What do you think?
Rate this book
Breaking Through: A Memoir
This is the life story of Isher Judge Ahluwalia, one of the leading Indian policy economists of her generation. Born into a family with eleven children and limited means, where she was one of the first to attend university, she takes us through her journey to Presidency College, Delhi School of Economics and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
She chronicles her career as a young policy economist fighting against the Indian economic orthodoxy that underpinned the license-permit-quota Raj, as an institution builder leading the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), one of India’s leading economic think tanks for over a decade, and also her most recent role in focusing attention on the challenges of urbanization in India.
Narrated with candor and from the heart, this is also a story of a woman balancing career and family, and trying to stay close to her roots as her life path takes her through the power corridors of New Delhi, both through her own career, and through a 50-year-marriage to Montek Singh Ahluwalia. An outsider to Delhi, who ultimately became the consummate insider, Breaking Through is an account of a remarkable life that was witness to remarkable times.
She chronicles her career as a young policy economist fighting against the Indian economic orthodoxy that underpinned the license-permit-quota Raj, as an institution builder leading the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), one of India’s leading economic think tanks for over a decade, and also her most recent role in focusing attention on the challenges of urbanization in India.
Narrated with candor and from the heart, this is also a story of a woman balancing career and family, and trying to stay close to her roots as her life path takes her through the power corridors of New Delhi, both through her own career, and through a 50-year-marriage to Montek Singh Ahluwalia. An outsider to Delhi, who ultimately became the consummate insider, Breaking Through is an account of a remarkable life that was witness to remarkable times.
184 pages, Hardcover
Published August 20, 2020
7 people are currently reading
153 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
September 21, 2020
A book that I picked up on the recommendation of the owner of my favourite book store and I am so glad I did that. The book, a crisply told tale of the life of an ambitious and driven woman, talks about how courage, determination and consistent hard work can lead a person to success and fame. It reinforces the fact that a woman when she sets her mind on something can achieve it no matter what comes in her way.
Strong, ambitious and driven women have always fascinated me, and whenever I learn about any one of them, I get all charged up and want to know more about the story of their lives. I love to understand how such women managed to get through life playing all the roles that they had to, doing all the things that they had to and never let anything get to them. And if they did it with grace and elegance than it adds to the admiration that I have for them. I always want to know as to what is it that makes some women accomplish way more than what others can ever hope to.
‘Breaking through’ is the story of one such woman, Ishar Judge Ahluwalia and the story is in her own words. It is a book that needs to be read by women of all ages for the way it inspires and motivates. It indeed did that to me. I picked it up and managed to finish reading it in two days. This is no reflection on the reader, but on the way the story had been told, the book has been written.
Essentially the book is a memoir, but it is the way that Ishar tells her story that sets it apart. She relates it simply and straightforwardly, which enables the reader to connect to it, identify with it. She could have been talking about any young girl who grew up in the sixties in a conservative India but what emerges is that she was different from the others. Not only was she academically brilliant, but she was consumed by this desire, this zeal to be her own person in every possible way. It talks about how she made things happen in her life.
The author talks about her life, about her area of interest, which is Economics, and though it could have become a dry and dull read, she doesn’t let that happen. The book manages to hold the reader’s interest all throughout. The way she puts it, it is so natural to be able to relate to her desire to be an independent woman, with a mind of her own. Thus what also emerges is that this economist is a great story-teller too!
It is an inspirational story of a woman who manages to break through all kinds of barriers, social and economical to get to her goal in life. Though from a humble background, she goes on to become one of the leading policy economists of India smashing the gender stereotype along the way.
In her growing up years in Calcutta, Ishar finds herself surrounded by girls who have no choice but to give in to the family pressures and get married early on in life. They have no control over their lives, and they are happy with that state of affairs, but she is not one of them. She is ambitious; she is driven and cannot see herself leading that kind of life. What she knows is that her life is hers and she cannot let anyone take over its reins. She understands that the surest way to do that is to pursue higher studies and equip herself.
As she says ‘My desire to pursue higher education was about something as simple as retaining control over my own life.’
Thus from a young age, she knew what she wanted to do with her life and made sure she did it. After finishing school, she joined Presidency College in Calcutta from where she moved to the Delhi School of Economics and then to MIT, successively moving out of the safe cocoon of home, city and then country. Considering the times, she lived in; this wasn’t a small achievement.
Even though her father was keen to get his daughters married off, she and two of her sisters managed to convince him to let them study further. Indeed, where there is a will, there is a way.
The book brings out two distinct aspects of the journey of her life. One aspect is that of her becoming an economist of repute. It wasn’t an easy road, but she chose to take it and attain success. There was a lot of academic rigour that was required, a lot of things to learn and adapt to, but she took it all in her stride and got to her goal. She never let anything come in her way. So whether it was her inability to speak English, adapting to the US system of education or even adapting to life in the US, she managed to overcome each one of them. She took up assignments, projects and travelled to different parts of the world to gain perspectives and insights into her chosen field. The result was that she gained respect not only in India but in other parts of the world as well.
Always with a clear vision even as an economist, she took a clear stance of working towards a freer and liberalised Indian economy. She played a part in fighting against the Indian economic orthodoxy, which was all about the license Raj and restrictions on the private sector. Always a go-getter she managed to transform The Indian Council for Research on International Economic Affairs [ICRIER], into one of India’s leading economic think tanks. In recent years she has been focused on the challenges of urbanisation in India.
The other aspect that stands out is that despite being the wife of a powerful man who was close to the powers that be in India’s political circles, she managed to hold her own. She refused to be known as just as the wife of a well-known husband. She carved out an identity of her own and refused to live in his shadow. Being the wife of a super busy husband meant that she had to raise her boys almost single-handedly, another role which she played with grace and elan. She learnt the art of prioritising and so was able to balance both her career and family. Living close to the power corridors of Delhi it was a task for the couple to keep their children grounded, but they managed with Ishar making sure that it happened. Clarity of thought has been her mainstay which I feel has been one of the secrets to her success. For instance, she knew that she wanted to raise her children in India so that they could be close to their roots. Therefore when her first one was on the way, the couple chose to relocate to India, giving up on their cushy life in the US.
