Author: Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar and Sushil Borde | Publisher: Penguin Business

A Manifesto for Humane and Inclusive Innovation

Every once in a while comes a new idea, a new thought, which fires new thinking and imagination, creating to the contribution of new worlds and/or newer ways of doing.

This book is based on such an innovation process on innovation. Not that innovation is not known. It is. But how to go about it differently, to make the results of innovation accessible to even the lower strata of society. This book is about innovation with humanitarian face. Rooted in deep scientific thinking yet animated by human empathy, this book presents a powerful framework for innovation that is not only technologically advanced but also socially inclusive and environmentally sustainable.

Expectedly, this book is authored by Padma Vibhushan Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar, the doyen of Indian science, maverick innovation thinker who totally revolutionised the R&D process while as Director of NCL and later as Director General of CSIR, which manages 44 R&D labs in India. He is ably supported by his co-author Sushil Borde, President of Anjani Mashelkar Foundation. At CSIR, Dr. Mashelkar had unveiled his vision 2001 the central theme of which is that R&D should result in business and bring in revenues rather than being an activity for its own sake.

Redefining the Purpose of Innovation

This book redefines the purpose and objectives of innovation. The thrust of the book through its 16 chapters is that the fruits of innovation should not be only for the elites or well to do but it should also be accessible in terms of affordability right down to the poor. Then only there can be equitable economic growth in India, where income inequalities are increasing. So abinitio the process of innovation should consider the cost factor. This maverick thinking is propounded in this book abbreviated as MLM – More From Less For More. This can happen only when there is empathy in creation. The book places significant emphasis on the social responsibility of innovation.

In the rapidly evolving world of science, technology, and industry, the quest for innovation that is not only groundbreaking but also inclusive and sustainable is more urgent than ever. The authors address this very challenge in their book.

At its core, the book presents the MLM framework as both a philosophy and a practical guide to contemporary innovation. The acronym itself—“More from Less for More”—encapsulates a three- fold promise: achieving greater outcomes  with  fewer  inputs, and ensuring these benefits reach more people. Mashelkar and Borde argue persuasively that the future of innovation lies not merely in creating new products or processes, but in leveraging technology to improve efficiency, sustainability, and accessibility simultaneously. The central thesis resonates with pressing global imperatives: environmental sustainability, equitable access to healthcare, and the judicious use of natural resources.

At the outset itself the book defines the central idea in innovation:

• More from more is only for the Excellence should not be the privilege only for a few.
• Less from less is just to cater to the poor, which compromises on quality, could be substandard and thus denies the poor the dignity, aspirations and
• Whereas more from less leveraging latest technologies, creativity and efficiency serves for more or for all classes of It is meant for everyone, everywhere based on equitability, profitability and sustainability. Only this mode of doing innovation can enhance prosperity for the largest number of people. For this strategy to succeed, as it is showing to be taking off, attitudinal change is required in innovation and belief in contrarian ways of converting ideas into products and services.

Gandhian Engineering

Dr. Mashelkar credits the MLM idea to be based on Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy referring to two of his tenets “Every invention of science should be made for the benefit of all” and the second that ‘The earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s need but not every man’s greed!’. Dr Mashelkar expounded this in 2008 in a lecture to the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) where he was elected as the first Indian as Foreign Fellow.

Of these tenets of Gandhi, the first, Dr Mashelkar attributes to affordability and the second to sustainability and combining these two as Gandhian Engineering – which is intended to save the world and is India’s gift to the world in the twenty first century.

The book’s proposal of third way of innovating — inclusive innovation — is grounded in what Mashelkar previously framed as Gandhian Engineering: solutions that are affordable, sustainable, high-quality, and accessible to all, especially the underserved.

The MLM Framework: From Philosophy to Practice

The book gets into action mode laying out how to get MLM going. It needs business models to be innovative and transformational for maximising the outreach and efficiency.

Some of the levers needed for the mechanism of business transformation are: Embracing hitech. And this is the very opportune time with many digitalised and other advanced technologies coming together to enable the process. Effective corporate and government policies are needed to catalyse MLM. Internal work processes need to be reengineered. Innovating on product delivery is equally important and so also leveraging shared assets among collaborators.

One of the book’s most compelling insights is that constraints are not barriers, but catalysts. When resources are limited, creativity flourishes. The authors show how reorganizing constraints—rather than lamenting them—can unlock breakthrough innovation. Above all everything depends on conviction and visionary leadership for MLM. There are chapters elaborating on each one of this.

The book says how to get MLM right is based on an ASSURED framework, which is extensively explained in this book. It stands for A – Affordable, S – Scalable, S – Sustainability, U – Universal, R – Rapid, E – Excellent and D – Distinctive.

