Comments on: Still Powerless? http://imaginingindia.com/2009/03/07/still-powerless/ 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 10:21:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Alok http://imaginingindia.com/2009/03/07/still-powerless/#comment-637 Alok Wed, 25 Mar 2009 08:08:32 +0000 http://imaginingindia.com/?p=842#comment-637 Venkat is right Nandan sir this can be the biggest gift you can give to this country , the formation of a brand new national party which will break all age old Chaha-Mama-Papa kind of political scene from India once and for all . Venkat is right Nandan sir this can be the biggest gift you can give to this country , the formation of a brand new national party which will break all age old Chaha-Mama-Papa kind of political scene from India once and for all .

]]> By: Venkat http://imaginingindia.com/2009/03/07/still-powerless/#comment-636 Venkat Wed, 25 Mar 2009 08:06:17 +0000 http://imaginingindia.com/?p=842#comment-636 Nandan Sir , with all the money Infosys has its enough to declare a national party right away on lines of Obama election campaign and winover the election . I know its economic slump time and many Infoscions are on bench and being sent for NGO work ,they can work as very effective part time workers of the this new party . They can be taught speaking skills which I am sure they already have better than our pliticians . This should be a national party comprising of people from all lands and aimed at working in different states rather than focussing on their own. Nandan Sir , with all the money Infosys has its enough to declare a national party right away on lines of Obama election campaign and winover the election .
I know its economic slump time and many Infoscions are on bench and being sent for NGO work ,they can work as very effective part time workers of the this new party .
They can be taught speaking skills which I am sure they already have better than our pliticians .

This should be a national party comprising of people from all lands and aimed at working in different states rather than focussing on their own.

]]> By: ನಾಗೇಶ್ http://imaginingindia.com/2009/03/07/still-powerless/#comment-601 ನಾಗೇಶ್ Sat, 21 Mar 2009 06:27:23 +0000 http://imaginingindia.com/?p=842#comment-601 @9, Only because I liked your book ! :-D ok Sir, I will vote. :-) @9,
Only because I liked your book ! :-D

ok Sir, I will vote. :-)

]]> By: admin http://imaginingindia.com/2009/03/07/still-powerless/#comment-566 admin Sun, 15 Mar 2009 17:07:02 +0000 http://imaginingindia.com/?p=842#comment-566 Guru: Jaago re is of course at heart, an advertisement for the brand - I am not disputing that. I am more interested in the spirit behind this, Lead India and other efforts for reform and participation. Whether led by brands or NGOs, done sincerely or semi-sincerely, they are clearly tapping into a sentiment that the middle class has more power to change governance systems than it once did. Guru:

Jaago re is of course at heart, an advertisement for the brand - I am not disputing that. I am more interested in the spirit behind this, Lead India and other efforts for reform and participation. Whether led by brands or NGOs, done sincerely or semi-sincerely, they are clearly tapping into a sentiment that the middle class has more power to change governance systems than it once did.

]]> By: Guru http://imaginingindia.com/2009/03/07/still-powerless/#comment-558 Guru Sat, 14 Mar 2009 16:24:46 +0000 http://imaginingindia.com/?p=842#comment-558 Nandan, India's population, I believe, is somewhere around the 1.3 billion mark. Of this, the 1 billion that are not the middle class vote regularly. They just don't know about it. The ones that do know sell their vote to the highest bidder. The Jaago Re website is a marketing tool for Tata Tea more than anything else. 1 billion registrations? Anyone who thinks it's not a joke is high on something. The middle class is too busy sustaining themselves day-to-day to be able to rally together and organize anything. The politicians are so sure they're counting on it. Educated people get too philosophical too quickly to do anything practical. There are fundamental personal changes that need to be made by each Indian, an honest introspection on everyone's part, before things get better. And this will take time, one election will make no difference. Nandan,
India’s population, I believe, is somewhere around the 1.3 billion mark. Of this, the 1 billion that are not the middle class vote regularly. They just don’t know about it. The ones that do know sell their vote to the highest bidder. The Jaago Re website is a marketing tool for Tata Tea more than anything else. 1 billion registrations? Anyone who thinks it’s not a joke is high on something.
The middle class is too busy sustaining themselves day-to-day to be able to rally together and organize anything. The politicians are so sure they’re counting on it.
Educated people get too philosophical too quickly to do anything practical. There are fundamental personal changes that need to be made by each Indian, an honest introspection on everyone’s part, before things get better. And this will take time, one election will make no difference.

]]> By: Unaimed Opulence http://imaginingindia.com/2009/03/07/still-powerless/#comment-554 Unaimed Opulence Sat, 14 Mar 2009 04:32:48 +0000 http://imaginingindia.com/?p=842#comment-554 The rich will only get richer, the poor poorer - the middle class will ensure this happens The rich will only get richer, the poor poorer - the middle class will ensure this happens