The book shows that to succeed one clearly has to have goals in life and the zeal to pursue them, come what may. One needs to be bold with the courage of conviction to stick to one’s choices in life.
Today when Ishar is battling an illness, she is doing that too with the grace that is so characteristic of her. A Padma Bhushan awardee she has written this book hoping to inspire and encourage women to succeed in life and to shatter the glass ceilings.
She says,’ For those into whose hands this book finds its way, I hope my life has some lessons of interest.’
Strong, ambitious and driven women have always fascinated me, and whenever I learn about any one of them, I get all charged up and want to know more about the story of their lives. I love to understand how such women managed to get through life playing all the roles that they had to, doing all the things that they had to and never let anything get to them. And if they did it with grace and elegance than it adds to the admiration that I have for them. I always want to know as to what is it that makes some women accomplish way more than what others can ever hope to.
‘Breaking through’ is the story of one such woman, Ishar Judge Ahluwalia and the story is in her own words. It is a book that needs to be read by women of all ages for the way it inspires and motivates. It indeed did that to me. I picked it up and managed to finish reading it in two days. This is no reflection on the reader, but on the way the story had been told, the book has been written.
Essentially the book is a memoir, but it is the way that Ishar tells her story that sets it apart. She relates it simply and straightforwardly, which enables the reader to connect to it, identify with it. She could have been talking about any young girl who grew up in the sixties in a conservative India but what emerges is that she was different from the others. Not only was she academically brilliant, but she was consumed by this desire, this zeal to be her own person in every possible way. It talks about how she made things happen in her life.
The author talks about her life, about her area of interest, which is Economics, and though it could have become a dry and dull read, she doesn’t let that happen. The book manages to hold the reader’s interest all throughout. The way she puts it, it is so natural to be able to relate to her desire to be an independent woman, with a mind of her own. Thus what also emerges is that this economist is a great story-teller too!
It is an inspirational story of a woman who manages to break through all kinds of barriers, social and economical to get to her goal in life. Though from a humble background, she goes on to become one of the leading policy economists of India smashing the gender stereotype along the way.
In her growing up years in Calcutta, Ishar finds herself surrounded by girls who have no choice but to give in to the family pressures and get married early on in life. They have no control over their lives, and they are happy with that state of affairs, but she is not one of them. She is ambitious; she is driven and cannot see herself leading that kind of life. What she knows is that her life is hers and she cannot let anyone take over its reins. She understands that the surest way to do that is to pursue higher studies and equip herself.
As she says ‘My desire to pursue higher education was about something as simple as retaining control over my own life.’
Thus from a young age, she knew what she wanted to do with her life and made sure she did it. After finishing school, she joined Presidency College in Calcutta from where she moved to the Delhi School of Economics and then to MIT, successively moving out of the safe cocoon of home, city and then country. Considering the times, she lived in; this wasn’t a small achievement.
Even though her father was keen to get his daughters married off, she and two of her sisters managed to convince him to let them study further. Indeed, where there is a will, there is a way.
The book brings out two distinct aspects of the journey of her life. One aspect is that of her becoming an economist of repute. It wasn’t an easy road, but she chose to take it and attain success. There was a lot of academic rigour that was required, a lot of things to learn and adapt to, but she took it all in her stride and got to her goal. She never let anything come in her way. So whether it was her inability to speak English, adapting to the US system of education or even adapting to life in the US, she managed to overcome each one of them. She took up assignments, projects and travelled to different parts of the world to gain perspectives and insights into her chosen field. The result was that she gained respect not only in India but in other parts of the world as well.
Always with a clear vision even as an economist, she took a clear stance of working towards a freer and liberalised Indian economy. She played a part in fighting against the Indian economic orthodoxy, which was all about the license Raj and restrictions on the private sector. Always a go-getter she managed to transform The Indian Council for Research on International Economic Affairs [ICRIER], into one of India’s leading economic think tanks. In recent years she has been focused on the challenges of urbanisation in India.
The other aspect that stands out is that despite being the wife of a powerful man who was close to the powers that be in India’s political circles, she managed to hold her own. She refused to be known as just as the wife of a well-known husband. She carved out an identity of her own and refused to live in his shadow. Being the wife of a super busy husband meant that she had to raise her boys almost single-handedly, another role which she played with grace and elan. She learnt the art of prioritising and so was able to balance both her career and family. Living close to the power corridors of Delhi it was a task for the couple to keep their children grounded, but they managed with Ishar making sure that it happened. Clarity of thought has been her mainstay which I feel has been one of the secrets to her success. For instance, she knew that she wanted to raise her children in India so that they could be close to their roots. Therefore when her first one was on the way, the couple chose to relocate to India, giving up on their cushy life in the US.
The book shows that to succeed one clearly has to have goals in life and the zeal to pursue them, come what may. One needs to be bold with the courage of conviction to stick to one’s choices in life.
Today when Ishar is battling an illness, she is doing that too with the grace that is so characteristic of her. A Padma Bhushan awardee she has written this book hoping to inspire and encourage women to succeed in life and to shatter the glass ceilings.
She says,’ For those into whose hands this book finds its way, I hope my life has some lessons of interest.’
September 26, 2020
A beautiful heartfelt memoir written in a style which feels like a wise old lady talking to you about her life knitting the financial story of the India post Independence and also weaving the threads of a beautiful marriage and family.
Its a very inspiring readespecially for young girls daring to dream and thinking whats possible?
PS: Unfortunately I didnt plan to read it today though had purchased it on kindle. She passed away today afternoon which made me sit up and read it.
I am glad I did and got a chance to know such a wonderful inspiring person.
PPS: Her Husband’s recent book called Backstage is a must must read book for anyone interested to know more about the growth story as well things holding India back written again in a very easy readable way.
