Comments on: Awaiting Enlightenment - II http://imaginingindia.com/2009/05/21/awaiting-enlightenment-ii/ 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. Wed, 08 Sep 2010 12:15:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Sunil S Chiplunkar http://imaginingindia.com/2009/05/21/awaiting-enlightenment-ii/#comment-1609 Sunil S Chiplunkar Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:31:32 +0000 http://imaginingindia.com/?p=1036#comment-1609 One of the greatest challenges in managing in India is managing the political component or interference. Dhirubhai Ambani is the true business Guru who worked as a part of the system - including political interferences - to achieve his objectives. Sir - now with your new position as Chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India, which is a Govt. position, managing the political component and at the same time, achieving your set objectives, will require all your tact. I pray for your success and glory, in the best interests of our country. One of the greatest challenges in managing in India is managing the political component or interference. Dhirubhai Ambani is the true business Guru who worked as a part of the system - including political interferences - to achieve his objectives.

Sir - now with your new position as Chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India, which is a Govt. position, managing the political component and at the same time, achieving your set objectives, will require all your tact. I pray for your success and glory, in the best interests of our country.

]]> By: Venkatesh Hariharan (Venky) http://imaginingindia.com/2009/05/21/awaiting-enlightenment-ii/#comment-1502 Venkatesh Hariharan (Venky) Fri, 26 Jun 2009 11:13:25 +0000 http://imaginingindia.com/?p=1036#comment-1502 I was at the IITB Campus today morning and my first thought was how clean and green it is, especially in the rains. And the new hostel buildings are very stylish and a nice addition to to Powai lake front. One of my friends was considering marrying an IITB professor and after she visited his accommodation at IITB, she was really crestfallen. The point is that aesthetics is also a part of our life and a place of learning get enhanced if its architecture reflects that. It is good to see that the old run down hostels and accommodation at IITB are being renovated. I appreciate what you have done for your alma mater. I was at the IITB Campus today morning and my first thought was how clean and green it is, especially in the rains. And the new hostel buildings are very stylish and a nice addition to to Powai lake front. One of my friends was considering marrying an IITB professor and after she visited his accommodation at IITB, she was really crestfallen. The point is that aesthetics is also a part of our life and a place of learning get enhanced if its architecture reflects that. It is good to see that the old run down hostels and accommodation at IITB are being renovated. I appreciate what you have done for your alma mater.

]]> By: arun http://imaginingindia.com/2009/05/21/awaiting-enlightenment-ii/#comment-1409 arun Sun, 21 Jun 2009 17:13:03 +0000 http://imaginingindia.com/?p=1036#comment-1409 Nandan, Do you think the money spent on upgrading the hostel 8 was the best use of it?In a country as resource deficient as India, do you think that you added sustainable value by doling out those resources. One would expect more imaginative approach from an entreprenure that believe in excellence. You understand very well that a stroke of pen is more important than thousands of crores of well meaning charity.Why not use the same money in commissioning well researched hard hitting studies that create a crescendo so big that even the deaf are forced to hear.Almost all of our premium educational institutes suffer from creaking infrastructure. Is it a problem of funding?Is not privatisation of construction and facility management the correct solution?Should not we do away with sarkari support staff and replace that with private contractors? Nandan,
Do you think the money spent on upgrading the hostel 8 was the best use of it?In a country as resource deficient as India, do you think that you added sustainable value by doling out those resources. One would expect more imaginative approach from an entreprenure that believe in excellence. You understand very well that a stroke of pen is more important than thousands of crores of well meaning charity.Why not use the same money in commissioning well researched hard hitting studies that create a crescendo so big that even the deaf are forced to hear.Almost all of our premium educational institutes suffer from creaking infrastructure. Is it a problem of funding?Is not privatisation of construction and facility management the correct solution?Should not we do away with sarkari support staff and replace that with private contractors?