Real World Examples of MLM

One of the strengths of the book is its rich tapestry of real-world examples. It starts off with the successful story of Reliance Jio’s telecom, how a sunset industry was turned around not as mere telephony but as a diverse platform from knowledge sharing to shopping to movies etc on their handsets.

Another example is of Deepseek from China, which incorporates the sensational Artificial Intelligence making it affordable for everyone. The authors explore innovations ranging from industrial processes and chemical engineering breakthroughs to advances in healthcare, fitness, and even sewage management. For instance, they discuss how cutting-edge technologies can transform traditional manufacturing practices to reduce waste while improving output. Healthcare features prominently, with gripping examples of low- cost diagnostics, advanced imaging, and scalable health technologies that maintain clinical excellence while dramatically reducing costs. The discussion on sustainable urban sanitation solutions replacing manual scavenging with robotics is equally compelling, illustrating that MLM principles can enhance quality of life in areas often neglected by conventional innovation frameworks.

The review underscores that in each case, the inno- vation did not settle for minimal or second-class so- lutions for the poor: instead, it reimagined the entire value chain to deliver excellence at price points previ- ously deemed unthinkable. By meshing narrative with analysis, the authors transform abstract theory into a compelling blueprint for systemic change.

Another remarkable feature of the book is its vision- ary approach to technology adoption. Mashelkar and Borde emphasize the strategic use of emerging tech- nologies, including artificial intelligence, biotechnolo- gy, and advanced materials, to maximize resource effi- ciency. Yet they caution against viewing technology as an end in itself.

Wide Acknowledgement

The book has also struck a chord with India’s industrial and entrepreneurial community. Leading figures such as Mukesh Ambani, Anand Mahindra, Narayana Murthy, Nandan Nilekani, and Dr. Soumya Swaminathan have publicly praised the work, underscoring its relevance across sectors. Their endorsements highlight a key message of the book: MLM is not just a scientific or policy-oriented concept; it is a practical, scalable model that businesses and governments can embrace to drive inclusive growth. The book’s high profile launch itself became a testament to this cross-sector resonance, bringing together stalwarts from industry, academia, and public health, all converging around the shared vision of more efficient, equitable innovation.

Delightfully Readable

The book is delightfully readable, written in simple anecdotal story like narratives enabling quick and easy reading. The writing style deserves special mention. Mashelkar and Borde avoid the dense prose that often characterizes scientific literature. Instead, they employ narrative techniques that make the book accessible and enjoyable. Case studies and anecdotes are used strategically to illustrate key principles, while short, punchy sentences keep the reader engaged. The result is a book that educates as it entertains, making complex ideas like process optimization, cost-effective scalability, and sustainable innovation intuitively understandable. Even readers who may not have a background in science or engineering can appreciate the practical lessons embedded in the text.

Global Significance

The book also delves into the broader implications of MLM for global development. The authors highlight that in an era of climate change, resource constraints, and widening inequalities, innovation must transcend the narrow focus on profit maximization. Instead, it must embrace principles of sustainability, resilience, and social equity. MLM provides a framework for thinking about how scientific and technological advances can generate shared prosperity, not just economic growth for the elite. The emphasis on inclusivity aligns with India’s developmental goals, as well as global agendas such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

From a strategic perspective, the book is a manifesto for 21st-century innovation. It challenges both individuals and institutions to rethink the way they approach problem-solving, research, and product development. By advocating for efficiency without compromise, scalability without exclusivity, and profitability without inequity, the book presents a holistic vision of progress.

This makes it particularly relevant not only to scientists and technologists but also to policymakers, business leaders, and educators seeking models that integrate economic, social, and environmental outcomes.

Value to Diverse Stakeholders

From the outset, the authors make it clear that MLM is not an abstract ideal but a pragmatic approach that has to be applied successfully across diverse sectors. The book’s practical value lies in its strategic insights for diverse stakeholders:

Businesses: A call to rethink product and service design beyond traditional market segmentation, embedding equity as a competitive advantage.

Governments: A blueprint for crafting innovation policies that incentivize inclusive outputs rather than exclusive technological prestige.

Academia: A foundational text for curricula in innovation studies, public policy, and sustainable development.

Entrepreneurs and Technologists: A challenge and toolkit for building solutions that scale without exacerbating inequality.

The book’s appeal to such a wide readership underscores its ambition: not merely to diagnose contemporary challenges but to offer actionable levers for transforming innovation ecosystems.

Conclusion: Innovation that Serves Humanity

In conclusion, More from Less for More (MLM) Innovations: Holy Grail is an insightful, timely, and inspiring work that combines scientific rigor with a humanistic outlook. Raghunath Mashelkar and Sushil Borde have crafted a book that is both intellectually stimulating and practically valuable. By advocating for innovation that is efficient, sustainable, and inclusive, they provide a blueprint for creating technologies and processes that truly benefit society at large. The Book will be an indispensable resource for anyone interested in understanding how science and technology can drive equitable prosperity.

