I saw Barack Obama’s acceptance speech this morning on television. More than my awe for Obama’s powerful oratory skills, listening to him made me realize how far removed India’s electoral politics had become in recent times. I cant remember the last time when a candidate talked about the specific things they will do once they come to power. Sure, there is the regular rant on how they will “bring prosperity and similar gyan” but nothing specific about how they will tackle the growing water scarcity in Delhi or a process to improve the state of roads or easing traffic. The PM surely announces new schemes every year to address some broader issues like unemployment, supported by large ads, especially before elections on how they have fared. But to me that’s more jingoism than a will to do anything meaningful.

What’s worse is that the average populace (including me) expect nothing better and just remain as armchair cynics, who can do nothing better than crib.

Is there a way out really? In a country where coalition governments are more the norm than an exception, can we expect anything better? Our system encourages small groups of people or even an individual to float a political party that has nothing to differentiate them from the others. Which is great to provide a window of opportunity to smaller fries to want a piece of the national scene- Mayawati’s BSP being the best possible example, but hasn’t this system also given rise to coalition politics and a government based on compromise as its shaky foundation.

Perhaps Obama’s speech today lasted two hours, but I couldn’t bear to hear him for more than 30 min today. I just couldn’t bear to endure to see a display of our own inadequacies….

So there is this ad on TV these days promoting a new “social networking” site. A man has recently got married and wakes up with a silly grin in the morning, clearly satisfied with um….a very satisfactory night. The scene cuts to a 100 “friends” booming down on him inquisitively asking him how the “night” was. He smugly (and with a tad bit of macho pride in his voice) responds- “”Rocking!”. His wife wakes up….he has been “talking to his friends” on the social networking site.

This is the new reality of our times, when there is never a time when you are truly alone. Despite my stubbornness not to post my profile on LinkedIn (rudely regretting friends who send invites for me to join their “friends club”) or Facebook, I can’t honestly say whether I am really alone. I am addicted to my Blackberry and can never really “switch off” from work or other stuff that I am multitasking, even though I may be “alone”.

Would be interesting to see how this phenomenon changes social patterns in society in the way we interact with each other and how our individual dependencies change from “real” to “virtual”.

When I first heard my friend Tarun Khanna talk about his new book “Billions of Entrepreneurs: How China and India are Reshaping Their Futures and Yours” my first reaction was- Oh! No…not another one on this subject that has been done to death by anyone who considers himself (or herself) even marginally qualified. But since curiosity got better of me, I read the book- and I am glad I did. For the book was refreshingly different and almost a personal account by Tarun, relying on his experience and extensive travels to bring out the difference in approach to business in India and China despite that fact that they are broad-brushed as “Asia” by most multinationals (oh well- some are now demystifying this and have India and China as individual regions, but the generalization still exists).

I found the book interesting on a number of accounts.

Firstly, the brilliant explanation of the difference in the nature of entrepreneurship in both the countries in the context of their historical and social fabric. It provokes the reader to find answers to several baffling questions in the process- especially someone like me who goes into deep depression every time I travel to China and return- of how Beijing is able to implement reforms in a fast forward mode, when India presses Pause even before it begins to play; of how Chinese infrastructure juggernaut is sweeping through its Tier 3 and 4 cities, when India is struggling with managing traffic snarls in just its metros. How Indian companies seemingly manage their businesses more efficiently than China despite these handicaps- is the availability of better managerial capability the answer? In that case, what is creating these world-class managers, when even getting admission to a decent school is nothing short of a nightmare in India…

Secondly, the author’s personal research on how closely the Chinese state is involved in favouring investors bringing high technology. And how effectively they are using these resources to manage local issues. It reminded me of an experience not so long ago, when I learnt that every investor in China is expected to shell out a percentage of investment (in return for the State’s support) in promoting education or developing the local community. I thought at that time that it was a brilliant ploy, but of course a dangerous one, for those with deep pockets clearly have a better chance at success. But it also resonated with what Ratan Tata said in a recent interview that if India’s government machinery doesn’t support the long-staying businesses, they it would become a convenient destination for opportunists, which is equally if not more dangerous.

Tarun chooses to be politically correct when articulating the system he prefers- perhaps rightly so, as there are not very many common areas in my mind. China and India have unique advantages which cannot be compared, and clearly both seem to be working, in one way or the other, for both.

