What is common between the censorship of the film Padmaavat and artificially high 'minimum' support prices for crops? If the police comes down so heavily on peaceful anti-CAA protestors, why did it not show the same harshness towards those violating the COVID-19 lockdown? Why is an otherwise powerful Election Commission unable to enforce free and fair elections within political parties or fully weed out criminals from politics?
The common factor is faulty institutional design, which is eating away at the foundations of our society. Leaders come and go, but institutions stay forever. Only a consistent focus on better institutions can help India have a more robust economy, media, police, parliament, internet and cultural life. Yet, discussions on institutions have been restricted to academic circles.
Keeping aside ideological biases of Left or Right, Caged Tiger brings alive the rich yet unseen story of India's institutions. It combines deep research and complex frameworks, converting them into the vocabulary and cultural context of millennials and Gen Z. It goes all the way back to the British Raj, exploring the origins of modern Indian institutions. Tracing additions by subsequent governments, from Nehru's to Modi's, it identifies policies that keep Indians suppressed and how each of us can change them. It is, in short, young India's guide to becoming smarter about the issues that matter.
Review
Deeply researched, cogently argued and persuasively written, Caged Tiger is all about hope. -- Bishakha Dutta, Co-founder and Executive Director, Point of View
Caged Tiger cuts through the shallow fog of public discourse. It provides depth to our understanding of how our institutions work, why they often fail and how we can fulfil our civic duty. It is accessible and essential reading for every critical Indian. -- Apar Gupta, Co-founder and Executive Director, Internet Freedom Foundation
An insightful book on how the Indian state often hinders rather than helps the people it is meant to serve, and how institutional change is as much the job of citizens as it is of reformists within government. -- Dr Niranjan Rajadhyaksha, Resident Senior Fellow, Artha Global
Everyone interested in rebuilding the Indian dream should read this book. -- Dr Ajay Shah, Economist
Caged Tiger provides excellent insights into our institutions. Well-researched and engaging, the book establishes Subhashish Bhadra as an insightful young voice. -- C.V. Madhukar, CEO, Co-Develop, and Founder, PRS Legislative Research
A must-read for everyone who cares about the future of India. -- Arghya Sengupta, Founder, Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy
Book Description
A guide to the regular urban Indian citizen who wants to change the state of the country but doesn't fully know how. It equips the politically conscious Indian with the knowledge that will help them look beyond social media hashtags and understand why the government behaves the way it does.
About the Author
SUBHASHISH BHADRA is an economist by training. He received an MPhil in economics from the University of Oxford on the Rhodes Scholarship and a BA in economics from St. Stephen's College, New Delhi. His career has straddled both the policy and corporate worlds. He spent over half a decade working in public policy, especially on issues of technology policy, regulatory governance and digital rights. As part of his job, he has funded many of India's leading think tanks and helped shape the policy discourse in these areas. He has worked at a leading global management consulting firm, a venture capital firm and a tech start-up, working closely with CEOs, entrepreneurs, bureaucrats, politicians and academics throughout his career. He has also published several articles in leading dailies like the Times of India, Hindustan Times and Indian Express.
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