‘…by Sanjeev Sanyal and Rajesh \nSingh is a fitting tribute to 75 iconic Indians, some lesser known, \nwho have shaped modern India.’ \n \n— BIBEK DEBROY \nThe India that we see today is the \nresult of 75 years of effort by a large number of remarkable men and women \nspanning across different generations, geographies and fields of endeavour. \n \nIconic Indians: 75 Extraordinary \nIndividuals Who Inspired the Country \ncelebrates 75 Indians who played an important role in transforming an \nimpoverished former colony into an increasingly confident and rapidly growing \nnation. Chosen from diverse fields such as politics, sports, arts, defence, \nbusiness, entertainment, science and environment, this collection of essays \nexamines the personal journeys of these exceptional individuals, including \nnot just their successes but also their self-doubt, failures and even their \ndisagreements with each other. \n \nWhile many of them are household names, several are remarkable characters \nwho made major \ncontributions in their time but have faded from public memory. Through \nthese narratives, the book \nsimultaneously tells the wider story of how India traversed the first 75 \nyears of Independence. \n \nAn excellent primer on the stalwarts who have made the nation what it is \ntoday, this book is a \nmust-read for every person interested in the past, present and future of \nIndia.