Observations, Thoughts and Stories as they form in the mind! Book Reviews, Art, Travelogue, Economy and Society
During Work from Home (WFH) time, approximately a year and a half, I made friends with cats, dogs and peacocks on the campus (see here) where I lived and worked. Back in the office in the University I never thought I would see winged friends at such close quarters again. Or that I would make friends and empathise with them.
I watched the Hindi film Super 30 again. It is based on a true story of a mathematics teacher who runs an educational program for poor children. The film scrutinizes the ambition of parents and children in India to enter the top engineering schools known as the Indian Institute of Technology and the ethics of coaching centers.
An Ode to Dr. Verghese Kurien, The Milkman on India, on his 100th Birth Anniversary. Reposting.
Verghese Kurien (1921-2012) is considered the Father of the White Revolution in India. He is also known as the ‘Milkman of India’. He was responsible for moving India from a milk powder importing country to becoming self-sufficient in milk and milk products. He is credited with creating a series of institutions in Anand, a small town in the Western state of Gujarat, the AMUL Brand of milk products and its cooperative milk federation (GCMMF), the National Dairy Development Board to name a few. The Institute of Rural Management, Anand (IRMA) was one of the last institutions he built.
I joined IRMA in 2009 as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Chair Professor in Economics and became the Director of IRMA in 2011 for a full term till 2016. I met Dr. Verghese Kurien a couple of times during…
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Skeletons and Careers in the 'Cupboard'! Recently when my husband was clearing his desktop of old files he came across a few files of our daughter's Eleventh Grade school Science project. It was literally like finding skeletons in the cupboard! Skeletons in her career cupboard?
Our wait is finally over. Our book in-the-making for many years is published. It is available on the site of the publisher, Orient Blackswan and on Amazon in most countries, We examine what motivates women in India to operate enterprises ranging from small and medium to large enterprises?
I reflect on one of the markers of race, ethnicity, country of origin, culture and much else that became obvious in the 2000s and after, Dress or Clothes. Did it ever strike you that the clothes you wear could convey something?
In anticipation of the publication of our book ‘Women Entrepreneurs in the Indian Middle Class: Interdisciplicary Perspectives’ @OrientBlackSwan, I reblog a talk on innovation and entrepreneurship. According to Schumpeter, only innovation entrepreneurs are real entrepreneurs as they create a disequilibrium force. We argue in our book that there could be other reasons for entrepreneurship, especially among women. The economist’s definition of an entrepreneur as risk-taking, innovators looking for an opportunity, or that of the psychologist as high achievers may not suit most of these entrepreneurs. A key take away from the book was that “entrepreneurship can result from necessity as well as opportunity and women entrepreneurs pursue goals beyond economic gains”. Women’s decision to become an entrepreneur can be precipitated by both push and pull factors. It is not just ‘profit’ and attaining ‘scale’ that motivates a woman entrepreneur.
India currently faces a massive challenge of slowdown in growth and high levels of unemployment among youth, especially among the educated urban population. The formal labour market in India is saturated, unable to absorb the ever-increasing number of the labour force. Therefore, the role of small-medium enterprises in creating employment opportunities is vital for economic prosperity and social stability. Entrepreneurship is a crucial mode for utilizing youth power and generating employment that will in turn contribute to the economy’s growth and development, especially for those who aspire to be owners and employers rather than employees. Understanding the motivation and constraints faced by entrepreneurs is critical for designing and formulating appropriate policy initiatives. Encouragement of the ‘enterprise spirit’ or ‘animal spirit’ among young people is a precondition for success in employment, growth, competitiveness and innovation.
I base this brief talk[1] on our book…
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Arun Maira, Author and Thought Leader, Former Member, Planning Commission and Former Chairman, Boston Consulting Group India, in conversation with Jeemol Unni on a new paradigm for development.
Happy Independence Day! Cheers, looks like Spaceship 502 has landed! Here we are, back on campus after nearly a year and a half. Tired of travelling on a Spaceship, in confined space with few co-passengers! Well, our Spaceship has landed on Earth 2.0. Or have we landed yet?
The Beautiful and much Maligned Helen of Troy!
India is jumping for joy after winning an Olympic Bronze in the Men's Hockey, Tokyo 2020. Hurrah for the Indian Men's Hockey team that ended the 40 year drought in Olympics since 1980. Last time the Men's Hockey Team won the GOLD in the Moscow Olympics, 1980. A shout out to the Women's Hockey Team that entered the Olympic Semi-finals, a first ever!
Unni-Verse 