Imagining India : The Idea of a renewed nation : Reading experience

I read Nandan Nilekani's Imagining India and I think this is his debut as an author. The variety of subjects that he handles on the world's fastest growing nation and the largest democracy, as the evolution of "ideas" is indeed an unique approach. To me as I read through it, I was amazed by the kind of perspective he has taken while approaching each topic. Considering Nilekani as a current generation Indian entrepreneur, it's mind blowing that he has looked at things from pre-colonial rule era and until recent times. First time ever, I understood what "demographic dividend" means. I've always looked at China as an adorable Asian nation whose growth path and future are unencumbered. Be it its hard working and conservative population, be its technology adoption, be it the unbiased and bold stand towards taking tough measures like population control, be it the kind of ports and roads they have built and so on and so forth..China has always been a country that I look upon as a nation that's going to lead/pioneer Asia's growth. First time ever, I realized their China's aging population is their impeder as well as an expensive challenge in the making, for the years to come. Coming to know about the fact that India in its next 30 years is going to see it's demographic dividend paying off, I am thrilled to have been given an opportunity(being part of this generation) to see how India Inc, is going to fair. As he seeds optimism, Nandan didn't forget to caution us about the challenges that we need to come past to actually see whether the demographic dividend works in our way or against us. The most interesting set of ideas to me was "ideas of the future or that are about to come". Nandan reiterates the natural constraint that world is living with today - all our growth path's need to take a "low carbon" route..

Over all, It's a compelling read..

Comments

Dharan Prakash said…

Story about Japan's decreasing demographic dividend
http://tinyurl.com/yhvbpyu

November 7, 2009 at 10:54 AM

நீந்திக் கிழித்தல்

ஏன் எந்த விளையாட்டு உபகரணமும் என் கையாடலில் உடைந்து அல்லது கிழிந்து போகின்றன ? 1. சிறு வயதில் , சுசீந்திரம் கிராம பஞ்சாயத்து அலுவலக வளாகத்தில் கிரிக்கெட் bat உடைந்து போயிற்று 2. கிட்டத்தட்ட நாற்பதை நெருங்கும் வயதில் , கனடாவில் குடியேறிய பொழுதில் நண்பர் கார்த்தியுடன் ஆவேசமான டென்னிஸ் ஆட்டத்தில் ( ஒற்றயர் ஆட்டம் - எனக்கோ , நண்பருக்கோ விசேஷ டென்னிஸ் பயிற்சி எதுவும் வாய்த்திருக்க வில்லை ) டென்னிஸ் Racquet - ஐ உடைத்தாயிற்று 3. சில மாதங்களுக்கு முன்பு விலைகூடிய Badminton Racuqet ஒன்றை உடன் விளையாடும் நண்பரோடு விளைந்த எதிர்பாரா முட்டலில் (collission) உடைத்தாயிற்று 4. சில தினங்களுக்கு முன் Costa Rica- வின் Tamarindo பசிபிக் கடற்கரையின் மிதமான அலைகளில் உருண்டு புரண்டு ஓடிக் களிக்கையில் ஏன் நீச்சல் கால் சட்டை கிழிந்து போயிற்று . பார்த்துக் கொண்டிருந்த என் மனைவி ஏதோ Bollywood காதல் ஜோடிகளைக் கண்ணுற்ற வட இந்திய பத்திரிகையாளனை போல தாராளமாக படம் பிடித்து கொண்டாடினாள் . ...

Wings of Fire – Dr APJ Abdul Kalam’s Autobiography - Reading notes

This is an Autobiography by one of the India`s most celebrated scientists and leaders, who has a tremendous following across all different age groups especially India`s youngsters. It may lack the literary flamboyance of an eminent author; it may not meet the standards that a literary critic would weigh in on , but it leaves you glued to the life of a boat owner’s son, his passion towards rocketry, science , his career struggle through the red-tape clad ladders of the Indian Bureaucracy which aligns itself with the journey of India's technology advancement and self-reliance in the field of Rocketry and nuclear defence capabilities. It draws you into an aura of amazement and wonder when you read through the indescribable sense of accomplishment at the peak period of Mr. Kalam’s life and sometime make you feel that they are your(reader’s) accomplishments and that`s the indisputable success fa...

Recipe : Blackened Salmon Masala

Am a die hard fish lover, especially the Salmon. The most favorite Salmon recipe is the thick and spicy, coconut Gravy with cooked Salmon and sour and unripe mangoes. Another favorite is deep fried, spicy and oily marinated Salmon fry. But trust me, both of them are thoroughly unhealthy and cholesterol rich. The latter, deep fry one can be made using Olive oil but wouldn’t taste that great. In the light of my 2010 - theme of life – FFF (just not to let your imagination go elsewhere – Fit, Fitter, Fittest) , was looking for a heart-friendly, low calorie Salmon recipe that doesn’t take a lot of prep work or kitchen work and here is my kitchen discovery. Ingredients: · Oval shaped Salmon slices(with skin) – 3 · 1tbl spoon – red chili powder(roasted – if you find) · 1/2 tbl spoon – turmeric powder · 6 pinches of salt [will be really low in Sodium, you may want to add more] · ½ tbl spoon – Ginger / Garlic paste · ½ tbl spoo...

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