]]> By: Karthik Krishnamoorthy http://imaginingindia.com/2009/05/21/awaiting-enlightenment-ii/#comment-968 Karthik Krishnamoorthy Thu, 28 May 2009 01:10:44 +0000 http://imaginingindia.com/?p=1036#comment-968 I'd take these guys on a stroll across New England Ivey league. If Sloan, Harvard and Yale had a similar stance there would be no infrastructure here in the US that fosters growth, education and instigate the level of interest they do. Its a shame, politicians would interfere and dare to term these improvements as lavish. Their ignorance is taking a severe toll on our Countries development. When do we move to a age of high mass consumption, how long will we be part of a third world league. It hurts me and scares me. I want to return home but I am super paranoid when established business men are prevented from contributing to a cause, how much difference can I make on the country I love. I’d take these guys on a stroll across New England Ivey league. If Sloan, Harvard and Yale had a similar stance there would be no infrastructure here in the US that fosters growth, education and instigate the level of interest they do.

Its a shame, politicians would interfere and dare to term these improvements as lavish. Their ignorance is taking a severe toll on our Countries development.

When do we move to a age of high mass consumption, how long will we be part of a third world league. It hurts me and scares me. I want to return home but I am super paranoid when established business men are prevented from contributing to a cause, how much difference can I make on the country I love.

]]> By: Avnish http://imaginingindia.com/2009/05/21/awaiting-enlightenment-ii/#comment-964 Avnish Tue, 26 May 2009 17:11:29 +0000 http://imaginingindia.com/?p=1036#comment-964 Great book and some fantastic thoughts...what's surprises me is that Nandan has hadly discussed the sPPpPpPPPPPPourge of corruption in ou $pir society, governance and just about any/every walk of Indian life. Coming from somebody like him, it would have had a meaningful impact on the readers and wider audience. I really hope Mr. Nilekani was not trying to be politically correct whilst writing out his book ! PS. 'From Third World to First'..Lee Kuewn Yu..the Singapore leader wirtes an entire chapter on corruption and how zero-tolerance towards this was one of the key pillars of Singapore's success. Great book and some fantastic thoughts…what’s surprises me is that Nandan has hadly discussed the sPPpPpPPPPPPourge of corruption in ou
$pir society, governance and just about any/every walk of Indian life. Coming from somebody like him, it would have had a meaningful impact on the readers and wider audience.

I really hope Mr. Nilekani was not trying to be politically correct whilst writing out his book !

PS. ‘From Third World to First’..Lee Kuewn Yu..the Singapore leader wirtes an entire chapter on corruption and how zero-tolerance towards this was one of the key pillars of Singapore’s success.

]]> By: Avnish http://imaginingindia.com/2009/05/21/awaiting-enlightenment-ii/#comment-963 Avnish Tue, 26 May 2009 17:07:27 +0000 http://imaginingindia.com/?p=1036#comment-963 Great book and some fantastic thoughts...what's surprises me is that Nandan has hadly discussed the scourge of corruption in our society, governance and just about any/every walk of Indian life. Coming from somebody like him, it would have had a meaningful impact on the readers and wider audience. I really hope Mr. Nilekani was not trying to be politically correct whilst writing out his book ! PS. 'From Third World to First'..Lee Kuewn Yu..the Singapore leader wirtes an entire chapter on corruption and how zero-tolerance towards this was one of the key pillars of Singapore's success. Great book and some fantastic thoughts…what’s surprises me is that Nandan has hadly discussed the scourge of corruption in our society, governance and just about any/every walk of Indian life. Coming from somebody like him, it would have had a meaningful impact on the readers and wider audience.

I really hope Mr. Nilekani was not trying to be politically correct whilst writing out his book !

PS. ‘From Third World to First’..Lee Kuewn Yu..the Singapore leader wirtes an entire chapter on corruption and how zero-tolerance towards this was one of the key pillars of Singapore’s success.

]]> By: Indian http://imaginingindia.com/2009/05/21/awaiting-enlightenment-ii/#comment-959 Indian Tue, 26 May 2009 13:41:45 +0000 http://imaginingindia.com/?p=1036#comment-959 Nandan, We, as youngsters, admire and follow you as a leader. Though the article brought the plight of students studying in one-of-the-most-toughest-to-get-into colleges, the article had a pessimistic feel to it. We as lesser mortals can whine and cry, but talk of change and sense of direction should come from people like you, at the top of ladder. Rather than the usual politiko bashing, we need to find ways to change the legacy, and ensure that redtapism/politiko control doesnt continues any further. Nandan,

We, as youngsters, admire and follow you as a leader.

