indian democracy.

This is as much the story of Indian advertising as it is about India. Ad veteran Ambi Parameswaran looks at how advertising has evolved, reflecting the country's culture, politics and economy in the last fifty years. From sartorial taste and food habits to marriage and old age, music and language to celebrities and censorship, Ambi examines over a hundred ads to study how the Indian consumer has changed in the past five decades and how advertising and society have shaped each other. Combining anecdote and analyses to give us a slice of modern history, Ambi evaluates the relationship between affluence, aspiration and desire in India. Exploring trends and impacts, he covers the ads that captured the imagination of the entire country. From 'Only Vimal' and 'Jai Jawan Jai Kisan' to 'Jo biwi se kare pyaar' and the controversial Tuffs shoes campaign, the book is a memorable journey through brands, consumers and the world of advertising.

This book provides readers with a comprehensive guide to other cultures – the often-unfamiliar ways that people from other cultures think, speak and act. As such, it helps readers identify potential and real conflicts, and to take appropriate action so as to build successful relationships. The book draws on the authors’ combined experience from international line management and international projects, as well as teaching seminars and coaching clientele from around the globe. It offers an essential resource for anyone involved in transnational business and cross-border relationships.

An adman constantly strives to connect market research data to insight on a winning campaign. Ambi Parmeshwaran has developed a fascination for how Indians are getting more religious but also more consumption driven. Combining his thirty- year experience as an adman with a lifelong passion for religious studies, Ambi seeks to answer questions like: • Why has the bindi disappeared from advertisements? • How did Akshaya Trithaya become such a big deal? • What makes Lord Shiva so cool? • How did a Chennai-based department store start the New Year's Sale phenomenon? • Are Muslims more open-minded shoppers? • Why do people who have no interest in using an MBA degree still get an MBA degree? • How did the Manusmriti do a disservice to Hindu women? • What can Harvard Business School learn from the Kumbh Mela? Ambi has filled this book with personal stories, anecdotes, lessons and excerpts from research and other publications. This book is a treat for anyone interested in how religion has evolved and how clever marketers have ridden the wave by tailoring their products and services.

At the age of fifty, when most people start planning for retirement, Dr Prathap Chandra Reddy decided that he was going to revolutionize healthcare in India. In 1983, the renowned cardiologist launched the country’s first professionally run private sector hospital system. Thirty years later, Apollo Hospitals has become one of the world’s largest providers of high-technology healthcare. In the areas of heart, liver and bone marrow transplants, as also in knee and hip replacement surgery and robotic surgery, Apollo is an industry pioneer and a world leader. More than 32 million men and women have been treated at Apollo’s fifty hospitals, which are staffed by over 70,000 professionals. How did Prathap Chandra Reddy, who grew up in the small village of Aragonda in Andhra Pradesh, actualize his dream? How did he overcome the seemingly insurmountable odds and transform the sustainable development space? How did he become one of India’s enduring icons? Full of delightful anecdotes and dramatic twists and turns, The Healer tells Dr Reddy’s inspirational story like it has never been told before.