Making of a best-seller - Some reflections
It has been 11 years of the book, Indian Economy.
Stepping into the twelfth year brings back a flashback of memories about the time we, the editorial team of McGraw Hill and I, began working on the first edition. Consequently, the wide acceptance of the first few editions pushed us to publish a few more editions in the years to come, until the book grew into a bible on Indian Economy for the aspirants of Civil Services Examination.
The Genesis
After many meetings, vigorous writing, creative differences that only brought out the best in the book, the first edition of the book came in 2009. Within a week we needed to run two reprints! This was proof enough to make us feel that the book has been able to serve its purpose and is loved by its readers.
By its 5th edition the book had turned out to be a best-seller (as per the HT-Neilsen Bookscan 2014, it was the only book on India Economy among the top 10 non-fictions). Since then, it continues to be so. It was in 1991 that the idea of developing such a book first came to my mind when the civil services aspirants used to mainly refer to select few books. Once the book took a rough shape in my mind, I discussed this with the editorial team of McGraw Hill. The team and I agreed that it was time for “something different” to be given to the aspirants.
Bringing New Editions
While being author of a best-seller has been quite satisfying for me, the rigour of bringing out its new editions went on increasing with every passing year, demanding increased creativity and commitment from me as an author. The most challenging aspect of it has been the time constraint or the strategic timing that the book has. The book cannot be revised until the new economic survey and union budget have been published— the fact is that the very outline of a new edition emerges in my mind once I have digested the very essence of these documents (assimilated with the other important official documents). Thus, in a very short time, the book must be finalised so that the revised and updated edition is available to the readers before their preliminary exam!
Written specially for the civil services aspirants, we are glad that the book is also being referred for various examinations at university level, the IIMs, the IITs, policy makers today across India and abroad.
Growing Expectations
Over the years, readers' expectations from the book have increased in a big way— I can feel this from the mails I receive from them on regular basis.
Today, most of the readers want me to cover 'almost everything!' on economics and Indian economy on which they want some exam-oriented matter and wise ideas. Rather, the book does not intend to be a lexicon of everything— for that I will need to write multiple volumes on the economy of India!
Vision Behind the Book
The book is aimed at delivering a very wise collection of ideas, topics and brief summaries which are considered fit for the civil services exams— selected with enough wisdom by being much intuitive to read the minds of question-setters, imagination of the Government of India and changing needs of India's bureaucracy. This way, it is not just a 'jumbled collection' on current economy, but a meticulously designed course for the upcoming civil services exams conducted by the union and various state service commissions.
In no way, the book intends to cover everything on India's economy, rather it intends to provide, every year, the minimum yet most relevant possible content for the upcoming exams. There is more to Indian Economy than the book intends to cover. Its growing popularity has convinced me that I have been able to do justice with its readers— but the learning continues with every passing day.
With the hope that we will continue to bring out more fruitful editions in the years to come, I hope the book continues to guide aspirants for their exams.
Thanks.
Ramesh Singh
Director, EcoMadeEasy
dr.rmsh@gmail.com