R A Mashelkar - From Leapfrogging to Pole-vaulting: Creating the Magic of Radical yet Sustainable Transformation

More than ever before, the world needs radical yet sustainable transformation. This captivating book, through its impressive assured innovation framework, shows the way forward for achieving this daunting task. A must-read.

Ratan Tata

Former chairman, Tata Sons, and chairman, Tata Trust

Raghuanth and Ravi in this book provide a rich perspective on todays global challenges and the inevitable need for a holistic transformation to ensure a better future. This is all stitched together through engaging case studies, which makes it an interesting read.

N.R. Narayana Murthy

Founder, Infosys Ltd

As the world and especially India embrace unprecedented opportunities, pole-vaulting will be a central strategy. This book is a masterpiece that lays down an innovative roadmap for fundamental transformation. Lofty thinking, compelling vision!

Mukesh Ambani

Chairman and managing director, Reliance Industries

This book is full of interesting insights and suggestions for achieving bold yet sustainable transformative solutions. Its strategies for creating pole-vaulting leaders are especially relevant for companies today. Its an easy read that radiates optimism about building a sustainable future.

Anand Mahindra

Chairman and managing director, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd

Mashelkar and Pandit walk the talk! Respect for others, open-mindedness and humility are traits anyone would notice when interacting with the authors. Their model asks the same from usrespect the planet and its people, be open-minded to rapidly changing technology and attitudes, and do your work with all humility.

Vijay Kelkar

Chairman, National Institute of Public Finance and Policy, New Delhi

This is a riveting piece of writing with inspiring data substantiated by transformative case studies. The invaluable lessons must be adopted by every developing economy to break free from economic status quo that emanates from eminently discardable obsolete policies. A must-read for entrepreneurs, policymakers and every individual who seeks to be relevant in the changing world, where sustainability is the lifeline of our future.

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw

Chairman and managing director, Biocon Limited

The book provides a provocative yet powerful thesis, which will enrich courses on technology management, public policy for inclusive development and bringing about social change. I have no doubt that this book will convert the most cynical and pessimistic person into a hopeful participant in meaningful and transformative pole-vaulting social and technological engagements.

Anil Gupta

Founder, Honeybee Network, SRISTI and National Innovation Foundation

Rapid yet sustainable transformation is the need of the hour to create a better world, but for this we need some radical game-changing solutions. The authors of this engaging book suggest a powerful pole-vaulting metaphor to achieve precisely this by going over the wall of obstacles, by setting the bar at heights that are in sync with our high aspirations. An inspiring book.

Professor Muhammad Yunus

2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner

Mashelkar and Pandit provide a realistic view of the problems of the future and provide an optimistic vision of how they can be overcome. Turning from reacting from fearleapfroggingto planning to overcome seemingly insurmountable barrierspole-vaultingprovides a pathway to the future. Their solutions are appropriate for both the developed and developing world.

Professor Robert Grubbs

2005 Noble Prize winner in Chemistry

To be a success you have to aim to clear the high bar of aspirations. For that, you need a coach. Mashelkar and Pandits book is the ideal coach, encouraging you and teaching you to clear the high bar in a giant leap powered by human ingenuityour only inexhaustible resource.

Alan Finkel

Chief Scientist, Australia

Leapfrogging, R.A. Mashelkar and Ravi Pandit tell us, is not enough. We must pole-vault. Leapfrogging means jumping to safety, while pole-vaulting means exceeding the bar through daring innovation. Todays global society must pole-vault to sustainable development, that is, to a world that is prosperous, socially inclusive and environmentally sustainable. This wonderful book, by two of Indias most illustrious and knowledgeable engineers and innovators, is an invaluable primer on how we can pole-vault to the future we want by building bold, breakthrough technologies that rapidly reach unprecedented scale.

As the books exciting narrative and vivid examples makes clear, India is already on this path, with breakthrough innovations carrying Indias 1.4 billion people into a new age of shared prosperity and environmental sustainability. There are, of course, huge challenges, risks and tasks ahead. This book will provide invaluable inspiration and guidance for success, especially for the new generation of innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders who will soon lead the way.

Jeffrey D. Sachs

Special advisor to UN Secretary-General, and professor, Columbia University

Dedicated to the two ladies

who stood behind me through thick and thin

my mother, Anjani, and my wife, Vaishali

Raghunath Mashelkar

Dedicated to my parents, Aai and Dada,

and my wife, Nirmala

I am where I am because of you

Ravi Pandit