Lead India – An Interview with RK Misra
Tue, Apr 15, 2008
R.K. Misra is a B.Tech graduate of IIT Kanpur. He has an M.S. from Tokyo University. He has been an entrepreneur for most of his professional life, and has founded and acquired three technology businesses. More recently, he was declared the winner of TOI’s ‘Lead India’ campaign.
In an interview with The Scholars’ Avenue, R.K. Misra answered questions relating to politics in general, the role of an IITian in society and more.
TSA: Being an IIT alumnus yourself , What do you think will be the role of IITians in shaping the future of our country (say , in the coming 10 years) . What do you feel about the Brain Drain Issue often associated with IIT graduates ?
RKM: IITians have been at the forefront of Technology and Entrepreneurship businesses in past decade. Most of them have become successful investors as well as senior corporate citizens. However what has been lagging is the social and political leadership avenues. Given the abysmal sate of affairs of governance and policy matters, it would be great to see IITians take a leading role in social and political leadership positions. Brain Drain is not much of an issue. We have TWO-WAY flow where many senior executives are coming back to take corporate roles in India. It is a healthy situation.
TSA: Do you plan to involve IITians in your initiative? If so, how do you plan to do so?
Students will be asked to think, plan, propose and execute social entrepreneurship projects and join ongoing projects. They would also be encouraged to actively involve and pursue leadership initiatives related to governance and policy matters.
TSA: What is the single-most important thing you learned at IIT that helped you become what you are today?
TSA: What are your opinions on political groups like Lok Paritran? In the present political scenario, do you feel it is reasonable to envision being elected to a seat in the Lok Sabha without having to use any corrupt practices?
TSA: Being elected through a TV show, do you think the rural population of the country, whose problems you wish to solve will be able to identify themselves with you? How do you plan to reach rural India?
TSA: How happy are you with the response to Change India. How do you plan to expand it to cover a larger audience in the future?
TSA: Where do you see the ‘Change India’ campaign going one year from here?
TSA: Times of India had last year announced their Poised India campaign which seems to have faded into oblivion, and then came Lead India after winning which, you have launched the Change India campaign with much fanfare. What do you plan to do differently to ensure that this campaign does not die a natural death like so many other campaigns people have launched in the past?
Tags: Interview
Now what happend to Mr RKM, is he alive, or is been eleceted