Bishnupriya Gupta is Professor of Economics at University of Warwick and the research director of CAGE Research Centre. She is Honorary Professor at the School of Economics, Peking University. She has published widely on industrial development in colonial India and is a key contributor to the debate on the Great Divergence.

• Introduction; 1. The decline and the rise of the Indian economy; 2. Agriculture as the engine of growth; 3. From handlooms to modern industry and the emergence of a planned economy; 4. Origins of India's service sector advantage; 5. Region, income, caste, and gender: continuity and change; 6. Colonial development in a comparative perspective; Conclusion: the myths and the realities of India's long run development.

'This book is a must-read for anyone who has ever wondered whether British colonialism led to India's de-industrialization, whether independence made a difference to economic progress, and how much of India's post-colonial economic progress or stagnation can be attributed to its historical circumstances. Written by one of the leading academic experts on India's economic history, this book provides detailed data-driven answers to all these questions and more. Notable features include an integrated analysis of the colonial and post-colonial periods, a detailed discussion of regional, sectoral, caste and gender inequality, and an insightful comparison with the colonial and post-colonial experiences of Korea and Taiwan.' Lakshmi Iyer, Professor of Economics and Global Affairs, University of Notre Dame