Though the article brought the plight of students studying in one-of-the-most-toughest-to-get-into colleges, the article had a pessimistic feel to it.

We as lesser mortals can whine and cry, but talk of change and sense of direction should come from people like you, at the top of ladder.

Rather than the usual politiko bashing, we need to find ways to change the legacy, and ensure that redtapism/politiko control doesnt continues any further.

]]> By: Nitin Juneja http://imaginingindia.com/2009/05/21/awaiting-enlightenment-ii/#comment-956 Nitin Juneja Tue, 26 May 2009 01:04:00 +0000 http://imaginingindia.com/?p=1036#comment-956 Dear Sir, This seems to be a solution to it but what if its not being heard at all. Well, I need to know your views on some other issues also. Few weeks ago I read in a newspaper that the financial aid provided to the students in a government school would be now be given through a bank account. This seems to be a good steps to improve the financial knowledge among students at this tender age and also the parents who had not even stepped into the bank. This leads to the eradication of the corruption while disbursing the cash and ends up in saving up the study time curbed by this process. Anyhow I hope this should be implemented well, coz, Indian politicians are the best planners but the worst implementers. I think we should find more of the such small yet influencial steps to get more transperancy in the process of the state owned institutions. Dear Sir,

This seems to be a solution to it but what if its not being heard at all.
Well, I need to know your views on some other issues also. Few weeks ago I read in a newspaper that the financial aid provided to the students in a government school would be now be given through a bank account. This seems to be a good steps to improve the financial knowledge among students at this tender age and also the parents who had not even stepped into the bank. This leads to the eradication of the corruption while disbursing the cash and ends up in saving up the study time curbed by this process.
Anyhow I hope this should be implemented well, coz, Indian politicians are the best planners but the worst implementers.
I think we should find more of the such small yet influencial steps to get more transperancy in the process of the state owned institutions.

]]> By: J Shukla http://imaginingindia.com/2009/05/21/awaiting-enlightenment-ii/#comment-954 J Shukla Mon, 25 May 2009 20:30:02 +0000 http://imaginingindia.com/?p=1036#comment-954 Nandanji, Kindly, this is unrelated to your topic, but I figured you might find some interests in it. I'm not certain who to reach with my idea, or where I can get governmental information. I want to invest in solar panels and hopefully provide power to places in India that need it, villages, slums etc. I see this Iran-Pakistan pipeline stuff going on and I think ideas like what I have with small business owners trying to reach a poorer crowd can make a huge difference. If you can refer me to people I can talk to in regards to doing this kind of work in India, I would be grateful. I don't require capital, just some guidance on where to start the process. Hopefully someone that reads this board might be willing to point me in the right direction. Nandanji,
Kindly, this is unrelated to your topic, but I figured you might find some interests in it.

I’m not certain who to reach with my idea, or where I can get governmental information. I want to invest in solar panels and hopefully provide power to places in India that need it, villages, slums etc. I see this Iran-Pakistan pipeline stuff going on and I think ideas like what I have with small business owners trying to reach a poorer crowd can make a huge difference. If you can refer me to people I can talk to in regards to doing this kind of work in India, I would be grateful. I don’t require capital, just some guidance on where to start the process. Hopefully someone that reads this board might be willing to point me in the right direction.

]]> By: M.S.Devan http://imaginingindia.com/2009/05/21/awaiting-enlightenment-ii/#comment-950 M.S.Devan Sun, 24 May 2009 10:30:44 +0000 http://imaginingindia.com/?p=1036#comment-950 Dear Nandan, Your book was unputdownable - and I read it inone stroke in a week's time and sent copies to two of my friends in US and France. Obviously you have done considerable research and your knowledge on India, its shortcomings and strengths very deep and broad. I wish the Planning Commission and Govt of India will listen to you - and I find that the SSN about which you mentioned, had a budget allocation in the current budget. Dear Nandan,

Your book was unputdownable - and I read it inone stroke in a week’s time and sent copies to two of my friends in US and France.
Obviously you have done considerable research and
your knowledge on India, its shortcomings and strengths very deep and broad. I wish the Planning Commission and Govt of India will listen to you - and I find that the SSN about which you mentioned, had a budget allocation in the current budget.

]]>