Its a very inspiring readespecially for young girls daring to dream and thinking whats possible?
PS: Unfortunately I didnt plan to read it today though had purchased it on kindle. She passed away today afternoon which made me sit up and read it.
I am glad I did and got a chance to know such a wonderful inspiring person.
PPS: Her Husband’s recent book called Backstage is a must must read book for anyone interested to know more about the growth story as well things holding India back written again in a very easy readable way.
April 15, 2021
On the 26th of September 2020, Isher Judge Ahluwalia breathed her last. An effervescent and endearing personality in addition to being a brilliant economist who juxtaposed vision with common sense, the Padmabushan awardee was also the wife of Montek Singh Ahluwalia, former deputy chairman of the Indian Planning Commission. “Breaking Through” is Isher Ahluwalia’s autobiography penned in a disarmingly candid and refreshing manner. The inspiring story of a pickle manufacturer’s great grand-daughter who influenced the decisions of policy mavens and rubbed shoulders with some of the most prominent economists and powerful politicians globally, warms the very cockles of the heart.
When her memoir was completed, Ahluwalia had lost her reading and writing faculties. Her husband, however turned out to be an able ally and scribe. ‘As my health weakened, he would take dictation, type out the chapters, sit and read them out to me, write out my corrections in hand, and work them into the typed version. He is certainly the highest Qualified Research Assistant that I could hope for.”
However as the memoir reveals, before Isher Judge Ahluwalia succumbed to an insidious and rare form of brain tumour, Glioblastoma, she had laid claims to some Herculean achievements and stupendous accomplishments that marked her as an inspirational woman of substance. A role model worthy of emulation, Ahluwalia had through a combination of sheer determination and uncompromising passion shattered the glass ceiling of stereotypes to scale heady heights of success in both academia and professional career. The ninth daughter amongst 11 children (“a full cricket team of 11”), Ahluwalia was also expected to follow in the footsteps of her elder sisters. A few years of schooling followed by marriage children and a docile and uneventful existence as a dutiful housewife. However this rebellious girl bucked the trend of orthodoxy in thinking and made it to Presidency College in Kolkata (then Calcutta) first before finding herself in the hallowed portals of Delhi School of Economics.
Spurred on by an insatiable love for the subject and encouraged by a phalanx of benevolent professors, Ahluwalia obtained a scholarship and secured an admission into the Economics Department at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She was taken into the tutelage of future Noble Laureates such as Paul Samuelson and Robert Solow in addition to giants in the field such as Charles Kindleberger. A chance opportunity with the International Monetary Fund results in an introduction to Montek. This chance encounter progresses towards courtship before finally ending in marriage. As Ahluwalia illustrates, in a domain greatly dominated by men, Ahluwalia carved out a niche for herself in the area of policy research. A book highlighting the perils of the Indian economic orthodoxy, courtesy a morass of policy paralysis that was the prerogative of the Left, was published by the Oxford University Press. Ahluwalia also undertook lots of development work for the World Bank and was also involved with ICRIER in India in various capacities. Innovative thinking on Ahluwalia’s part resulted in the Borlaug Institute for South Asia being set up in India and an Infosys Chair for Agriculture being established at ICRIER.
Throughout the book, Ahluwalia emphasizes an imperative to remain grounded and never to forget one’s roots. Whether it be elucidating on her value system, unflinching devotion to the Gurbani, and a need to accommodate Montek’s career progress whilst concentrating on her own professional career, she inadvertently reveals the importance and indispensability of an element of balance in her personal and professional life. A close friend of Dr. Manmohan Singh and his wife, Ahluwalia wistfully reminisces on the futility of the Former Prime Minister’s attempts to revitalize and rejuvenate the Indian economy during UPA II. Exasperated at every turn, Dr. Manmohan Singh was more a helpless nominee than a powerful leader of a nation. “I wondered why the Prime Minister didn’t just resign”, writes Ahluwalia.
The book is in fact a beautifully thought out paean to all those who were responsible for the uplift of the author. It is almost as though Ahluwalia is bidding a fond farewell to a phalanx of beneficiaries before bidding goodbye. Dr Udham Singh, Walter Robineck at IMF-Washington, LK Jha, IG Patel, are some of the names that are singled out for exceptional praise. However an economist who had a lasting influence on the author and her thinking was the late T N Srinivasan Sanjivi Guhan. India’s executive director-alternate at the World Bank, senior economist of the Brandt Commission, professorial fellow at the Madras Institute of Development Studies and a member of the governing board of Kalakshetra, Guhan brought a revolutionary perspective to economic analysis and political philosophy. Ahluwalia remembers with great precision a letter written by Guhan to her that blended metaphysics and spirituality to convey economic thought. “In Bhartakanda, everything is policy. From policy, policy arises and into policy it returns. Take away policy and policy remains”
The reader is hit like a thunderbolt when Isher Ahluwalia in a matter of fact manner elucidates a craniotomy procedure that reveals the presence of the fatal tumour in her brain. With an incredible sense of detachment and an incredulous vein of astounding practicality she confronts the situation head on and while acknowledging that she might not have much time on the planet, she also confesses as to how lucky and blessed she has been to have had such a full and fulfilling life. One cannot but pause to admire this phenomenal woman and wish that her tribe increases manifold.
Steering clear of political biases and controversies, Isher Judge Ahluwalia focuses on urgent and topical issues that requires bipartisan attention and ones that have far reaching ramifications in the future. Thus issues such as urban planning, Solid Waste Management, Water and Food Security that cause policy wonks to have sleepless nights are addressed in a beautifully lucid and practical manner.
Breezy, warm, witty, and wonderful, “Breaking Through” is not just a dexterously crafted memoir. It is a deliberately intended manifesto for every aspiring schoolgirl who aims to make it big in a world dominated by glass ceilings. For such an indelible manifesto we are all indebted to Isher Judge Ahluwalia. Her legacy and contribution are for the ages.
