There is no paucity of historical studies dealing with economic transition in India. The present study differs from the existing works in three respects: it concentrates on a specific sector of our economy; it seeks to analyse the interaction of business with the political system as a whole along with the intended purpose of the state and unintended byproducts of its all-pervasive presence; and it deals with the problem in the context of changing complexion of state from the Mughals down to our own times. The volume thus, will not only provide an understanding of how business, particularly the big and organised enterprises, responded to the constraints and opportunities generated by different political systems in a long span of our history, but may also yield comparative insight necessary for developing a general theory of state-business interaction in India.

Based on solid historical data and marked by rigorous analysis, State and Business in India is the product of a joint endeavour of some of the most outstanding scholars in the field. A unique contribution in a significant though somewhat neglected area, it offers a rewarding reading for all those who wish to understand the process of adjustment to changing scenario which has given Indian business its present ethos and values.