Accolades on the MLM book

At a glittering function held at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel in Mumbai in Dec ’25 at the book release function, Chief Guest Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries Ltd, quoted Dr. Mashelkar’s advice to him long back that “Reliance must become a deep-tech company. But it should be different from those in advance countries. The formula he suggested was ‘Extreme Affordability which he called Gandhian Engineering’. And this is what is described in his latest book with his famous mantra: ‘More from Less for More’. Produce MORE using the latest technologies, with LESS natural and financial resources to benefit More and More people is nothing but a philosophy that he has practiced for 30 years”. The book release function was attended by Hon. Minister Chandrakant Patil, captains of industry, leaders of the scientific world and renowned scientists like Padma Vibhushan Prof. MM Sharma, Mr. Nadir Godrej, Harsh Mariwala, Sulajja Motwani and others.

Mukesh said that at Reliance they have taken up his vision.  Ambani continued on what Dr. Mashelkar whom he addressed as ‘Doc’ told him: “Technology without compassion is just machinery. Technology with compassion becomes a social movement”. “We implemented his advice in Jio. Jio laid the foundation of Digital India with extreme affordability”. Mukesh also informed that Doc was the first to really bring in the Reliance Innovation Council, where we brought in a lot of Nobel Laureates, global thinkers to motivate us on what local innovation means. This we started in the year 2000. It was his idea. That Reliance Innovation Council, with grassroot capabilities in Reliance, have now spread, and they have become a movement. They are now basically our culture.

Mukesh added, “Now under his guidance, Reliance New Energy is determined to make green and clean energy available in abundance and affordable to every Indian. He has taught all of us to see Reliance not as an industrial company, but as science company and so we have over 100,000 technical professionals in Reliance at the threshold of being a deep innovation, deeptech sci- ence led company”.

Nadir Godrej gave a poetic rendering extolling Dr. Mashelkar and MLM.

Other accolades for the book have been pouring in:

“This book by my elder brother Dr. Mashelkarji and dear Sunil beautifully resonates with my lifelong efforts for globalizing compassion. More from Less for More is, at its heart, a profound compassionate action- proving how innovation can achieve access equality despite income inequality of the poorest and the most marginalized.” –Kailash Satyarthi, Nobel Peace Laureate, 2014.

“This book is a visionary guide to creating a sustainable, equitable future. By challenging outdated paradigms, it offers a transformative strategy to ensure innovation benefits all, transcending boundaries.” –Anand Mahindra, Chairman, Mahindra Group.

“In an era of rising inequality and resource constraints, this book shows how nations can grow responsibly-serving more people with fewer resources, without  compro on quality or ambition. It is an essential reading for anyone committed to building a just, sustainable and prosperous society”.-Narayana Murthy, Co-founder, Infosys.

“Few have done more to champion inclusive innovation than Dr. Mashlekar. In More from Less for more, he and Sushil borde offer an inspiring and practical guide to creating a fu- ture where access and excellence go hand in hand. Both a call to action and a guide, this book is a powerful read with a deep sense of purpose” –Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Executive Chairperson and Managing Director, Biocon.

“The future of the world depends on inclusive innovations that work at population scale. This book provides a timely and actionable blueprint on how to achieve that.” –Nandan Nilekani, Co-founder and Chairman, Infosys, and founding Chairman, UIDAI (aadhaar).

“A very timely, useful and effective contribution from Dr. Mashelkar and Sushil. The authors have beautifully captured the imagination on indigenous development, local needs, traditional wisdom, decen- tralization, simplicity, affordability and scalability”. –Sam Pitroda, Former Chairman, Telecom Mission and National Knowledge.

“At a time of unprecedented technological capabil- ity, widening economic divides and concerns about sustainability, More from less for More offers a com- pelling blueprint for reimagining progress. Dr. R.A. Mashelkar, visionary scientist, institution builder, and amongst our top thinkers, distils decades of experience into a single transformative idea-MLM-not merely as a framework for innovation, but as a moral compass for inclusive growth”. –Kiran Karnik, Author, Columnist and founder President, NASSCOM

“Stories of imaginative leaps that created novel and re-imagined products for everyone jump off the page. These stories will inspire tomorrow’s products, destined to become the new normal.” –Alan Finkel, Australia’s former chief scientist; neuroscientist, engineer, entrepreneur and entrepreneur advisor.

“This book offers an inspiring vision of how cutting-edge technology and innovative thinking can be harnessed to drive true disruption in public health. The book goes beyond philosophy – it provides clear levers and pathways to make affordable, inclusive healthcare a reality.” –Dr Soumya Swaminathan,former chief scientist, World Health Organization.

– Vinoo Mathews