Announcing the 2024 Short List

The Gaja Capital Business Book Prize was instituted in 2019, to encourage Indian entrepreneurs, writers, and journalists to tell their stories to the world. India is at the cusp of a once-in-a-generation opportunity to leverage its demographic dividend, strengths in chemistry, health sciences, technology, and a high-growth consumer market to create tremendous business value and innovation for the world. Over the next few decades, Indian entrepreneurship and business models should be written about, critiqued, celebrated, and improved to create a vibrant business ecosystem built to last. We hope that these awards encourage young entrepreneurs to read and learn from the experience of others and for writers, journalists, and entrepreneurs to share their stories and create a body of knowledge for others to leverage and build upon.

2024 Short List

Entrepreneurs who built India – Lala Shri Ram: The man who saw tomorrow

Sonu Bhasin

Fintech for Billions: Simple | Human | Ubiquitous

Bhagwan Chowdhry and Anas Ahmed

Middle of Diamond India: National Renaissance through Participation and Enterprise

Shashank Mani

Silver Lining: Overcoming Adversity to Build NephroPlus – Asia’s Largest Dialysis Provider

Kamal Shah

Swadeshi Steam: V.O Chidambaram Pillai and the Battle against the British Maritime Empire

AR Venkatachalapathy

Other Longlisted Books

Breaking the Mould: Reimagining India’s Economic Future

Raghuram G. Rajan and Rohit Lamba

Doctor Steel: My Life and Times with the Tatas

J.J Irani

India in Search of Glory: Political Calculus and Economy

Ashok K. Lahiri

Just Aspire: Notes on Technology, Entrepreneurship and the Future

Ajai Chowdhry

The Great Bank Robbery: NPAs, Scams and the Future of Regulation

V. Pattabhi Ram and Sabyasachee Dash

2024 Jury

Aarthi Subramanian

Aarthi Subramanian is the Group Chief Digital Officer at Tata Sons. A professional with over 35 years of experience in the global technology sector, Aarthi started her career with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) as a graduate engineer trainee. During her career, Aarthi has held several key roles and has rich experience in business and technology consulting. At TCS, she was an Executive Director and Global Head of Delivery Excellence, Governance and Compliance. Currently at Tata Sons, Aarthi is responsible for driving digital adoption across group companies as well as shaping the group's digital initiatives. She also serves as a Director on the Boards of several Tata Group Companies and is a member of the Gartner Research Board & Microsoft Services Executive Board.

Dr. Lakshmi Venu

Dr. Lakshmi Venu is the Joint MD of Sundaram-Clayton Ltd (SCL), which forms part of the $8.5 billion TVS Group. She is also the Deputy MD of TAFE Motors and Tractors Limited. Dr. Venu’s focus at SCL has been to create a sustainable foundation for the companies’ future growth and to create flexible and agile companies for a VUCA world.

Upendra Kumar Sinha

Upendra Kumar Sinha headed the RBI Expert Committee on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). He was the Chairman of the SEBI, having served two consecutive three-year terms, starting in 2011. He was also the Chairman and Managing Director of UTI Mutual Fund. He was selected for the Indian Administrative Services (IAS)  
in 1976.

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