3 Review(s)

“Never Back Down” is not only the title of an intensely personal journal, it is a phrase that has defined Shankar’s life for all of nearly seven decades. Trials and tribulations have challenged him at almost every turn, but that has not, in any way and ever, deflected him. The book charts out his journey from the chilly winter of his birth in a charity hospital in London, through a very troubled childhood, all the way to becoming one of the most respected cryogenic specialists in the country, literally working at temperatures that range from -271°C with liquid helium vessels to 1,700°C hanging above rivers of molten steel. In many ways, Shankar’s life has mirrored the epic transformation that has been the story of India. The pangs of a country finding its feet in an unforgiving world, the willingness to sacrifice its today for a glorious tomorrow and most importantly, never lose sight of its destiny. That is India, and that is Shankar. This journal is as honest an attempt to capture his journey, as could be.