When her memoir was completed, Ahluwalia had lost her reading and writing faculties. Her husband, however turned out to be an able ally and scribe. ‘As my health weakened, he would take dictation, type out the chapters, sit and read them out to me, write out my corrections in hand, and work them into the typed version. He is certainly the highest Qualified Research Assistant that I could hope for.”
However as the memoir reveals, before Isher Judge Ahluwalia succumbed to an insidious and rare form of brain tumour, Glioblastoma, she had laid claims to some Herculean achievements and stupendous accomplishments that marked her as an inspirational woman of substance. A role model worthy of emulation, Ahluwalia had through a combination of sheer determination and uncompromising passion shattered the glass ceiling of stereotypes to scale heady heights of success in both academia and professional career. The ninth daughter amongst 11 children (“a full cricket team of 11”), Ahluwalia was also expected to follow in the footsteps of her elder sisters. A few years of schooling followed by marriage children and a docile and uneventful existence as a dutiful housewife. However this rebellious girl bucked the trend of orthodoxy in thinking and made it to Presidency College in Kolkata (then Calcutta) first before finding herself in the hallowed portals of Delhi School of Economics.
Spurred on by an insatiable love for the subject and encouraged by a phalanx of benevolent professors, Ahluwalia obtained a scholarship and secured an admission into the Economics Department at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She was taken into the tutelage of future Noble Laureates such as Paul Samuelson and Robert Solow in addition to giants in the field such as Charles Kindleberger. A chance opportunity with the International Monetary Fund results in an introduction to Montek. This chance encounter progresses towards courtship before finally ending in marriage. As Ahluwalia illustrates, in a domain greatly dominated by men, Ahluwalia carved out a niche for herself in the area of policy research. A book highlighting the perils of the Indian economic orthodoxy, courtesy a morass of policy paralysis that was the prerogative of the Left, was published by the Oxford University Press. Ahluwalia also undertook lots of development work for the World Bank and was also involved with ICRIER in India in various capacities. Innovative thinking on Ahluwalia’s part resulted in the Borlaug Institute for South Asia being set up in India and an Infosys Chair for Agriculture being established at ICRIER.
Throughout the book, Ahluwalia emphasizes an imperative to remain grounded and never to forget one’s roots. Whether it be elucidating on her value system, unflinching devotion to the Gurbani, and a need to accommodate Montek’s career progress whilst concentrating on her own professional career, she inadvertently reveals the importance and indispensability of an element of balance in her personal and professional life. A close friend of Dr. Manmohan Singh and his wife, Ahluwalia wistfully reminisces on the futility of the Former Prime Minister’s attempts to revitalize and rejuvenate the Indian economy during UPA II. Exasperated at every turn, Dr. Manmohan Singh was more a helpless nominee than a powerful leader of a nation. “I wondered why the Prime Minister didn’t just resign”, writes Ahluwalia.
The book is in fact a beautifully thought out paean to all those who were responsible for the uplift of the author. It is almost as though Ahluwalia is bidding a fond farewell to a phalanx of beneficiaries before bidding goodbye. Dr Udham Singh, Walter Robineck at IMF-Washington, LK Jha, IG Patel, are some of the names that are singled out for exceptional praise. However an economist who had a lasting influence on the author and her thinking was the late T N Srinivasan Sanjivi Guhan. India’s executive director-alternate at the World Bank, senior economist of the Brandt Commission, professorial fellow at the Madras Institute of Development Studies and a member of the governing board of Kalakshetra, Guhan brought a revolutionary perspective to economic analysis and political philosophy. Ahluwalia remembers with great precision a letter written by Guhan to her that blended metaphysics and spirituality to convey economic thought. “In Bhartakanda, everything is policy. From policy, policy arises and into policy it returns. Take away policy and policy remains”
The reader is hit like a thunderbolt when Isher Ahluwalia in a matter of fact manner elucidates a craniotomy procedure that reveals the presence of the fatal tumour in her brain. With an incredible sense of detachment and an incredulous vein of astounding practicality she confronts the situation head on and while acknowledging that she might not have much time on the planet, she also confesses as to how lucky and blessed she has been to have had such a full and fulfilling life. One cannot but pause to admire this phenomenal woman and wish that her tribe increases manifold.
Steering clear of political biases and controversies, Isher Judge Ahluwalia focuses on urgent and topical issues that requires bipartisan attention and ones that have far reaching ramifications in the future. Thus issues such as urban planning, Solid Waste Management, Water and Food Security that cause policy wonks to have sleepless nights are addressed in a beautifully lucid and practical manner.
Breezy, warm, witty, and wonderful, “Breaking Through” is not just a dexterously crafted memoir. It is a deliberately intended manifesto for every aspiring schoolgirl who aims to make it big in a world dominated by glass ceilings. For such an indelible manifesto we are all indebted to Isher Judge Ahluwalia. Her legacy and contribution are for the ages.
December 13, 2020
networking with the right people in your field opens up so many avenues later in life. obviously being smart - presidency/dse/mit - (and a bit lucky tbh) puts you in the right place
Read
October 15, 2020Isher Judge Ahluwalia has been a member of the Advisory Council of the Bharti Institute of Public Policy at ISB and has been to our campus a couple of times. When I heard about her book, Breaking Through, I wanted to read since I knew very little about her.
Isher grew up in Kolkata as the ninth child of a family of 11 children to Sikh parents who originally hailed from Lahore. Due to sheer hard work and the desire to retain control over her own life, she managed to convince her parents to let her pursue undergraduate studies in Presidency. This led to her coming to Delhi to study at DSE and eventually to Boston where she got her PhD from MIT. I am reminded of an incident when Montek Ahluwalia was visiting ISB to deliver the graduation address in 2007. I was escorting him and as we entered the elevator, the person inside greeted him as Dr Ahluwalia. He immediately responded – “that’s my wife”.
