India's Obama - Ratan Tata

Will India’s Obama stand up please? Forbes has tried to answer this by calling Mr. Ratan Tata as the beacon of change in India, as our country’s Obama. Robyn Meredith, a senior editor at the magazine writes - "As an American, I don't get a vote in India, but if I did, mine would go to Ratan Tata. He's not a politician, but he is the country's most respected business leader. His Tata Group owns the Taj hotel that was just attacked, but his family is just as connected to India's proud history as its shell-shocked present. Should there not be a way to involve him in government at the highest level? A fractured India would benefit immeasurably from his acumen, his managerial skills, and his very obvious - but always constructive - patriotism."

Rightly said, Ms. Meredith! Mr. Tata has been the quiet and understated reformer of the Indian economy through his and his teams’ initiatives over the past few years. His group now includes Asia’s largest software company (TCS), the world's second largest tea business (Tata Tea), the world's fifth largest steel manufacturer (Tata Steel), the world's fifth largest truck maker (Tata Motors) and a plush hotel chain (Indian Hotels). And he has accomplished all this without compromising on ethics and honest business practices.

The Forbes reports mentions - "India is at the crossroads. It can turn to past enemies, to yesterday's memories, or it can look to the future and new hopes that could unite the nation's Hindus and Muslims. Its leaders can rain attacks on shadowy enemies, or they can rise up to defend the very ideas India stands for - secularism, pluralism, tolerance and openness."

We need leaders like Mr. Tata for India to rise to this occasion. As he once said - "I am proud of my country. But we need to unite to make a unified India, free of communalism and casteism. We need to build India into a land of equal opportunity for all. We can be a truly great nation if we set our sights high and deliver to the people the fruits of continued growth, prosperity and equal opportunity."

This is a very pleasurable thought.
It came in my mail box from "5 minute wrap up" another newsletter which comes regularly.
I only wish this could come true.
How simple is this man?
I understand, in spite of his large business empire, he still lives in a simple flat in Mumbai and goes to work in a very simple car, made by his company.
When you compare him to the others of our Indian billionaire club,who strut about in luxurious yachts and buy or build mansions which they would probably not occupy even for a single day in a year, you cannot help but admire him.
Azim Premji of Wipro, is another example.
If he, and people like him, could take up the reins of government, we could breathe a sigh of relief.

Radheshyam