ABOUT THE BOOK
India’s journey into the 21st century has been one of resilience, audacity, and transformation. Written against the backdrop of a world shaken by the 2019 pandemic, this book captures how India defied the prophets of doom, overcame global scepticism, and emerged as a nation determined to script its own destiny. From producing indigenous vaccines that saved lives across more than a hundred nations, to demonstrating military resolve that altered regional equations, India has shown that it is no longer a passive player in world affairs—it is a decisive actor shaping them.
At the heart of this narrative lies an ambitious vision: a $30 trillion economy by 2047, underpinned by three inseparable pillars—economic might, national security, and global leadership. The book charts India’s rapid climb from its “Hindu rate of growth” to its bold projections of becoming the world’s largest manufacturing hub and a central force in the BRICS-led global order. But the India Century is not just about numbers and policies. It is about the spirit of a nation that, despite historical burdens and ongoing challenges, continues to turn every crisis into an opportunity.
Written in a clear, compelling, and fact-based style, this book is both a roadmap and a call to action. It offers readers an insider’s view of:
• The legacy challenges that still hold India back.
• The silver linings that inspire confidence in its rise.
• The strategic choices that will define its place in the global order.
Accessible yet deeply insightful, The India Century is essential reading for policymakers, academics, strategists, and every citizen who wishes to understand—and be part of—India’s march towards 2047.
ABOUT Author
Brig. (Dr) Ashok
Pathak is a decorated veteran of the Indian Army’s Corps of Signals, with an
illustrious career spanning diverse operational theatres—India’s Eastern
borders, the North-eastern states, Punjab, and with the Indian Peace Keeping
Force in Sri Lanka. He also served as a United Nations Military Observer in
Angola and as a distinguished Directing Staff at the Army War College, Mhow.
In 1999, his pioneering research on Information
Warfare—sponsored by the Indian Army—earned him a PhD, marking him as one of
India’s early thought leaders in the domain of cyber and information security.
Post-retirement in 2006, he transitioned seamlessly into academia, holding
senior leadership roles in reputed engineering and management institutions, and
later contributing to national policy as a member of the Task Force on India’s
Cyber Power.
An author of repute, Brig. (Dr.) Pathak is the
author of India’s Strategies for Information War and Cyber Deterrence (2020,
sponsored by VIF) and Unified Theatre Command: Breaking Free of Military Silos
(2025). His scholarship extends to numerous articles on geopolitics, military
science, history, and national security published by India’s leading think
tanks—USI, VIF, and CLAWS.
Currently, he brings his expertise to the corporate
sector as a management consultant in leadership and quality management with SLR
Metaliks, Hospete (Karnataka). Brig (Dr) Pathak stands at the confluence of
soldiering, scholarship, and strategy—a rare blend of being a practitioner and
thinker committed to strengthening India’s security and global leadership
vision.