For more reasons than one, her life is a story of inspiration for all young people. As an autobiography, the book speaks to you in first person and you feel like you are a part of her life journey, both personal and professional. You also glimpses into her personal friendships. Like her friendship with Sudha Murthy. “When visiting my house in Delhi, she (Sudha Murthy) once remarked that she thought of me as being very wealthy. Very surprised, I asked why. She responded that in her view, a wealthy person was someone who had lots of books, and Montek and I had a great collected!”
She writes about her illness in the last chapter and the last two lines are very moving “Many individuals, many women, many from less-privileged backgrounds will shatter glass ceilings that still exist. They will write their own stories. For those into whose hands this book finds its way, I hope my life has some lessons of interest”.
I picked up this autobiography on September 25 and read a few pages. Isher Judge Ahluwalia died of brain cancer on September 26, 5 days short of what would have been her 75th birthday.
Isher grew up in Kolkata as the ninth child of a family of 11 children to Sikh parents who originally hailed from Lahore. Due to sheer hard work and the desire to retain control over her own life, she managed to convince her parents to let her pursue undergraduate studies in Presidency. This led to her coming to Delhi to study at DSE and eventually to Boston where she got her PhD from MIT. I am reminded of an incident when Montek Ahluwalia was visiting ISB to deliver the graduation address in 2007. I was escorting him and as we entered the elevator, the person inside greeted him as Dr Ahluwalia. He immediately responded – “that’s my wife”.
For more reasons than one, her life is a story of inspiration for all young people. As an autobiography, the book speaks to you in first person and you feel like you are a part of her life journey, both personal and professional. You also glimpses into her personal friendships. Like her friendship with Sudha Murthy. “When visiting my house in Delhi, she (Sudha Murthy) once remarked that she thought of me as being very wealthy. Very surprised, I asked why. She responded that in her view, a wealthy person was someone who had lots of books, and Montek and I had a great collected!”
She writes about her illness in the last chapter and the last two lines are very moving “Many individuals, many women, many from less-privileged backgrounds will shatter glass ceilings that still exist. They will write their own stories. For those into whose hands this book finds its way, I hope my life has some lessons of interest”.
I picked up this autobiography on September 25 and read a few pages. Isher Judge Ahluwalia died of brain cancer on September 26, 5 days short of what would have been her 75th birthday.
Read
June 2, 2023I wish this book had been written a little earlier in Dr. Ahluwalia's life, because for me this book is a massive missed opportunity. She wrote this book probably over the course of the last few months of her life, when she was struggling with her health, and this book thus understandably lacks the depth that it deserved. It's very short, and practically reads like a long article, and upon finishing it in probably a handful of hours over 2 days all I can think of is: woah, I wish there was more.
It felt like a lot of space was given to a laundry list of people she had known and little bits on her relationship with them, which to me is a waste of space, because there's very little given about these people beyond a shallow 'who's who'. For example, there's a paragraph here on her interaction with Iqbal Dhaliwal, the global executive director of J-PAL, who was introduced to economics for the first time by Dr. Ahluwalia. This is a pretty big deal, and I would have loved to hear about how she got him interested enough to go into a subject that he apparently had no idea about. But there's nothing of that sort, and instead we next directly get a look at his position at J-PAL now and his wife's at IMF.
There are however a couple of things that she does talk about in a bit more detail, like the role of merit (and also rote learning) based education system in India and the benefits of scholarship, that is very interesting. Again, I wish there was more of it, but it's interesting nonetheless. Another is how formal education in premier institutions like DSE was so detached from the current policy debates taking place at that time. She talks about the "glaring gap between the cutting-edge research pursued by (her) professors and what they taught (students) in the classroom", which is pretty concerning, perhaps even now.
Then there is the role that religion played in her life, which is again an interesting point because I think a lot of people tend to associate 'fancily educated intellectual people' with atheism, but here the case is quite opposite. Her faith in her religion comes up multiple times in the book, and at no point is there a hint of religion being at odds with the rest of her intellectual life.
Economics is a recurring theme throughout. I feel like her reminiscences of her career trajectory unsurprisingly also offered a glimpse into India's economic policy over the course of fairly large period, and I enjoyed every bit of it.
Overall, I'm glad I read this book. There's a lot to be learnt from a life like hers.
It felt like a lot of space was given to a laundry list of people she had known and little bits on her relationship with them, which to me is a waste of space, because there's very little given about these people beyond a shallow 'who's who'. For example, there's a paragraph here on her interaction with Iqbal Dhaliwal, the global executive director of J-PAL, who was introduced to economics for the first time by Dr. Ahluwalia. This is a pretty big deal, and I would have loved to hear about how she got him interested enough to go into a subject that he apparently had no idea about. But there's nothing of that sort, and instead we next directly get a look at his position at J-PAL now and his wife's at IMF.
There are however a couple of things that she does talk about in a bit more detail, like the role of merit (and also rote learning) based education system in India and the benefits of scholarship, that is very interesting. Again, I wish there was more of it, but it's interesting nonetheless. Another is how formal education in premier institutions like DSE was so detached from the current policy debates taking place at that time. She talks about the "glaring gap between the cutting-edge research pursued by (her) professors and what they taught (students) in the classroom", which is pretty concerning, perhaps even now.
Then there is the role that religion played in her life, which is again an interesting point because I think a lot of people tend to associate 'fancily educated intellectual people' with atheism, but here the case is quite opposite. Her faith in her religion comes up multiple times in the book, and at no point is there a hint of religion being at odds with the rest of her intellectual life.
Economics is a recurring theme throughout. I feel like her reminiscences of her career trajectory unsurprisingly also offered a glimpse into India's economic policy over the course of fairly large period, and I enjoyed every bit of it.
Overall, I'm glad I read this book. There's a lot to be learnt from a life like hers.
