Those who have read Dr Ashok S Ganguly’s autobiography Afterness - Home and Away, which was reviewed by this writer too (read here), may well wonder why he thought of writing another memoir? The answer probably lies in the fact that anyone who has led a rich life spanning over 80 years – a large part of it spent in the public sphere – would naturally have a lot to say which cannot be packed into a single volume.

But, Dr Ganguly’s new book is neither a sequel nor an epilogue of the previous work. In fact, there is considerable overlap between the two volumes – some of which may come across as repetitive to those who have read the earlier account. But reflections distilled by age bring a different flavour and perspective to the same experiences. From that, perhaps, emerges hope, optimism and realisation which Dr Ganguly has tried to capture in his new book “We are the future”.

Public policy role

After his retirement from Unilever and return to India, apart from a few commitments to the corporate world, Dr Ganguly devoted much of his time in the public policy space. During his tenure as Chairman of Hindustan Lever (as Hindustan Unilever was then called) he came into contact with Rajiv Gandhi. This grew into a relationship of mutual respect which led Dr Ganguly being made part of several government committees including the Prime Minister’s Scientific Advisory Council - which made him a part of Gandhi’s trusted circle of technocrats and the highest echelons of bureaucracy.

The associations continued even after Rajiv Gandhi’s death with Dr Ganguly being made a trustee of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation (a role that he has not discussed in the book) and being invited to several important government fora under the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regimes of PV Narasimha Rao government and subsequently Manmohan Singh’s two terms as Prime Minister, when he was also nominated to the Rajya Sabha. These engagements provided Dr Ganguly a ringside view of national affairs over the last four decades.

One therefore expected Dr Ganguly to dwell at greater length and depth on the socio-economic and political evolution of the “New India” or its emerging “future” as he calls it. But, he has chosen to be economical in his account, often skimming through important events and glossing over seminal issues. Here, perhaps, his background of a career professional who was groomed in the regimented environment of a colonial multinational corporation prevailed and deprived the readers of what may have been rare insights and enlightened observations.

Cursory treatment

Though Dr Ganguly has touched upon many contemporary events, the treatment has often been rather cursory. His narration of Demonetisation and Covid 19 read like superficial accounts of foreign newspapers. One would have looked forward to a more informed critique of the impact of both the government of India’s handling of pandemic in retrospect. He recalls the removal of Article 370 in Kashmir as a contentious move but does not explicitly state his position on the subject. He mentions the idea of Uniform Civil Code and raises doubts about enforcing homogeneity across a heterogeneous fabric comprising cultural, religious and social diversity.

He steps gingerly into the potential minefield of Hindutva politics but wades clear of controversy. He obliquely laments the “sea change in the socio-political sphere” moving away from secularism as national policy to a discourse around the idea of a “Hindu India”. He cites the recent “revolution” in Bangladesh warning about the inherent risks of politically repurposing religious identity.

Understandably, given his affiliations with the previous regime, Dr Ganguly is more restrained in both praise and criticism of Narendra Modi while being more generous with his praise of Dr Manmohan Singh, with whom he had a close association and was obviously an admirer. But at the end he does concede, “PM Modi’s complete commitment to economic and social progress is well evident”.

In an amusing aside, Dr Ganguly quips about the rise of “Corporate Gurus” who pontificate in golf courses and lecture theatres of the corporate headquarters of their followers. This is a book sans any “Gurugiri” (a term he has coined) by a self-made middle-class icon who has played his part fully and more.

(Sandip Ghose is currently MD and CEO of Birla Corp and formerly country head of Unilever, Nepal)

Check the book out on amazon.

Published on January 28, 2026