]]> By: admin http://imaginingindia.com/2009/03/07/still-powerless/#comment-546 admin Thu, 12 Mar 2009 22:11:16 +0000 http://imaginingindia.com/?p=842#comment-546 MSathia, Sona, Bala: It's true, I lean towards hope. Some of my historian/political scientist friends tell me I am too optimistic about these shifts. But I believe these registration drives and anti-criminal efforts can build up into powerful reform efforts in the next few years, with some help from the media, and funding from our middle-class and businesses. ನಾಗೇಶ್: Thanks, I enjoy the book being quoted back to me! And I think we will only see younger faces among our politicians if younger voters vote. idontspam: Well, middle class voters care where their taxes go, and when they buy land and assets in cities, also start worrying about infrastructure, water conservation and garbage issues because they are personally invested in the outcomes. So I think 'engagement' with issue and governance is becoming more intense. Reshmi: I agree. This is something I have written about - the balance between government, industry, the various lobbies and the public. The power of such lobbies will only be tempered with improvements in government transparency and disclosures from ministers. IT could play a big part in bringing this about, but little has been done yet. Brian: I concur. It's a much needed reform. Nandan MSathia, Sona, Bala: It’s true, I lean towards hope. Some of my historian/political scientist friends tell me I am too optimistic about these shifts. But I believe these registration drives and anti-criminal efforts can build up into powerful reform efforts in the next few years, with some help from the media, and funding from our middle-class and businesses.

ನಾಗೇಶ್: Thanks, I enjoy the book being quoted back to me! And I think we will only see younger faces among our politicians if younger voters vote.

idontspam: Well, middle class voters care where their taxes go, and when they buy land and assets in cities, also start worrying about infrastructure, water conservation and garbage issues because they are personally invested in the outcomes. So I think ‘engagement’ with issue and governance is becoming more intense.

Reshmi: I agree. This is something I have written about - the balance between government, industry, the various lobbies and the public. The power of such lobbies will only be tempered with improvements in government transparency and disclosures from ministers. IT could play a big part in bringing this about, but little has been done yet.

Brian: I concur. It’s a much needed reform.

Nandan

]]> By: Brian http://imaginingindia.com/2009/03/07/still-powerless/#comment-545 Brian Wed, 11 Mar 2009 19:17:54 +0000 http://imaginingindia.com/?p=842#comment-545 Why don't we allow PIO/NRO's to vote? almost all other dual citizens in all other countries are allowed to vote, i am sure the millions of indians abroad would make a huge change in the landscape of political parties if they are allowed to vote, especially OCI/PIO candidates, we would ask more questions and difficult ones to the candidates, and also we would invest more in India rather than sending money to cacaji to buy a TV if we felt we had a stake in the system. Also maybe create a seperate number of seats for overseas candidates. Yes, we live outside of india, but we carry indian blood and we represent india in front of the world, but i think 99% are dedicated to their homeland and many would return if this critical mass was reached... Why don’t we allow PIO/NRO’s to vote? almost all other dual citizens in all other countries are allowed to vote, i am sure the millions of indians abroad would make a huge change in the landscape of political parties if they are allowed to vote, especially OCI/PIO candidates, we would ask more questions and difficult ones to the candidates, and also we would invest more in India rather than sending money to cacaji to buy a TV if we felt we had a stake in the system. Also maybe create a seperate number of seats for overseas candidates. Yes, we live outside of india, but we carry indian blood and we represent india in front of the world, but i think 99% are dedicated to their homeland and many would return if this critical mass was reached…

]]> By: Reshmi http://imaginingindia.com/2009/03/07/still-powerless/#comment-542 Reshmi Tue, 10 Mar 2009 10:10:48 +0000 http://imaginingindia.com/?p=842#comment-542 It cannot be denied that the money used by political parties to bring even their corrupt candidates into parliament and state assemblies comes from 'donations' -- usually non-attributable and in cash -- from the (presumably) educated and well heeled business class including industrial houses. will the industrialists put their money where their mouth is and set specific conditions that force better candidates -- instead of just specific industry friendly orders -- in return for their money? It cannot be denied that the money used by political parties to bring even their corrupt candidates into parliament and state assemblies comes from ‘donations’ — usually non-attributable and in cash — from the (presumably) educated and well heeled business class including industrial houses. will the industrialists put their money where their mouth is and set specific conditions that force better candidates — instead of just specific industry friendly orders — in return for their money?

]]> By: Sona http://imaginingindia.com/2009/03/07/still-powerless/#comment-539 Sona Tue, 10 Mar 2009 02:44:44 +0000 http://imaginingindia.com/?p=842#comment-539 Mr.Nilekani, Your post does give a positive picture but the reality at the moment might be different. I logged in 'jaago re' site to register to vote. The aim of the initiative is 1 billion voter registrations, but if you see the number so far, it's a little over 4 lakh. This shows the need for a greater stimulus to get the middle class to vote. 'jaago re' is truly commendable intiative but what we need in addition is action from a few representatives from the middle class to lead the change that all of us want to see. Contesting in the elections is one of them. If we can have 10% of smart minds to do it, we should be able to see 90% of the changes! There are several examples from India's history that support this idea. Revolutionaries such as Bhagat Singh made great sacrifices to achieve 'Purna Swaraj'. Mr.Nilekani,

Your post does give a positive picture but the reality at the moment might be different. I logged in ‘jaago re’ site to register to vote. The aim of the initiative is 1 billion voter registrations, but if you see the number so far, it’s a little over 4 lakh. This shows the need for a greater stimulus to get the middle class to vote. ‘jaago re’ is truly commendable intiative but what we need in addition is action from a few representatives from the middle class to lead the change that all of us want to see. Contesting in the elections is one of them. If we can have 10% of smart minds to do it, we should be able to see 90% of the changes!
There are several examples from India’s history that support this idea. Revolutionaries such as Bhagat Singh made great sacrifices to achieve ‘Purna Swaraj’.

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