April 10, 2024
Sad that I read this book in24 and can't ever hope to meet author and tell her how much inspiring her life story is. She was a HMT - hindi medium type and broke many glass ceilings all the time being rooted to her culture and ethos but always striving to excel professionally
Gracious to credit kindness of strangers and known and revives belief in humanity and innate human desire to excel in all walks of life
Gracious to credit kindness of strangers and known and revives belief in humanity and innate human desire to excel in all walks of life
October 15, 2022
I think I might be guilty of fanboying even before the book began. The book's dedication is as follows:
“To my daughters-in-law Sarah and Shilpa, who have enriched my family beyond anything I could have imagined.” - Wow! How cool is that!
And that is what Isher is. Unbelievably cool. She studied at MIT on a scholarship at a time when travelling abroad and pursuing a career were strongly considered a man’s domain. This is an inspiring book, encouraging us to be strong, fearless, and lead a life against all odds.
“To my daughters-in-law Sarah and Shilpa, who have enriched my family beyond anything I could have imagined.” - Wow! How cool is that!
And that is what Isher is. Unbelievably cool. She studied at MIT on a scholarship at a time when travelling abroad and pursuing a career were strongly considered a man’s domain. This is an inspiring book, encouraging us to be strong, fearless, and lead a life against all odds.
Read
November 11, 2020 Isher judge , as she was fondly known , has written this autobiography at the fag end of her life. She was not well and suffered from Brain Tumor . She decided to pen about her life , so that many people like her would get inspiration and come up in life, especially from the poor background.
She has a impressive resume presidency college , Calcutta , ( for her graduation ) with a scholarship of Rs 35 /- which helped her pay her tuition fees , and keep some money for the tram to and fro.
She has received Padma Bhushan award in 2009 , along with Ammen sayani , whom she used to listen from her younger days . She was the great grand daughter of Bhai Wadhwa singh , a well known pickle maker in Lahore famous for Meetha goghi shalgun ka aachar . she infact had gone to meet khuswant singh , in relation to her marketing of her book which she published titled “ Industrial Growth in India ; stagnation since the “mid sixtees “”. Instead of helping her review the book in the syndicate column by khuswant singh, he was more fascinated with her background and wanted to know where the pickle man was. Her middle name judge was more to do with Punjabi middle name JaJ , as she was born in a large family of nine sister and a brother , she really put effort to come up in life. Her family had taught her basic cultural and spiritual background ( Script of gurugranth sahib the sikh holy book is written) , kirthan was taught . She studied in a hindi speaking school and was not much versed in English. She choose ecs, Maths, Sanskrit in school . she stood 8th in school for WBHSB in 1962 .
She was guided more by her teacher in economics – Ms Bharathi, and a distant cousin for admission to presidency college , Calcutta. Unlike today Bhargavas’ Hindi – English dictionary & vice versa helped her improve her English. Big teachers like Amartya sen gave importance to her intelligent views and was happy to share his knowledge. She secured second rank in MA, after her friend Utsa , who got the first . She moved to Delhi for higher education and later job in Khalsa college which was given to her by Dr. Udham Singh. Later she got admission in MIT , and moved on. A family ( Kincard) helped her settle down in MIT , and MIt helped her think logically.
She had some health issues Neurofibroma, where her MIL had helped looking after her , when she came to look up at her first grand son Pavan. They moved places – to Georgetown which was overlooking Montrose park. She met Montek , along with other friends from India , and had moved with him for some time.
She had moved between India and USA for work between herself and her husband. Her first priority was taking care of the kids, and so she did not take full time jobs for this purpose. She would often be referred to a lady in red maruthi car coming to khan market for buying stuff for her kids.
Isher’s autobiography is not just about her glorious career as an accomplished economic policy researcher and her professional prowess to build institutions and think tanks. Or teach, write, and head the most prestigious institutions like the Centre for Policy Research, the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), the Punjab State Planning Board, etc
She enjoyed being the head for ICRIER , where fund raising was a issue.
She became friends with Sudha Murthy, who later became the guardian for her son Aman in Bangalore, she was responsible to get the brightest business people together, who took interest in public life and engage in policy discussions. She also was writing In Indian Express on Urban Infrastructure. She gave importance to water, solid waste management , issues dealing with the urban . She was also an TV anchor for some time – talk back with doordarshan.
In her last days also she helped Montek pen his book Back stage – the story of Indias growth years – Montek Ahluwalia .
This book is a must read for people who want to know the economist of the earlier era.
She has a impressive resume presidency college , Calcutta , ( for her graduation ) with a scholarship of Rs 35 /- which helped her pay her tuition fees , and keep some money for the tram to and fro.
She has received Padma Bhushan award in 2009 , along with Ammen sayani , whom she used to listen from her younger days . She was the great grand daughter of Bhai Wadhwa singh , a well known pickle maker in Lahore famous for Meetha goghi shalgun ka aachar . she infact had gone to meet khuswant singh , in relation to her marketing of her book which she published titled “ Industrial Growth in India ; stagnation since the “mid sixtees “”. Instead of helping her review the book in the syndicate column by khuswant singh, he was more fascinated with her background and wanted to know where the pickle man was. Her middle name judge was more to do with Punjabi middle name JaJ , as she was born in a large family of nine sister and a brother , she really put effort to come up in life. Her family had taught her basic cultural and spiritual background ( Script of gurugranth sahib the sikh holy book is written) , kirthan was taught . She studied in a hindi speaking school and was not much versed in English. She choose ecs, Maths, Sanskrit in school . she stood 8th in school for WBHSB in 1962 .
She was guided more by her teacher in economics – Ms Bharathi, and a distant cousin for admission to presidency college , Calcutta. Unlike today Bhargavas’ Hindi – English dictionary & vice versa helped her improve her English. Big teachers like Amartya sen gave importance to her intelligent views and was happy to share his knowledge. She secured second rank in MA, after her friend Utsa , who got the first . She moved to Delhi for higher education and later job in Khalsa college which was given to her by Dr. Udham Singh. Later she got admission in MIT , and moved on. A family ( Kincard) helped her settle down in MIT , and MIt helped her think logically.
