Co-author of Raghuram Rajan's book, Breaking the Mould, once wanted to work for free for him

Former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor Raghuram Rajan's latest book, Breaking the Mould: Reimagining India's Economic Future, is set to be released in December. Meanwhile, Rajan shared a remarkable anecdote, revealing that co-author of his book, Dr Rohit Lamba, once wanted to work for him for free during his Princeton days.

"I met Dr. Rohit Lamba over a decade ago, when I was India's Chief Economic Advisor, and he wrote to me as a Ph.D. student from Princeton, wanting to work for free in the Finance Ministry just to make a contribution to the nation. Since then, we stayed in touch and really started working together during the pandemic, writing op-eds for the Times of India, and now a book, Breaking the Mould. Rohit is a great theoretical economist, who also has a strong practical sense. He is passionate about India and its development, as hopefully comes out in the pages of the book," Rajan wrote in a LinkedIn post.

Reacting to the post, Lamba took to Twitter, saying, "Not everyday you get a shoutout from one of your favorite economists, who is also a mentor and co-author. So I’ll take it."



Scheduled for release in December under Penguin Random House India's business imprint, the book delves into the critical challenges facing India in the global economy. Priced at Rs 799, it is currently available for pre-order online.

"Breaking the Mould" advocates for India to break free from historical constraints and embrace future possibilities. The authors propose strategies to accelerate economic development, emphasising investment in human capital, expanding opportunities in high-skilled services and innovative manufacturing, and fostering an environment of ideas and creativity.

The book also explores the role of India's democratic traditions in supporting this path, underpinned by governance reforms such as strengthening democratic institutions and promoting greater decentralization. According to the publishers, the book addresses fundamental policy choices that impact every Indian and stands as a significant contribution to India's economic discourse.

Rajan, known for his acclaimed works such as "Fault Lines," "I Do What I Do," "The Third Pillar," and "Saving Capitalism from the Capitalists" with Luigi Zingales, adds "Breaking the Mould" to his impressive literary repertoire.