The Elephant, the Tiger, and the Cell Phone

Interest in India has never been greater. Here Shashi Tharoor, one of the subcontinentÕs most respected writers and diplomats, offers precious insights into this complex, multifaceted land, which despite its dazzling diversity of languages, customs, and cultures remainsÑmore than 60 years after its foundingÑthe worldÕs largest democracy. He describes the vast changes that have transformed this once sleeping giant into a world leader in science and technology, a nation once poverty-stricken that now boasts a middle class of over 300 million peopleÑas large as the entire population of the United States! Artfully combining hard facts and statistics with opinion and observation, Tharoor discusses the strengths and weaknesses of his rapidly evolving homeland in five areasÑpolitics, economics, culture, society, and sportsÑand takes a fresh look at the worldÕs second most populous country