She had some health issues Neurofibroma, where her MIL had helped looking after her , when she came to look up at her first grand son Pavan. They moved places – to Georgetown which was overlooking Montrose park. She met Montek , along with other friends from India , and had moved with him for some time.
She had moved between India and USA for work between herself and her husband. Her first priority was taking care of the kids, and so she did not take full time jobs for this purpose. She would often be referred to a lady in red maruthi car coming to khan market for buying stuff for her kids.
Isher’s autobiography is not just about her glorious career as an accomplished economic policy researcher and her professional prowess to build institutions and think tanks. Or teach, write, and head the most prestigious institutions like the Centre for Policy Research, the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), the Punjab State Planning Board, etc
She enjoyed being the head for ICRIER , where fund raising was a issue.
She became friends with Sudha Murthy, who later became the guardian for her son Aman in Bangalore, she was responsible to get the brightest business people together, who took interest in public life and engage in policy discussions. She also was writing In Indian Express on Urban Infrastructure. She gave importance to water, solid waste management , issues dealing with the urban . She was also an TV anchor for some time – talk back with doordarshan.
In her last days also she helped Montek pen his book Back stage – the story of Indias growth years – Montek Ahluwalia .
This book is a must read for people who want to know the economist of the earlier era.
February 24, 2025
It was while doing my research about the water crisis that I discovered Isher Judge Ahluwalia through her talk at ICRIER delivered in 2020 on YouTube. Intrigued by her work and personality, I did an instant Google search, only to be stunned by her academic achievements and to realize that she is the spouse of Montek Singh. But to my dissatisfaction, I also realized that she passed away in 2020. I wondered how something like this could happen to someone who was so lively and active in the very same year. I stumbled upon details of her memoir and downloaded it.
About the book, I must say, what a journey! It is deeply contemplative. Her journey from Presidency to MIT, Hindi to English, marrying her supportive boyfriend to create a beautiful family, her sensibilities, her conscious decision to not work with the alluring government but to do independent research and go on to strengthen institutions like ICRIER—everything is a treat to read. There are many incidents I resonated with, given the centrality of a middle-class background. The last pages made me highly emotional about the turn of events that happened. If there is anything I picked up from her life, it is to respect and stay close to your roots, always do what fascinates you, have a good family life, and, most importantly, create an identity for yourself.
About the book, I must say, what a journey! It is deeply contemplative. Her journey from Presidency to MIT, Hindi to English, marrying her supportive boyfriend to create a beautiful family, her sensibilities, her conscious decision to not work with the alluring government but to do independent research and go on to strengthen institutions like ICRIER—everything is a treat to read. There are many incidents I resonated with, given the centrality of a middle-class background. The last pages made me highly emotional about the turn of events that happened. If there is anything I picked up from her life, it is to respect and stay close to your roots, always do what fascinates you, have a good family life, and, most importantly, create an identity for yourself.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 10, 2020
I had never heard of Isher Judge Ahluwalia in my life, only when this memoir was released I read its review in a newspaper and was instantly fascinated by her story. I added the book in my list of want to read but didn't pay any attention to it. A few weeks later, the news of her demise came, it was unfortunate that she died just after her book's release. I wanted to read the book even more now, but due to some reason, I didn't even then. After a few days, there was again an article in the newspaper, where the writer talked about the recent death of two highly empowering women of this generation i.e. Ruth Ginsberg and Isher Judge Ahluwalia, she urged the readers to read their biographies. I bought it immediately taking it as a sign.
It is an extremely inspiring story, telling the author"s journey from a huge family of average means and Hindi medium background to being India's leading policy economist. Being an economics student, it was even more of a special read for me.
She started writing the book during the lockdown. Diagnosed with cancer and at a critical stage, she knew she would have to spend the remaining of her life in lockdown and completed her memoir.
Must read, even if one has no idea of economics. It is a heartwarming story, written in a lucid manner.
It is an extremely inspiring story, telling the author"s journey from a huge family of average means and Hindi medium background to being India's leading policy economist. Being an economics student, it was even more of a special read for me.
She started writing the book during the lockdown. Diagnosed with cancer and at a critical stage, she knew she would have to spend the remaining of her life in lockdown and completed her memoir.
Must read, even if one has no idea of economics. It is a heartwarming story, written in a lucid manner.
April 15, 2021
So this book was *fascinating*. I learned of it only through one of my Goodreads friends liking one of their friend's reviews of it, which made me Google who Isher Judge Ahluwalia, which started me down this hours-long rabbit hole about India and its role in global economics. When I found it for not-expensive in ebook format, I figured that, obviously, I had to read it.
Isher tells her story like a conversation with a friend. The first and most obvious disadvantage of this is that I'm that horrible friend who knows next to nothing about your culture, history, or language, so I keep having to stop you so I can Google more information about what you just said. BUT! Isher kept me interested, so I ended up leaning a ton about Indian economic policy from the mid-80s to early 2000s. I promise, that was way more interesting to experience than the sentence makes it sound. 😄 I also just really loved reading about this woman who was simultaneously smashing glass ceilings and driving all over town because her son needed a political map instead of a geographical one.
Isher Judge Ahluwalia seemed like an amazing woman, and I'm kinda bummed I'm only learning of her after her death. But I am honestly glad that I discovered her story. I hope that many, many more women (and girls) do, as well.
Isher tells her story like a conversation with a friend. The first and most obvious disadvantage of this is that I'm that horrible friend who knows next to nothing about your culture, history, or language, so I keep having to stop you so I can Google more information about what you just said. BUT! Isher kept me interested, so I ended up leaning a ton about Indian economic policy from the mid-80s to early 2000s. I promise, that was way more interesting to experience than the sentence makes it sound. 😄 I also just really loved reading about this woman who was simultaneously smashing glass ceilings and driving all over town because her son needed a political map instead of a geographical one.
Isher Judge Ahluwalia seemed like an amazing woman, and I'm kinda bummed I'm only learning of her after her death. But I am honestly glad that I discovered her story. I hope that many, many more women (and girls) do, as well.
