Gaja Capital Business Book Prize 'Against All Odds', 'Winning Middle India' Declared Joint Winners

The Gaja Capital Business Book Prize, a prestigious annual recognition, has crowned two exceptional narratives in its 2023 edition. Against All Odds: The IT Story of India and Winning Middle India: The Story of India’s New-Age Entrepreneurs emerged as joint winners, capturing the essence of India’s dynamic business landscape. This article delves into the winning books and the insights they offer into the insights they offer into the realms of technology, entrepreneurship and the evolving consumer sphere.

Against All Odds: The IT Story of India

Authorized by Kris Gopalkrishnan, N Dayasindhu and Krishnan Narayanan, Against All Odds meticulously weaves together the firsthand accounts of over fly distinguished individuals who have played pivotal role in shaping IT industry. The jury commended the book for its detailed exploration of the challenges, triumphs and transformative moments that have defined the trajectory of the IT sector in India.

Winning Middle India: Navigating New Frontiers in Entrepreneurship

Penned by TN Hari and Bala Srinivas, Winning Middle India explores the exciting potential for enhancing accessibility, affordability and product- service quality for millions of Indians. The book focuses on a new generation of startup founders who leverage technology platforms, smartphone ubiquity and rapid digitization to navigate the evolving landscape of the Indian consumer market. The jury applauded the book for its insightful examination of the entrepreneurial spirit driving innovation in Middle India.

The Gaja Capital Business Book Prize and Its Significance

Established as an annual tradition, the Gaja Capital Business Book Prize holds immense significance in recognizing and celebrating outstanding narratives in Indian business and entrepreneurship. The cash prize of Rs.15 lakhs serves as both a tribute to the authors’ contributions and an encouragement for future writers to delve into the diverse stories that define India’s economic and business tapestry.

Distinguished Jury Panel

The Gaja Capital Business Book Prize 2023’s jury comprised veterans from business, academia and governance. Chaired by Manish Sabharwal, the panel included Imran Jafar, Arindam Bhattacharya, Lakshmi Venu, Sangita Reddy, Michael Queen, Neelkanth Mishra, Prithvi Haldea, Shailesh Haribhakti and Upendra Kumar Sinha. Their diverse expertise and insights added depth to the evaluation process, ensuring a well-rounded selection.

The Competitive Shortlist and Longlist

The 2023 shortlist featured compelling narratives, including Essentially Mira: The Extraordinary Journey Behind Forest Essentials by Mira Kulkarni and The Tech Phoenix: Satyam’s 100-Day Turnaround by TN Manoharan and V Pattabhi Ram. The longlist showcased works like Forging Mettle: Nrupender Rao and the Pennar Story by Pavan C Lall and Forks in the Road: My Days at RBI and Beyond by C Rangrajan, among others.