Entrepreneurial Problems
While starting an industry in India is relatively easy today, lack of product-oriented industries is proving to be a major problem. Most engineering and technological companies are in the service and consultant sectors which basically aregive me a project and pay me on completion. This is true for manufacturing industries in the energy and transportation sector as well because for entrepreneurs, this is much easier than developing a new product and marketing it. Yet the latter is what has made the "new world" countries like the US a "developed" nation. Without new product creation, we would continue to be subcontractors and hi-tech coolies, however much we sugarcoat it. So, if you are planning to start an industry, see if you can manufacture a new product by dusting off the research in the academic institution.

However, this also means we require change in existing laws. Currently, Indian law doesnt allow declaring bankruptcy or enforce stringently current copyright laws. This has to change and we need to use the currency of votes to put pressure on our politicians and the government. Complaining wont help neither will comparisons.

Indian venture capitalists are hard to find for entrepreneurs based in small towns, as is the lack of diversification in family owned businesses in India except for a few well-established firms that have been doing business for decades.

Conclusion
Mahatma Gandhi made khadi for a reasonself empowerment. So, for true Indian freedom in a global world, we need to become masters of our own destiny and be able to create an India, where future generations can do even better. For India to become a developed country, we need alternative energy, water production and housing on a massive scale, simultaneously being environmentally responsible. For those who say it cant be done, remember we invented the numerical system and also have the only 2,000 year-old still functioning stone dam in the world.

To bring about true development, we need to be entrepreneurs and pioneers of new technologies and products. We also need to lead in future technologies research like particle acceleration, robotics, aviation development, defense, and space technologies, automobile and mass transport technologies. While at the same time, work on cultural exports to create global understanding.

In this 60th anniversary, let us re-dedicate ourselves as technocrats to Indian development for the long term.

Deepa Kandaswamy
The author is the founder-moderator of the IndianWISE e-group
maildqindia@cybermedia.co.in

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