October 16, 2020
It's a breezy and easy read, and swings mostly towards a personal memoir rather than an economic work. some professionals do choose to explain their work in more detail but not this author.
We look at some people and make passing comments as 'elitist' but when you care to listen their story they are just trying to go through life like anyone else. she faced the same difficulties as any other working woman trying to manage both work and life.
this book also is about the importance of having an understanding and loving partner, how life becomes so much easier with the right person. In many ways this is the story of an ambitious woman who broke many a ceiling, all the while trying to move away from the shadows of her husband and standing in her own right.
one rather repetitive aspect was there were too many characters about whom the author thought it was necessary to mention about. even though this is expected in a memoir it does feel like too many passing references.
We look at some people and make passing comments as 'elitist' but when you care to listen their story they are just trying to go through life like anyone else. she faced the same difficulties as any other working woman trying to manage both work and life.
this book also is about the importance of having an understanding and loving partner, how life becomes so much easier with the right person. In many ways this is the story of an ambitious woman who broke many a ceiling, all the while trying to move away from the shadows of her husband and standing in her own right.
one rather repetitive aspect was there were too many characters about whom the author thought it was necessary to mention about. even though this is expected in a memoir it does feel like too many passing references.
October 10, 2020
I belong to a family where both my parents have worked independently and especially my mother who worked tirelessly and with due diligence, in the Banking sector. So for me to read this book and resonate with Isher Judge Ahluwalia and her innumerable achievements, is no surprise.
Isher Judge’s journey from a middle class family to becoming India’s one of the most noted Economists, is brilliant and inspiring. A classical and an elegant combo of beauty with brains, she paved her way into the male-dominated world of intelligentsia and went on to chart her name within the crème de la crème of India and beyond.
I feel a little embarrassed but am left completely enamoured with this lady maverick. However said and extremely unfortunately, Mrs. Isher succumbed to brain cancer recently and has left a void that would perhaps be irreparable. A must-read. 📚
Isher Judge’s journey from a middle class family to becoming India’s one of the most noted Economists, is brilliant and inspiring. A classical and an elegant combo of beauty with brains, she paved her way into the male-dominated world of intelligentsia and went on to chart her name within the crème de la crème of India and beyond.
I feel a little embarrassed but am left completely enamoured with this lady maverick. However said and extremely unfortunately, Mrs. Isher succumbed to brain cancer recently and has left a void that would perhaps be irreparable. A must-read. 📚
October 23, 2020
Ohh my.. Reading this book has been indeed one of the most fascinating experiences I can remember. You celebrate the rise of a middle class girl achieving all the successes through the often criticized Indian method of education. However, throughout her journey Isher held her own even in the company ompany of her equally illustrious husband. It only shows her fierce sense of independence, confidence and most importantly always being connected to our roots. The anecdotes are extremely interesting, especially to realize the great number of illustrious teachers and mentors she encountered in her life. The last chapter simply breaks you and you wish if things could have been any different. Again, as you cant help not feeling sad, the way she speaks about Montek at the end of the book simply cheers you up. Wish could rate more than 5 stars for simply being a human story.
September 4, 2025
Not a memoir Unfortunately seems like author didn’t want to share much about her personal life. She thanked almost 100s of colleagues believe that was the purpose of book. She was wife of politician that could be another reason.
Isher was brilliant scholar researcher and achieved so much where she went on MIT scholarship in US 1960s, definitely changed his future generations professional life. She worked in many countries for her research and few other jobs. She has 2 sons both successful as well.
This book is 90 percent professional/research experiences.
Eventually she died of cancer.
Learnings
When she felt rootless after losing parents or when kids don’t listen or was worried about their future she would go to gurudwara and feel belonging and calm.
They also planned an annual vacation together as family with children, grandchildren.
Isher was brilliant scholar researcher and achieved so much where she went on MIT scholarship in US 1960s, definitely changed his future generations professional life. She worked in many countries for her research and few other jobs. She has 2 sons both successful as well.
This book is 90 percent professional/research experiences.
Eventually she died of cancer.
Learnings
When she felt rootless after losing parents or when kids don’t listen or was worried about their future she would go to gurudwara and feel belonging and calm.
They also planned an annual vacation together as family with children, grandchildren.
January 17, 2021
Biographies and autobiographies are interesting. They generally hold a special place for me as they can offer a rare glimpse into the triumphs and struggles of an individual. But it is not often that one does come across an autobiography so well written that you find it so human and yet so very inspirational at the same time. I would probably place the Late Ms. Ahluwalia's book in that category. It is a remarkable story - in her own words, in her own way.
February 22, 2021
This memoir has some interesting chapters such as her intellectual journey at MIT. But sadly, the memoir is written more as a Wikipedia entry and therefore, doesn't seem very personal. Additionally, as someone who is sceptical about the the so-called success of the 1991 reforms, it was difficult to read some of the parts where the author very ardently supports privatisation and talks about her connection to big business.
February 19, 2021
A heartwarming , honest and simple memoir. A good read if you are curious to know about this remarkable woman and her life. Interesting account of how previous generation of economists shaped India and most inspiring for girls growing up in modest families to dream big and to break the glass ceiling in the professional world.
October 10, 2020
An honest account of her amazing journey! It inspires one to dream no matter what the background. The value system that kept her grounded despite her success or that of Montek. Last chapter broke my heart! Heres to an amazing woman and her partner for life. Prayers 🙏
January 1, 2021
A short, breezy read of a life well lived. The memoir also contains reflections on so much that India has gone through on the economic and policy front in the period between the 60s and now, which is the timeline covered herein.
Last book of the year!
Last book of the year!
October 28, 2020
Such an inspiring life. Salutes!! ☺️
December 3, 2020
Breezy, reflective read about a very full life.
December 24, 2024
A must read. Especially if you're an Indian in the US dreaming to influence policy in India
January 27, 2021
A wonderful book by one of India’s most remarkable women.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews