Comments on: Running out of time http://imaginingindia.com/2008/11/24/running-out-of-time/ Across the world, Nandan is recognized as one of India's most successful software entrepreneurs and as the co-founder of Infosys, among India's premier companies in the IT sector. Now meet Nandan, the author. Thu, 17 May 2012 10:10:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Ollie http://imaginingindia.com/2008/11/24/running-out-of-time/#comment-1222 Ollie Wed, 10 Jun 2009 22:14:30 +0000 http://imaginingindia.com/?p=452#comment-1222 I have the view that depression is a disease which comes from total identification with one's thoughts and emotions and have found teachings like that of Eckhart Tolle to help me recover. What do you think? I have the view that depression is a disease which comes from total identification with one’s thoughts and emotions and have found teachings like that of Eckhart Tolle to help me recover. What do you think?

]]> By: Dennis CiceAttem http://imaginingindia.com/2008/11/24/running-out-of-time/#comment-117 Dennis CiceAttem Thu, 18 Dec 2008 11:47:39 +0000 http://imaginingindia.com/?p=452#comment-117 First of all congratulation for such a great site. I learned a lot reading article here today. I will make sure i visit this site once a day so i can learn more. First of all congratulation for such a great site. I learned a lot reading article here today. I will make sure i visit this site once a day so i can learn more.

]]> By: John CiceAttem http://imaginingindia.com/2008/11/24/running-out-of-time/#comment-116 John CiceAttem Thu, 18 Dec 2008 00:53:29 +0000 http://imaginingindia.com/?p=452#comment-116 Very usefull post. Thanks. P.S. I like your writing style. Very usefull post.
Thanks.
P.S. I like your writing style.

]]> By: Sundar http://imaginingindia.com/2008/11/24/running-out-of-time/#comment-104 Sundar Mon, 15 Dec 2008 08:30:22 +0000 http://imaginingindia.com/?p=452#comment-104 Other serious problems in villages are: A) Division by Political Parties - people are so much polarised by political party affiliation, it creates a strong divisio - much more stronger than caste equation A) Money spend for drinking alcohol is typically much more than money spent for family. Other serious problems in villages are:
A) Division by Political Parties - people are so much polarised by political party affiliation, it creates a strong divisio - much more stronger than caste equation
A) Money spend for drinking alcohol is typically much more than money spent for family.

]]> By: Debkumar Mitra http://imaginingindia.com/2008/11/24/running-out-of-time/#comment-87 Debkumar Mitra Sun, 07 Dec 2008 13:07:20 +0000 http://imaginingindia.com/?p=452#comment-87 I have started reading your book that I received a couple of days back. I'm 47 and for the past 20-odd years have been talking to people to support a programme to recruit school dropout and create opportunities for them and their families. When you talk about taking demographic advantage I was immediately reminded of the project. Well, many of us have safety net of ideas for our country but only a handful have the probabilities working for them. Being a part of the larger set of 'have ideas but not resources' people, I urge you to use your IT framework to net the school dropouts and use the human capital. I'm sure you have all resources to figure out ways and means to create the infrastructure that would serve both our democracy and industry. Your ideas have a sense action to them. Hope to see you at the Calcutta book launch. All the best, Debu I have started reading your book that I received a couple of days back. I’m 47 and for the past 20-odd years have been talking to people to support a programme to recruit school dropout and create opportunities for them and their families. When you talk about taking demographic advantage I was immediately reminded of the project. Well, many of us have safety net of ideas for our country but only a handful have the probabilities working for them. Being a part of the larger set of ‘have ideas but not resources’ people, I urge you to use your IT framework to net the school dropouts and use the human capital. I’m sure you have all resources to figure out ways and means to create the infrastructure that would serve both our democracy and industry. Your ideas have a sense action to them. Hope to see you at the Calcutta book launch.
All the best,
Debu

]]> By: Praveen http://imaginingindia.com/2008/11/24/running-out-of-time/#comment-83 Praveen Fri, 05 Dec 2008 13:25:13 +0000 http://imaginingindia.com/?p=452#comment-83 Hi Nandan, I haven't yet read your book. But I watched your interview with Rajdeesh Sardesai. I am pretty much in line with what you visualised, 'People, what we thought a burden to India 30 years back, actually can be made into an Asset.' I believe the next 10-15 years is going to be exciting for India. I liked your concept on 'Vertical' Dividers like Religion, Caste, Regionism, being bridged by 'Horizantal' Parameters like Education, Employment, Cultural Mix ,etc (which I believe the Knowledge revolution has already started it and going in speed). Also, Your view on Politics and its frequently associated words like Corruption and other Politicised Issues that all these issues would be eradicated by the bottom of the pyramid. Your analogy on 'Anti-English States' changing as People demanded fits perfect. Looking forward to read the IDEAS of the Problem Solver! Praveen Hi Nandan,

I haven’t yet read your book. But I watched your interview with Rajdeesh Sardesai. I am pretty much in line with what you visualised, ‘People, what we thought a burden to India 30 years back, actually can be made into an Asset.’ I believe the next 10-15 years is going to be exciting for India.

I liked your concept on ‘Vertical’ Dividers like Religion, Caste, Regionism, being bridged by ‘Horizantal’ Parameters like Education, Employment, Cultural Mix ,etc (which I believe the Knowledge revolution has already started it and going in speed).

Also, Your view on Politics and its frequently associated words like Corruption and other Politicised Issues that all these issues would be eradicated by the bottom of the pyramid. Your analogy on ‘Anti-English States’ changing as People demanded fits perfect.

Looking forward to read the IDEAS of the Problem Solver!

Praveen

]]> By: Kothai Priyadharshini http://imaginingindia.com/2008/11/24/running-out-of-time/#comment-63 Kothai Priyadharshini Thu, 27 Nov 2008 10:07:03 +0000 http://imaginingindia.com/?p=452#comment-63 True. Disparity in the Indian society has been around for along time and has taken deep roots. And as we focus towards a better economy I think we need to pay attention to overall development of the country including the less fortunate people who don't have access to the best of education and employment. We have a long way to go. What use is local optimum if it does not contribute to the global optimum. Growth of urban areas does not indicate a better life for the rural population or the common man who earns to make both ends meet. And the country is made of all these people too. True. Disparity in the Indian society has been around for along time and has taken deep roots. And as we focus towards a better economy I think we need to pay attention to overall development of the country including the less fortunate people who don’t have access to the best of education and employment. We have a long way to go.
What use is local optimum if it does not contribute to the global optimum.
Growth of urban areas does not indicate a better life for the rural population or the common man who earns to make both ends meet. And the country is made of all these people too.

]]> By: Joshua http://imaginingindia.com/2008/11/24/running-out-of-time/#comment-60 Joshua Wed, 26 Nov 2008 17:20:08 +0000 http://imaginingindia.com/?p=452#comment-60 You have an almost childish faith in markets. Let me emphasize that markets are not concerned about access and inclusion, even if in the long term that could translate into increased demand for goods and services, as more people get educated. Markets are not concerned about democracy either -Chile had free markets under Pinochet's brutal miltary dictatorship backed by big business. Markets are too concerned about short-term gain. Access will come if government spends on providing this access, and the trickle down can be huge from such expenditure. The recovery after the Great Depression was Keynesian and not monetarist. However, for government to spend the money that is required, without most of the money leaking out of the system through corruption, we need societal change. We need to change our politicians, by us changing our attitudes and values. For starters people should stop worhipping wealth and power, and praying at this altar are a lot of business leaders and intellectuals who love to hobnob with politicans and even vie for quasi-political positions. Today people are respected for their power and money, even if that was obtained by corruption. Money has no memory, said John Steinbeck. Unless this is changed, that is we change as people, and corruption is uprooted, markets and governments and pundits can solve nothing. You have an almost childish faith in markets. Let me emphasize that markets are not concerned about access and inclusion, even if in the long term that could translate into increased demand for goods and services, as more people get educated.

Markets are not concerned about democracy either -Chile had free markets under Pinochet’s brutal miltary dictatorship backed by big business.

Markets are too concerned about short-term gain.

Access will come if government spends on providing this access, and the trickle down can be huge from such expenditure. The recovery after the Great Depression was Keynesian and not monetarist.

However, for government to spend the money that is required, without most of the money leaking out of the system through corruption, we need societal change.

We need to change our politicians, by us changing our attitudes and values. For starters people should stop worhipping wealth and power, and praying at this altar are a lot of business leaders and intellectuals who love to hobnob with politicans and even vie for quasi-political positions.

Today people are respected for their power and money, even if that was obtained by corruption. Money has no memory, said John Steinbeck. Unless this is changed, that is we change as people, and corruption is uprooted, markets and governments and pundits can solve nothing.

]]> By: MJP http://imaginingindia.com/2008/11/24/running-out-of-time/#comment-58 MJP Wed, 26 Nov 2008 11:02:14 +0000 http://imaginingindia.com/?p=452#comment-58 Nandan, At the outset let me congratulate you for the book! "I am not happy about the meltdown – the world is almost certainly headed for a rocky, tumultuous period". Is there a way one can know how long this crisis is going to last? Regarding India, I think it is important to keep a simple perspective in mind. We are primarily a agricultural country. Our most of the efforts should be in the direction to promote agriculture, to keep it and farmers alive. I have no issues with modernisation and industries, we certainly do need industries, but cannot ignore rural India. People committing suicide in rural India, migrating to cities does not depict the picture of developing India..atleast not for me! I am severely disappointed by the role of media, English and vernacular alike. English and Hindito a larger extent coz of the vast reach it has. Media can make or break the country, but what we see today is, media being hellbent on breaking the nation. All the agendas, discussions , news are predetermined by the media, as is the conclusion at the end of discussion with any panelists. Its a shame and we indeed are unfortunate not to have a educated media to bank on in the country!! Jai Hind. Nandan,

At the outset let me congratulate you for the book!

“I am not happy about the meltdown – the world is almost certainly headed for a rocky, tumultuous period”.

Is there a way one can know how long this crisis is going to last? Regarding India, I think it is important to keep a simple perspective in mind. We are primarily a agricultural country. Our most of the efforts should be in the direction to promote agriculture, to keep it and farmers alive. I have no issues with modernisation and industries, we certainly do need industries, but cannot ignore rural India.
People committing suicide in rural India, migrating to cities does not depict the picture of developing India..atleast not for me!

I am severely disappointed by the role of media, English and vernacular alike. English and Hindito a larger extent coz of the vast reach it has. Media can make or break the country, but what we see today is, media being hellbent on breaking the nation. All the agendas, discussions , news are predetermined by the media, as is the conclusion at the end of discussion with any panelists.

Its a shame and we indeed are unfortunate not to have a educated media to bank on in the country!!

Jai Hind.

]]> By: Jay http://imaginingindia.com/2008/11/24/running-out-of-time/#comment-57 Jay Wed, 26 Nov 2008 07:29:15 +0000 http://imaginingindia.com/?p=452#comment-57 Although Prof Amartya Sen has portrayed our passion for arguments in a romantic way in his book, I think anything is useless unless there is a result at the end of it. Our arguments simply go on endlessly with no result in sight. And when those arguments are about our fundamental positions - e.g whether the economy needs to be opened up or whether we really need high growth - then it is very counter productive. And as mentioned in your book, the time is upon us to act. I think this downturn is an opportunity for India to put up its hand to be counted, as we will probably be one of the least affected major economies of the world. When so many other countries are going to be looking inward with their heads down, to put their houses in order, we should rise as one to provide an engine of growth so we can catch up with others. Obviously, some major tuning will be required to attain high growth rates as the tiger we were riding for growth so far - easy money - is gone now. We will need to find better ways to attain high growth. We can do it only if we stop arguing about the fundamental premises and focus on the nitty gritty of the process. Although Prof Amartya Sen has portrayed our passion for arguments in a romantic way in his book, I think anything is useless unless there is a result at the end of it. Our arguments simply go on endlessly with no result in sight. And when those arguments are about our fundamental positions - e.g whether the economy needs to be opened up or whether we really need high growth - then it is very counter productive. And as mentioned in your book, the time is upon us to act. I think this downturn is an opportunity for India to put up its hand to be counted, as we will probably be one of the least affected major economies of the world. When so many other countries are going to be looking inward with their heads down, to put their houses in order, we should rise as one to provide an engine of growth so we can catch up with others. Obviously, some major tuning will be required to attain high growth rates as the tiger we were riding for growth so far - easy money - is gone now. We will need to find better ways to attain high growth. We can do it only if we stop arguing about the fundamental premises and focus on the nitty gritty of the process.

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