Archive · 29 Aug 2026
New Books Explore UPI, Data Power, India’s Economy, Hate Speech
This book selection looks at important changes in India and the wider world.
One book explains how UPI helped people make payments without cash.
Another studies business founders and the habits that helped them build companies.
Data Empire says data can be used not only to remember things but also to control and organise people.
The Indian Economy asks whether India can create good jobs and share the benefits of growth.
It Started with Words looks at how hate speech is spread by politicians, media and online platforms.
The books also explore how technology, business and government affect ordinary people.
Together, they offer different ways to understand modern society.
Cashless Nation charts how UPI rapidly changed India’s payment habits and connected users across social and geographic barriers.
Shapers and Founders examines the behaviours and mindsets of owner-CEOs across major Asian business centres.
Data Empire argues that data is a tool of power used to organise societies, govern populations and shape belonging.
The Indian Economy offers evidence-based analysis of India’s prospects for jobs, human development, institutions and shared prosperity.
It Started with Words investigates how hate speech has spread through politics, media and online platforms since 2014.
- Who
- The books are written by Santanu Paul, B Sambamurthy, Gautam Kumra, Cheryl Lim, Joydeep Sengupta, Roopika Risam, Kaushik Basu, Sonalde Desai, A Deshpande, Nirvikar Singh and Harsh Mander.
- What
- A selection of books examines digital payments, business leadership, data and power, India’s economy, and hate speech.
- When
- The article provides no common publication date; It Started with Words discusses hate speech since 2014.
- Where
- The subjects include India and Asian business centres including Bangkok, Mumbai, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney, Taipei and Tokyo.
- Why
- The books aim to explain major changes in technology, economic development, business, public life and political communication.
- Cashless Nation
- By Santanu Paul and B Sambamurthy; Penguin Random House; 336 pages; Rs 899.
- Shapers and Founders
- By Gautam Kumra, Cheryl Lim and Joydeep Sengupta; Wiley; 256 pages.
- Data Empire
- By Roopika Risam; Penguin Random House; 480 pages; Rs 849.
- The Indian Economy
- By Kaushik Basu, Sonalde Desai, A Deshpande and Nirvikar Singh; Simon & Schuster; 304 pages; Rs 899.
- It Started with Words
- By Harsh Mander; Speaking Tiger Books; 272 pages; Rs 499.
- Hate speech timeline
- It Started with Words says hate speech has moved from the political fringe to the centre of public life since 2014.