Aug 11
12
Dear Dr. Manmohan Singh,
My heartiest congratulations to you and your team on the eve of our country’s 65th Independence Day. As the nation dons its tricolour, and you salute the armed forces at the Red Fort, there would be a million things that will cross your mind in this feel-good and patriotic event. I must admit that it’s a tough ask, given the myriads of problems that we as a collective pontificate upon but do very little about. I am taking this opportunity to share with you a few of my thoughts.
Inequity of independence
The constitution offers citizens like me the freedom to practice any profession or to carry on any occupation, trade or business on which the State may impose reasonable restrictions in the interest of the general public. Let me try and put this in perspective – what really happens when people like me want to take the entrepreneur route instead of the naukri (job) route? In creating and growing a software product which has meaningful and relevant application for the country we come up against a myriad of walls. Just for records, the U S Government uses a similar product to garner start-up ideas.
Product companies like ours needs funds to scale so we look at the available sources. The Credit Guarantee Fund Trust is supposed to provide collateral free loans to first generation entrepreneurs, especially in those sectors where providing any other collateral is difficult – except the intellectual property and credentials of the founders. We provided everything they asked us to provide. Nothing happened. Of the various yojanas and schemes that our country has, we are really confused with the appalling bureaucracy and complete lack of intent.
Hence the inequity in the independence we are seeking; the independence to pursue something relevant and useful for the country and our own fulfillment as innovative entrepreneurs.
Implications of the inequity
From your vantage point, let’s take a quick look at what we’ve been able to achieve in the last 10 years and I can only speak about the Indian IT industry. India as a geek nation has been eulogized and overrated. In the honor roll of Most innovative companies, it is a consolation to find Shaadi.com ranking 39th. At least it gives all of us the renewed assurance that the great Indian wedding still rocks.
Elsewhere, the story of India as laggards in innovation is well documented. Industry reports like this one are nice to read but remain as they are – Reports. Reports such as this one proclaim a disruptive growth for the Indian Software Product segment, from USD 1.4 billion in FY2008 to USD 9.5 to 12 billion by FY2015.
How is this going to happen if true innovators are treated like the proverbial middle-class, high on passion and intent and starved of means to realize and contribute? Having missed the product gravy train are we going to be content with our employment with Infosys, TCS, IBM, Google, Apple or will we have our own story to tell the world?
Bring in the real investors
It is time the government brought in the real investors. Real investors are people who have been there, done that. We need to bring in the Silicon Valley right here in India, because they will provide the constant inflow of ideas, know-how, best practices, talent, investment professionals and more. It will also help streamline the early-stage investment practices in India and hopefully replace or improve the current players i.e. the people who masquerade as investors. The timing couldn’t be better. We could also perhaps learn from China and their innovation initiatives.
Let us invite our American and Israeli friends to help us shape the innovation ecosystem in our country. Their experience will be invaluable. We have outlived the failed promise of jugaadh – let’s not push it beyond a limit.
A platform for real innovators
The government would do well to create a national platform and ecosystem for innovators where experts from multiple disciplines can shape ideas into products. We are more than happy to help you do that.
Unique Innovator’s Authority
Creating a national platform and identity for true innovators is the need of the hour – especially those with commercially viable products and ideas which can be directed towards contributing to the nation’s critical needs in healthcare, education, security and more. That way the nation will know whom to call on for what and create an innovation pipeline that we can all bank on.
Beyond the rhetoric
Sir, we really need to break down the bureaucracy that has plagued our nation for years, especially as it applies to creating a groundswell of innovation in our country. Your cabinet colleague Dr. Kapil Sibal has talked about Innovation Universities. We are excited and you can count on us to bring in our minds and our hearts. I am hoping that Product innovation will find a place in your “actionable” agenda for the nation because we truly believe, that is what will make us truly independent.
Forever free
Once again, like you we will hoist our national tricolor on the 15th and feel proud to be a part of this great country. And while we all stand up to sing Jana Gana Mana we will once again resolve to be the ruler (adhinayaka) of the minds of all people and dispenser of India’s destiny (bharata bhagya vidhata).
Jai Hind and Vande Mataram.
With warm regards
R R Dasgupta