The third reason which drew me to the book immensely was the strong point made by the book that both India and China are succeeding in spite, or because, of their quirks and rather quixotic nature, and companies that wish to do business and succeed in these countries cannot afford anymore to not adapt themselves. Not very different to what was thought as the key to succeed in Europe.

One of the topics that has engaged me the most in recent times is the development of entrepreneurs (perhaps triggered when I joined the company that I believe is the nurturing bed for most entrepreneurs), and was most intrigued to read on this subject in the book and found Tarun’s comments insightful. I think it’s rather idealistic to expect the two countries to have the kind of cooperation that Tarun suggests, even if it will result in the kind of success that he prophesizes, given the chequered history that the countries have had- both politically and otherwise. Especially in recent times, several issues that make either side nervous are conveniently brushed under the carpet as opposed to inviting an open discussion. There has been an increasing flow of ideas and people between India and China today than there ever has been but is still at an abysmally low level when compared to say, what either India and China have with the US or even UK.

In his intro, Tarun says, “…Levin’s comment made me remember my freshman year at Princeton, when I realized that that none of my roommates—talented, ambitious individuals who went on to achieve no small measure of success in the world—could locate India on a world map. One boy helpfully suggested it was “right by Arabia,” a

remark that made me retire to my bunk bed in tears.” One thing is clear- Tarun wouldn’t need to retire to his bunk bed in tears anymore………and his recent treatise is an illuminating reason why!!!!!!!

I spent a good part of the week of 21^st in the cool climes of Switzerland. Chilled-to-the-bone might be a more appropriate phrase, but the overheated interiors prevent me from using it!! I was attending the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos. One of the first things that people (read the richest, most powerful, most learned and best placed human beings on the planet!) ask you when they meet you in Davos is “is this your first?”- meaning if “this is the first time you have got the good fortune of being in stratosphere, with us stars?!!” I must admit that despite feeling a bit lost, I think I did fairly well, not just in navigating my way from Zurich to Davos (and finding a place to stay in Klosters) but also spending that week usefully.

One thing that is extraordinary about this meet is that all these celebs and stratospheric human beings become ordinary mortals! So in a way it was a great leveler! The other fantastic thing about the Forum is that for people who are genuinely interested in learning, the eclectic mix of people and the quality of discussions you could have with them is electrifying. For me personally, it was the kind of experience like no other. The ambience, the people and the knowledge flow were all something I just took in, imbibing as much as I could.

I also learnt that Davos has been a popular destination for the rich for a long time, especially those who are rich…and ailing, mainly because the microclimate in the high valley was deemed excellent by doctors and recommended for patients with respiratory problems. I was told Robert Louis Stevenson, who suffered from TB, wintered in Davos in 1880 at the recommendation of his Edinburgh doctor!!! I didn’t have too much time to loaf around the little town, but in the two hours that I took out to climb a not-so-steep snow clad hill, I felt I had scaled Heaven. The place is ethereal, and the snow clad mountains and trees with the sun shining down made it surreal, almost!
At the Forum, the topic was “Collaborative Innovation”, a topic that I personally believe is somewhat impossible. After all innovation is something very personal to the individual who initiates it. Sure, there can be collaboration to breathe life into it and participation of different stakeholders would make it relevant to a broader audience, but it seems almost impossible to collaborate and innovate! I would vote for innovate, collaborate and transform!!!
 

The various interactions I had at Davos reaffirm one thing- that traditional hierarchy of companies is being replaced by networks- of technology and of flesh and blood. And since networks have no boundaries, I have to admit at the risk of sounding clichéd that it is clearly becoming a boundary-less world. The other thing I noticed was there was no talk of India and or v/s China. A testimony to the fact that these two nations are beginning to be recognized as powers who need to be a part  of every debate, and not forcibly included! A point also noticed by some of the other Indian ministers during one of the receptions. The global power balance may be shifting slowly toward Asia, but more Asians, Europeans, Arabs and Africans want to know who will be governing next year in Washington, with the duel between Hillary Clinton and Barrack Obama commanding almost as much attention at Davos as it perhaps does in America, and every living home in 125 countries!

However, it was a treat to have the best people from countries across the world discuss topics of relevance, especially around leadership, climate change and social entrepreneurship. The discussions I had with many around these issues will stay with me for long and steered me in directions that I didn’t think were possible! This requires a separate post………….