Unequal: Why India Lags Behind Its Neighbours [BOOK]

About the Book

Unequal by Swati Narayan is a compelling exploration of social inequality in India, revealed through meticulous research and immersive reporting across India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. Drawing on five years of study, Narayan demonstrates how India lags behind even its poorer neighbors in key social indicators like health, education, sanitation, and gender equality. Through a mix of hard data, human stories, and empathetic analysis, the book highlights the stark disparities within India while offering hope from the successes of states like Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Unequal is an essential read for policymakers, scholars, and anyone seeking to understand the challenges and possibilities of social transformation in South Asia.

Key Features

• Based on five years of immersive, cross-country research in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.
• Explores social inequalities in health, education, nutrition, sanitation, and gender equity.
• Highlights successes of Indian states like Tamil Nadu and Kerala as models for transformation.
• Examines how economic growth does not automatically translate into social well-being.
• Combines rigorous data analysis with human stories for an engaging and insightful read.
• Includes foreword by renowned economist and social thinker Jean Drèze.
• Critically acclaimed by P. Sainath, Yogendra Yadav, Jayati Ghosh, Christophe Jaffrelot, and others.

Product Details

Publisher: Context (27 November 2023); Westland Books

Language: English

Format: Hardcover, 368 pages

ISBN-10: 9357769986   |   ISBN-13: 978-9357769983

Reading Age: 18 years and up

Item Weight: 430 g

Dimensions: 13.97 × 2.24 × 21.59 cm

Country of Origin: India

About the Author

Swati Narayan is an academic and activist with extensive experience in social research and policy. She is an alumna of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, School of Oriental and African Studies, and the London School of Economics and Political Science. Her research and writings have appeared in publications including The Indian Express, The Hindu, The Telegraph, The Guardian, Prospect magazine, Economic and Political Weekly, and Gender and Development. She currently resides in Haryana and Delhi.