Nandan of our nation

About 7 to 8 years back it was Dr A P J Abdul Kalam that I wanted to be like. Now it surely has to Nandan Nilekani. There shouldn't be any comparison between the two but a news item I read today has cheered me. It has given me a reason to 'live'.

I was an ambitious man looking up to influential people, as a kid, only to degenerate into just another creature who resigns to the statement, "it is all very easy to say big things, but not easy to do them. We can't do anything in this messed up political garbage!" From someone who wanted to be an Aerospace Engineer I became just another Electronics Engineer.

This too had phases.

1- Ambitous Electronics Engineer who saw many opportunities to do big things.

2- "Ahhh! Economy! Let me get a job first."

Being in the USA at this time gives such less-than-normal attitude to most people. What really lifted my dying spirits with a breath of life is the post about Nandan Nilekani. My survival will develop into living for sure. Here is a man whose knowledge, work and attitude earned political respect from a government I lost hope on. Apart from Dr MS (Our Prime Minister) and former Finance Minister PC, I didn't see more avenues for development and positive strides. Railway Minister and his respect from IIMs drew attention and my awe.

Now with this induction of Nilekani, there is a new wave of hope. Indeed men with bright ideas will be appeciated. Today, it is at the highest level. I pray that tomorrow, the level of an organization where a person can get recognized moves down and so on. When this happens, India will be in another universe. India 2020 won't be far away! And it won't be only in patriotic songs that India sounds great in!

My upward looking eyes are a result of news items I read. To name them are:

A- India exports milk to New Zealand (Dr Kurien's dream comes true)!

B- Nilekani's appointment as the head of (National) Unique ID agency!

C- Mumbai's Worli-Bandra sea link's status and now Worli-Haji Ali's proposals!

D- Vishakhapatnam's development!

E- Andhra Pradesh's e-governance actually being real and not just dummy web pages doing nothing!

F- Dedicated Freight Corridor project (railways)! (More railway projects related news on this wordpress link)

Today I feel my satisfied best because I turned from an apathetic person towards goings-on-around-me to a delighted and proud man looking to do my bit.

For all fellow Indians, let's take a cue from this incident and let us do our bit soon! For a start, it'll be a great thing if everyone decides to hokd back the urge to throw trash on the roads or any place other than the garbage bin. If I were you, I'd keep the empty packet with me till I find a bin. It is not very difficult.

I wish to mention my friend who is already doing his bit while the rest of us friends are still trying to either find excuses like lack of time/energy or some such thing or are still planning for those days when 'we will do something'!

Meet Vinod. He is presently working with Aricent Technologies in Bengaluru. Always the one to dirty his hands, put in the effort, plan and execute things, he has started a Charitable trust with a group of like minded people. Their trust mostly funds poor children's education. Personally I am looking forward to be a part of their trust. I strongly recommend you (reader) to get in touch with him if you want to do your bit.

You could mail him at 4uvinod@gmail.com

Here are other friends who harbor such itch to do something - Viraj Patil, Arun V T and Harsh Mankad. There are other friends in my close circle whom I haven't mentioned because they may not take initiative, but I know they'll participate.

@Vinod - I see a lot of scope for us to dirty our hands now.