Gurcharan Das

Author and public intellectual, Gurcharan Das is best known for a trilogy based on the classical Indian ideal of the goals of life. He studied philosophy at Harvard University and was CEO of Procter & Gamble India before he became a full-time writer. He writes a regular column for the Times of India, five Indian language papers, and contributes to international newspapers.

About Me

gurcharan: Gurcharan Das is an author and thought leader best known for a much-acclaimed trilogy based on the classical Indian goals of the ideal life. India Unbound was on artha, 'material well-being'—the Guardian called it 'a quiet earthquake' – it is available in 19 languages and filmed by the BBC. The second, The Difficulty of Being Good, on dharma or 'moral well-being', is a contemporary meditation on the epic, Mahabharata. Kama: The Riddle of Desire is on the third goal, examining how to cherish desire in order to live a rich, flourishing life. He studied philosophy at Harvard University and was CEO of Procter & Gamble India before he took early retirement at 50 to become a full-time writer. He writes a regular column for the Times of India and five Indian language papers, and contributes to many international papers. His other books include India Grows at Night: A liberal case for a strong state, which was on the FT's best books for 2013; a novel, A Fine Family; a book of essays, The Elephant Paradigm, and an anthology, Three Plays. He is editing for Penguin a 15 volume history series, The Story of Indian Business. He lives in Delhi.

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Gurcharan Das

Pages

Duty or revenge, no one is above the law

A primer for the corruption fighter

India Says No to $80 Toilet Paper, Wall Street Journal

Judging sex, lies, war and yoga politics

Good omens for rule of law in India

It is immoral for us to slow growth

Politics of freebies promises a bleak future

Is it Criminal to think small in India?

Don’t be silent, prime minister!

Chance to start afresh

Licence raj could kill microcredit

In search of America’s liberty and India’s dharma

Urban Longings

The Next Battleground

Good politics is about prudence, not moral perfection

Don’t close these schools

Stranger At Home

Dharma in the public place