The attached article(s) shud be of interest to the membersTitle: Rediff On The Net Business Special: Reliance vice-chairman Mukesh Ambani discusses his vision for India
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| April 11, 1998 |
The Rediff Business Special:Mukesh AmbaniNRIs can accelerate the pace at which India catches up with the West
What do we need to achieve economic superpower status? Change our priorities. Economic reforms are important. They need to be deepened, no doubt. But sweeping reforms in the field of education are needed to reap the rich harvest of information revolution. A national crusade for education standards representing what all our students must know to succeed in the knowledge economy of the 21st century is required. Every school must shape the curriculum to reflect these standards. We have to transform our schools, colleges and universities to dynamic centres of learning. Sweeping educational reforms are the crying need of the day. With a correct strategy and focus on these two areas, double digit growth in our GDP will appear to be realistic.
Achieve or perishLooking closely, we will discover that India has really no options. She must achieve a great power status or go under. By the year 2020, our population of 950 million would increase by another 350 million -- of which 200 million will be joining the workforce. This new generation will grow up in an environment of rising aspirations fuelled by the communications revolution. They will insist on nourishing food. They will demand meaningful education and gainful employment. They will demand a better life. We must tackle the basic problems of food, education and employment. If we do not, India will be torn apart. Violence crime and malnourishment will cause an unmitigated disaster. This, obviously, is unacceptable. On the other hand, if we manage to tackle these problems successfully. India will automatically become a major economic power. Therefore for us, there is only one course: To summon the will of all sections of our society and make this dream a reality. We have to discard poverty of ambitions and lethargy in action. We have to make 'India an economic superpower' -- a mission for all Indians. In my view, changes are required across the board. Firstly, changing the mindset must be the starting point. Hard work in every field by every citizen must be the hallmark of a new India. Pursuit of excellence at the individual is desirable -- but world-class achievement these days demand collective effort by a large number of people with diverse skills. We must learn the art of team work. Secondly, high quality of leadership is a must in all walks of life. Political leaders with conviction and commitment. Business leaders with courage and ambition. Intellectual leaders with creativity and vision. Our sages and saints can make an invaluable contribution by providing moral leadership to fill the spiritual vacuum that is the hallmark of a society in transition. Thirdly, I must submit that we cannot have a 21st century economy and an 18th State apparatus. The State must be modernised. Let us discard the view that government is the benefactor and people are supplicants. Government-people relationship should be marked by a spirit of partnership and reciprocity. Government should be responsive and accountable. Democracy must percolate much deeper. Fourthly, we should be clear about the role of government. Borrowed cliches often confuse our minds. I do not share the view that the State will have no role to play in the market-driven economy. In fact, in order to satisfy both material and non-material wishes of the people, the State must deliver. Private enterprise will no doubt, assume command of the economy, but the government must continue to fulfil major economic roles, specially in respect of macro-economic management and providing a regulatory framework that encourages competition. Fifthly, participatory ethic should permeate all our institutions including business corporations and academic bodies. People whose lives are affected by a decision must be a part of the process of arriving at it. Sixthly, India has suffered acutely because of the disconnect between technology and business. This must be ended. We can derive a big advantage by attracting our non-resident professionals, scientists, and engineers in the work, particularly in the technology intensive areas. We can shift the balance of technology power by attracting back our highly educated and trained non-resident Indian people. These high-tech professionals with their network of contacts can quickly close the technology gap and accelerate the pace at which India catches up with the west. Technological leadership has been the West's domain for many decades. Perhaps, this will continue in some areas. But technological applications, proving the power of technology to millions of new participants in the global economy, will depend on many highly educated and skilled people. India has the potential to dominate the 21st century of skilled technicians who will be able to deliver new products and services to the world.
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| April 11, 1998 |
The Rediff Business Special: Mukesh Ambani'The new era is not for the feeble hearted'
No knowledge-based society can flourish without the full participation of women. You cannot hope to achieve a successful great leap forward if half of your people are not involved in the creative process. Indian women have demonstrated they are next to none in the world. May I say that Indian women have been quicker to seize the opportunities of globalisation than men -- both in beauty as well as in brain -- Sushmita Sen and Aishwarya Rai became the most successful ambassadors of Indian womanhood. Kalpana Chawla, with her grit and determination, catapulted herself from being a shy girl in Haryana, into a confident astronaut exploring outer space. For Indian women, the sky is not the limit. I have no doubt that the information revolution will totally transform the work environment for women. It will demolish gender inequality. Women will be equal partners with men. The most revolutionary changes of the next 20 years will be come from the desire of Indian women to enrich themselves by participating in all human endeavours. Indian woman will discover unique ways of blending religious commitment, cultural traditions, and family obligations with new work styles and leadership in various areas. They will redefine feminism the 'Indian Way' providing an additional dimension to our common humanity. I hope this vision for India 2020 will stimulate your thinking. I do not have answers to our all problems. I may be looking at the sky, but my feet are firmly on the ground. This vision envisages flowering of an individual, strengthening of community, building institutions and strengthening our country. In fact, it ensures that a vibrant and dynamic India is able to play a befitting role on the global arena. It rejects an isolationist approach. I invite all of you to join in the great march towards India 2020 of my dreams. Towards making this country an economic superpower in 20 years. Several nations as well as individuals in our times have achieved miracles in a 20-year span.
The mantras of my life
Before I conclude let me share with you a few mantras that hold the secret to success:
I have learnt these mantras from my father in the process of building Reliance. But these are not the monopoly of Reliance alone. I would like to see these principles enshrined in the consciousness of every individual and business entity in India. Nothing can then stop India from becoming an economic power. This new era is not for the feeble hearted. The time has come for us to think adventurously and act decisively. We have the resources and we have the opportunity. We have to summon the determination and make the effort. My optimism springs from my faith in the youth of India. It is sustained by the richness of our civilisation. It is strengthened by examples of our achievers. Our generation cannot shirk its duty to the country and to the future. Making India one of the five economic superpowers may appear to be an impossible dream today; it will become a reality tomorrow. Let us take India forward and achieve the impossible. Let me challenge each one of you today to think and contribute to our India 2020 vision. Let us together hand in hand create an India our children can be proud of. None of us can finish the race alone. We can only achieve our destiny together -- one hand, one generation, one Indian connecting to another.
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