Recent incidents in different parts of the country are causing a lot of anxiety to all the right thinking people whose concept of inclusive and tolerant India needs reinforcement. As a matter of fact, majority of the people in our country are very tolerant and appreciative of the cultural and social diversity. And yet, a…
The increasing role of social media, alternative online news channels and individual blogs in shaping public opinion has generated new paradoxical challenges before institution builders. Younger generation is all the more impatient with in-depth analysis. The twitter generation is making new demands on the process of institution building. In any society, the existing…
Whenever an African dignitary or a delegation visits India, the general tendency on the part of India is to offer help and suggest what can Africa take from us. May be, this is a legacy of the colonial times when we were subjected to similar sermons by the British. Now that UK and other…
Homage to a great human being: Dr. A.P.J.Abdul Kalam, former President of India and Bharat Ratna was not just a President. He had earned enormous respect and social capital through his humility, support for humanitarian causes and commitment towards grassroots creativity and innovation. He shared this capital with everybody who came in contact with him. …
In any democratic society, it is inevitable that political and democratic institutions, governing the country will decide certain level of appointments to various positions. To assume that all these appointments will be guided by the political philosophy in power at that time is fraught with tremendous risks. Since many of these positions are tenurial, one…
Mr @NarayanMurthy complains too much!!! Making money is good. Making a lot of money is even better. But while doing so, if one does not invent, develop new heuristics of compassion, collaboration, creativity and connectivity then it is perhaps not so good. I will pass the issue of how many earth shattering ideas came out…
Recently when I saw a Japanese film, “A stitch of Life”, directed by Yukiko Mishima, I was reminded of a vain Gandhian dream of forging close connections between producer and consumer through customized products and services. A Seamstress, Ichie persists with her vision of tailoring western design cloths using an old sewing machine for her…
1. Developing solutions to Improve efficiency and ergonomics of coconut leaves broom makers – Yash Goyal, Pranav Kaushal, Gunjit Thapar University, Patiala The problems we have identified are in the process of broom making using coconut leaves. These stalks are hand stripped from the coconut tree leaves. For improving efficiency and ergonomics of the process, some…
There are a few institutions which have brought more honour and pride to India than IITs, IIMs, AIIMS, Law schools, IISc, BARC, TiFR, etc. These are the real jewels in Indian crown. Several central universities are equally distinguished. Should a system which works well be the concern of policy makers? Ironically, Previous government started the…
Third creativity camp of disadvantaged and privileged children organized recently at IIMA by the Honey Bee Network threw up surprises again. Once again we learned that as we grow, our ability to perceive the unmet social needs, develop empathetic feelings and convert these feelings into action doesn’t necessarily grow. Can we then listen to the…