If you are a TED addict, feel free to stop here – for you have most likely watched these riveting speeches already. None of these are recent (the latest of these having been delivered in 2012) and all of these were popular (the least popular having garnered 2lakh+ views). But, just in case you are interested in India’s story and haven’t seen even one of these, set aside time to review the most succinct presentations of India’s superpowers. Each one of the speeches listed below is awe-inspiring on its own. But, when I dedicated an hour to watch them together, the raw energy of India’s appeal palpated in me for quite a few hours after. It made me proud and excited about the potential that the India Superpower 2020 story has, in the next couple of decades to come.
Here’s my recipe for tripping on India’s heady story:
The First Fifteen Minutes
Why nations should pursue soft power, Shashi Tharoor, 2009
I recommend you start with this, to set the tone. Mr. Tharoor is one of the most prolific speakers of our times and he wraps the persona of India in a neat, attractive bundle. He illustrates the magical appeal of India’s cultural brilliance, that transcends language barriers to titillate the imagination of the Senegalese and Afghanis, much like most other citizens of the world. He describes, with fluid confidence, how the stories that India stimulates about herself, make her softly powerful and influential, in a way that hard economics and politics cannot possibly capture.
Quote of the First Quarter: “Tulsi Zindabad!” (in reference to a soap opera character)
Closing the First Half
Asia’s Rise – How and When, Hans Rosling, 2009
Firstly, this guy’s a Swede – so, he has no reason to propagandize India. Secondly, they say data sings in his capable hands – so, you are in for a treat. Granted, this speech is not about India alone, but India does feature as a leading character in Rosling’s Asia story. He predicts an exact date, given India can keep inequities, climate change and war at bay, when India would overtake the Western Superpowers in per capita income. Spoiler alert – it is not as far out in the future as one would presume!
Quote of the Second Quarter: “Washington DC is so rich over there, but they are not quite as healthy as Kerala”
After the Intermission
Learning from a Barefoot Movement, Bunker Roy, 2011
Whenever we discuss India as a Super Power, the obvious elephant in the room, India’s Super Poor (as referenced in Mr. Tharoor’s speech), makes its appearance. Dr. Rosling mentions India’s inequities as a possible hurdle to his predicted date of Indian supremacy. But, what if, we could discover a key to unlock the tremendous developmental potential trapped in India’s humongous masses living in poverty? Behold the Barefoot Movement – testimony to the fact that, with a little nudge from India’s educated elite, the sheer force of India’s young population, despite their poverty and limited resources, can do anything they set their minds to – anything! They can become engineers, artisans, dentists and doctors – crossing every impossible mile in the path to development – barefoot!
Quote of the Third Quarter: “Our Prime Minister (elected among Telonia school kids) is twelve years old; looks after twenty goats in the morning but she is Prime Minister in the evening”
The Grand Finale
India’s Invisible Innovation, Nirmalya Kumar, 2012
We hear it all too often, “If Indians are so smart, where is India’s innovation?” In this speech, Nirmalya Kumar takes his time to break the news to the world – savoring every single word as it slurs off his proud tongue – India has quietly and invisibly taken over the world. His speech does not contain wishful thoughts, prophecies or platitudes. It is a thorough study of what India has already achieved and what can be logically extrapolated as India’s trajectory in the near future. And it looks promising, to say the least.
Quote of the Final Quarter: “Is IBM an American company or an Indian company?”
Watch please, if you haven’t already. Re-watch if you are looking for inspiration to boost you forward on your march towards Indian Supremacy!
Do you have any other TED videos in your mind? Leave a reply, or write to us at editor@blankslatechronicles.com.