The independent India of 1947 was steeped in poverty, ignorance and squalor. The task before the government was gigantic. The constitution of India has promised almost everything cherishable in this world. However, how many of the laudable objectives could ultimately be achieved in the last half-a-century's development efforts? concentrating on the southern region of India, which is relatively the largest developed region, this comprehensive study focuses primarily on the disparities in development--inter-state, inter-district, rural-urban and among economic categories--and is based on a wealth of data collected from different states. It can prove to be a path-finder to those who want to bring development in India in the proper sense of the term.