HarperCollins India is set to release A Sixth of Humanity, a sweeping and definitive account of India’s unique development journey, co-authored by noted political scientist Devesh Kapur and renowned economist Arvind Subramanian.

Spanning decades of research and policy experience, A Sixth of Humanity traces how India—home to one-sixth of the world’s population—defied conventional development paths. The authors explore how the country chose democracy before development, championed high-skilled services over low-skilled manufacturing, and embraced a globalized economy that elevated talent even as it tested inclusivity.

Described by HarperCollins as “one of the best books ever written about India”, the volume examines four major transformations that have shaped the nation’s story: building a state, creating an economy, changing society, and forging a sense of nationhood. Rigorously researched yet highly readable, the book offers a panoramic view of India’s evolution—its achievements, contradictions, and possibilities.

“Writing this book has been an incredibly enriching (and exhaustive!) experience,” says Devesh Kapur. “We’ve tried to make it accessible to a wide audience, anchored in data yet engaging in narrative.”

Former Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian adds, “Even after studying India for years, writing this book made me learn and unlearn so much. India’s development story is perhaps the most distinctive and fascinating in the world.”

Udayan Mitra, Executive Publisher at HarperCollins India, calls it “a fascinating, eye-opening deep dive into India’s incredible and unique development story… essential reading for anyone who wants to comprehend independent India’s complex economic history.”

The book has already drawn high praise from leading thinkers worldwide. Nobel laureate Simon Johnson calls it “a brilliant and breathtaking tour de force.” Historian Ramachandra Guha describes it as “rigorously researched, closely argued, and impeccably balanced.” Dani Rodrik of Harvard University adds that it is “an exquisitely crafted account of India’s unique trajectory.”

Jointly written by two of India’s foremost scholars, A Sixth of Humanity promises to reshape how readers understand the nation’s past, present, and future.