The first thing that strikes you after reading this book is that it is profoundly thought provoking. It also helps to understand why Dr. Sen is often regarded as"conscience keeper of Economics".His ability to seamlessly straddle fields such as Economics, Philosophy and Social Sciences amply demonstrates his indept knowledge and mastery over them something evident as one progresses through the book. Given his credentials, his research is immaculate. Although the political tone is hard to miss, I found it operating at a philosophical level underlying his secular and socialist beliefs.

The book dispels the often held view that ancient India was just a Hindu civilization for it was also known as a Buddhist civilization in faraway regions in those times. Some may find a soft underbelly of anti-Hindu stance in some of his arguments but take a closer look and his staunch anti-communal views come to the fore which are a result of a tragedy he witnessed aged 11 at Dhaka in 1944.

Two topics stand out for me. First, the clarity with which he does comparative distinction of Tagore and Gandhi as personalities and their distinct understanding of Indian culture and identity. Second, readers get a clear idea of the two types of Secularism, one that's practiced in India and the other that's practiced notably in France.

Reading this book gives the reader an impression of how mature as a culture and country we were in the ancient past and how that space where different views exist in harmony is shrinking more and more.

This book broadens one's horizons.