Founded in 1954, Bharat Electronics was among the early public sector enterprises set up by the Government of India. The original mandate for the company was to produce electronics equipment, primarily for India’s defence, with the overall objective being eventual self-reliance in electronics. The company’s journey, through many vicissitudes over the years, to becoming one of the top technology companies in India today is the story of this book. Bharat Electronics is not generally known to the public, its role being primarily a supplier of the “eyes and ears” of the defence forces. It had also played a key role in spreading radio and television across all corners of the country. And, its million plus tamper-proof Electronic Voting Machines keep the wheels of the world’s largest democracy spinning Despite all the changes in policies that India has witnessed, public sector enterprises continue to play an important role in the economy of India, contributing 22% of the gross domestic product today. To many who believe that the government has no business to be in business, a successful public sector enterprise like Bharat Electronics is a conundrum. “Inside the Solid State” is proof enough that state ownership and good performance are not contradictory.