India’s Technological History through the Looking Glass

The book “Midnight’s Machines: Political History of Technology in India” takes up the subject of industrial policies and reviews India’s technological development since independence. The author has focused on the ‘Make in India’ program of the government of India and evaluated the potential development of the country. This is done through drawing parallels between the visions of national leaders (prominently Madan Mohan Malviya, Jawaharlal Nehru, Rajiv Gandhi, Principal Scientific advisors to the Prime minister in the past and Narendra Modi) with technological development in their contemporary international policies and viewpoints. This is done in compelling storytelling through four chapters of the book. The book is a good source of information about many inside stories behind familiar developments in history. Its intended audience is vast and its standard is reflected from the widespread praise it has received in the short period since release