What Young India Wants

When we choose a mobile network, do we check whether Airtel or Vodafone belong to a particular caste? No, we simply choose the provider based on the best value or service. Then why do we vote for somebody simply because he belongs to the same caste as us?

We know we are all tarnished, so we doubt everyone else too. It is sad situation, where we need a leader but cannot really trust anyone.

I feel everyone who has a chance should step out of India for a while to really see what it is like out there.

Societies that value excellence, innovation, entrepreneurship and integrity do well.

Shocked, the teacher rushed out and brought back the headmistress. Throughout the rest of the period, both of them tried to figure out who set off the bomb and gave us lectures on our rowdy behaviour.

done it. However, just prior to the teacher's arrival, someone had a brainwave. He planted a Diwali bomb with a

Lakshmi is wealth accumulated through honest and fair means. Money can be stolen as well, but Lakshmi brings peace and happiness to the person who earns it.

None of the recent technologies that have changed the world and created wealth—telecom, computers, aviation—have come out of India. Yet,

The first trait is servility. At school, our education system hammers out our individual voices and kills our natural creativity, turning us into servile, course-material slaves. Our

There you go. I’ve told you the four thunderstorms—disappointment, frustration, unfairness and isolation. You cannot avoid them, as like the monsoon, they will come into your life at regular intervals. You just need to keep the raincoat handy to not let the spark die. I

The second trait is our numbness to injustice. It comes from our environment. We are exposed to corruption from our childhood. Almost

Corruption is worse than terrorism. Terrorists blow up existing infrastructure such as roads, airports and power plants. Corruption prevents such infrastructure from being created in the first place. Terrorists take innocent lives. Corrupt politicians prevent hospitals from being built, which means that innocent lives that could be saved are not.

It was obvious—let alone the morality of it; without reducing corruption, we could never hope to become a rich country. Yes, we need new laws like the Lokpal. Yes,

The third trait is divisiveness. This is often taught at our home, particularly our family and relatives, where we learn about the differences amongst people. Our

We think cheating, in reasonable amounts, is okay. These

Our society respects power, not excellence or integrity. Power-driven systems resemble the jungle. The

If we place an honest, though less wealthy person on a higher pedestal than a corrupt, yet rich individual, we will have contributed to India’s progress. And

Societies that value excellence, innovation, entrepreneurship and integrity do well. If we want India to be rich, we have to value excellence and honesty first. This is where a reset, a re-prioritization of something very core to society is required. This core is our values.

Yes, honesty pays but only if all of society is honest. If only you are honest, but everyone else is not, you will suffer. This is the bottleneck obstructing change in India today. We all want to be honest, but we don’t want to be the only one honest, for then we will suffer. This paradox prevents change.

I observed all the students at IIT. They came from all parts of India, toppers in their respective schools. Few had come there to research science or learn about technology. Most had come to achieve their middle-class dream—a better life. And that is what the IITs promised them.

If we are lucky enough to have good leaders at the top, change will happen quickly. Unfortunately,

Frustration is a sign that somewhere you took things too seriously. Unfairness

Never, ever make that compromise. Love yourself first, and then others. There

However, ask someone to articulate Indian community values and there won’t be a clear answer. Do

Values cannot be unpredictable; they are consistent, even in volatile times. Indian

The Indian government wants foreign investment but ignore the basic expectations that come with it. Hence

Our enemy is the old school of thought, or rather, the people who defend the old school of thought. They do this in the name of antique Indian policies, culture and values.

Corruption is worse than terrorism. Terrorists blow up existing infrastructure such as roads, airports and power plants. Corruption prevents such infrastructure from being created in the first place. Terrorists take innocent lives. Corrupt politicians prevent hospitals from being built, which means that innocent lives

Developed countries depend very little on rain, as this dependence creates high fluctuations in the output, year after year. Apart