Stressing that education for the 400 million rural population of the country is an imperative step to going global, the telecom man of Indio, Sam Pitroda said, “If we have 400 million literates, we can expect the emergence of a new nation.”

Speaking on the ‘Preamble to A Competitive India Inc’ at the Exim Club’s three-day international symposium – Vision 2015 – in the city, Pitroda said, “The knowledge industry has arrived in India but we still like to hold on to the brahmanical and shudjra based structure of work. It is time that we give-up this kind of mind set.” If we want to turn global, we will have to strive to provide basic needs and infrastructure first to all people in the country, he said.

Criticizing the hierarchical and feudal system of administration existing in the country, Pitroda said, “To let people think globally, we need to provide a decent standard of living to the deprived billions. Only after their basic needs are fulfilled, can they be able to give a new direction to their thought processes. Emphasizing on the realities that the nation needs to focus on, Pitcoad said, “The GDP and the GNP of the nation has to increase. Don’t ask me how? Work alone matters.”

Talking more about the idea of global phenomenon, Pitroda said that the problem with us Indians is that we are wedged between the transition from traditional to technical society. “Often we try to impose our thoughts on our children, building them like is. But we fail to realize that we need different mind sets to build a nation.”

Pitroda also blamed the bureaucracy for the failure of the system. “We are still following the politics of 1940’s and trying to build a modern nation. The answer lies in the immediate administrative, political and judicial reforms.” Hinting at the communal upheaval witnessed by the State in the recent past, Pitroda said: “I am ashamed of what has happened. We should continue to keep the entrepreneurial skills of the people here alive. W must try to emerge as the fist business State of the country.”

Dr Ratanjit Sondhe. Chief Executive Officer, Poly-Carb Inc, USA also spoke at the meet. Advocating audiences to go back to the roots, Sondhe said, “Don’t go for globalization as an Indian, but as a human being, We need to nurture our roots because unless we are clear with the basics, we will continue to flounder.”

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He said that, India should be serving as a guide, as a thought process to the world because that is the nation’s strength. “We have to shun the data-based mind set to grow as a knowledge-based society. And that happen only if explore who we are.” India, according to him can develop a globalized outlook only if we lose boundaries and think as one.