This book investigates the profound and multifaceted impact of the Great Depression on the Madras Presidency between 1929 and 1937. By employing the analytical tools of both a historian and an economist, K. A. Manikumar offers a novel perspective on the political, economic, and social landscape of the region during this critical decade. The study meticulously examines the pre-Depression state of the export-dependent agricultural sector, the escalating problem of peasant indebtedness, and the differential effects on various industrial segments. It critically assesses the colonial government's economic policies, which exacerbated debt burdens, and analyzes the resultant social and political ramifications, including the burgeoning influence of the Indian National Congress.

The book is structured to provide a comprehensive account of the Great Depression's effects on the Madras Presidency, utilizing a dual historical and economic lens. Its multidisciplinary approach is intended to offer a fresh perspective on the complex conditions of the 1930s. The detailed examination of agricultural and industrial sectors, government policies, and political shifts suggests a thorough and analytical treatment of the subject matter. The scope indicates a work aimed at scholars and students of economic history and South Asian studies.