When Narendra Modi fl ew into
New Delhi after being elected
Prime Minister in 2014, he raised Prime Minister in 2014, he raised
a few eyebrows landing in a a few eyebrows landing in a
private jet emblazoned with the private jet emblazoned with the
word word Adani,Adani, the eponymous busi- the eponymous busi-
ness group from his home state ness group from his home state
Gujarat. Founder Gautam Adani’s Gujarat. Founder Gautam Adani’s
career was about to take off.career was about to take off.
Adani’s once regional busi-Adani’s once regional busi-
ness now spans airports, private ness now spans airports, private
ports, solar and thermal power, ports, solar and thermal power,
and consumer goods. Adani and consumer goods. Adani
Group is now a national behe-Group is now a national behe-
moth in the world’s sixth largest moth in the world’s sixth largest
economy, though Adani stays economy, though Adani stays
out of the public eye, quietly out of the public eye, quietly
building his empire.building his empire.
Critics attribute his meteoric Critics attribute his meteoric
rise to his proximity to Modi, rise to his proximity to Modi,
whose government is appar-whose government is appar-
ently following a policy of ently following a policy of
creating “national champions,” creating “national champions,”like Adani, showering business like Adani, showering business
enterprises with favors to help enterprises with favors to help
them become global leaders. them become global leaders.
Like many countries that have Like many countries that have
in the past created global in the past created global
conglomerates this way, India conglomerates this way, India
is also undergoing an unprec-is also undergoing an unprec-
edented concentration of eco-edented concentration of eco-
nomic and political power that nomic and political power that
reinforce one another. If Modi reinforce one another. If Modi
symbolizes the second, Adani symbolizes the second, Adani
is the poster boy of the fi rst, is the poster boy of the fi rst,
as he competes with Warren as he competes with Warren
Buffett to be the world’s fi fth Buffett to be the world’s fi fth
richest person. With Modi’s richest person. With Modi’s
stated goal of making India a stated goal of making India a
$5 trillion economy by 2025, $5 trillion economy by 2025,
Adani’s journey may have only Adani’s journey may have only
just begun.just begun.Roy Chowdhury is the co-Roy Chowdhury is the co-
author of author of To Kill a Democracy: To Kill a Democracy:
India’s Passage to DespotismIndia’s Passage to DespotismGGautamautam Adani Adani
Business behemBusiness behemothoth
B Y D E B A S I S H B Y D E B A S I S H
R OY C H O W D H U R YR OY C H O W D H U R YROONEY: ELLIUS GRACE—THE NEW YORK TIME S/REDUX; ADANI SOURCE PHOTO: REBECCA CONWAY—THE NEW YORK TIMES/REDUX
(something about which I have
some knowledge), but Rooney
has proven herself immune to
the mounting pressures: Beau-
tiful World, Where Are You goes
meta, grappling with philosoph-
ical questions around success,
the disconnection of the inter-
net age, and the complexity of
adult friendships. Her ability toswerve means she won’t just
be the hottest young novelist
of the year—she will be a
permanent fi xture, not just as
a hardback in the hands of
appealing youth but as a critic
in the collective conscience.Dunham is an actor, author,
director, and series creatorSally Rooney
Literary phenomenon
BY LENA DUNHAMSeveral times in a generation,
there is a writer who speaks
such basic truths—in such
skillful prose—that they
become a signpost for all
our needs and concerns, all
our unanswered questions
and anxious dreams. When
she published Conversations
With Friends, Sally Rooney
became that person, and
her second novel, Normal
People, cemented her role as
the minimalist examiner of
modern romance. She is the
rare writer to have coveted
merch (I am the proud owner
of a Sally Rooney bucket hat),
her books are touted as fash-
ionable trophies, and her work
has given rise to a cottage
industry of lusty fantasy.
But none of these things
should dent the fact of her
skill as a writer or the incisive-
ness of her critiques. It’s
an uncomfortable thing to
be generationally anointed85