“[THINK INDIA] deserves to be widely read by anyone who wants a proper understanding of the great twenty-first century economic and political power that India promises to be.” —Bill Emmott, former Editor in Chief of The Economist
I had the pleasure of conducting a one - on - one interview with Mr. Vinay Rai. I received this book from his Publicist Karen Ammond , and I was immediately fascinated by the topic and the man behind the pages of this MUST READ book. I highly recommend every American reads this invaluable book.
It will be available in all major bookstores by mid-August.
Q: What is the title of your book?
A: Vinay
'Think India - The Rise of the World's Next Superpower and What it Means For Every American”
Q: Tell us a little of your history in India?
A: Vinay
I come from a business family and community. My father started from a small beginning in 1946 and built several businesses to an overall cash flow on the order of a million dollars by the early seventies. When I joined the family business after my education in the United States, I expanded and diversified the business enormously into steel production, computers and IT, mobile telecommunications, engineering, financial services, hotels and more. In 1999, Forbes magazine ranked me as one of the 200 richest people in the world.
Q: Where were you educated?
A: Vinay
After receiving a Bachelor of Science in Physics, with honors, from Delhi University, I attended MIT, where I earned a second bachelor's degree in electrical and electronics and a master's degree in material science. At MIT I was elected as an honorary member of Eta Kappa Nu and Sigma Xi two of the most prestigious honorary societies for engineers. While at MIT, as a transfer student I spend a semester at the Harvard Business School.
Q:What inspired you to write this book?
A: Vinay
My inspiration for 'Think India' came from my research into all the reasons—political, commercial, strategic, defence, markets etc.--that were driving Indian and US partnerships as never before. I also saw that the average American had little idea about what was going on, viewing India largely in terms of a country that the U.S. was losing jobs to. The media has not been writing about how the American worker and small business owner stand to benefit from this new frontier. For the good of people in both countries, I thought it was essential that people are offered a clear picture of what's happening and what they themselves can do to take advantage of this developing relationship between the two countries.
Q: How long did it take to complete?
A: Vinay
It took me a year to complete the book.
Q: Explain briefly why India is the next superpower
A: Vinay
Indian people have tremendous creativity, are very good in sciences, display superb entrepreneurial skills, and have an ancient tradition of being able to innovate in ways that are now called 'Thinking out of the box.” They also have the basic values of caring and concern for societal needs, a respect for all beings, tolerance for all schools of thought and acceptance of diversity inherent in the philosophy to take them forward and contribute positively to global growth and in particular to benefit both united states and India. India’s partnership with the states will also greatly propel its growth.
Q: How do you see China and their role as a superpower?
A: Vinay
China will remain a superpower and an important partner of the united states. The important point for Americans is whether they will be better off working more closely with the Indian people than with the Chinese especially in areas of research, innovation, creativity and enterprise. I believe both the U.S. and India will use the low-cost manufacturing base of China to advantage. But for value-add, it will be the partnership between Indians and Americans that will lead the way.
Q: Why should USA align themselves with India?
A: Vinay
The growth potential of the Indian market is making American businesses even hungrier for a piece of the India pie. According to the India Brand Equity Foundation, 'A majority of U.S. firms with an India presence are reporting double-digit growth today.' That description fits GE, Bank of America, Motorola, Reebok, IBM and many others. Some like Coca-Cola and Citibank have even declared the country to be their fastest growing market globally. With many other American businesses waking up to the lure of the Indian market, it’s little surprise that the establishment in D.C. is under pressure to keep relations with India on a strong footing. More over for the united states “war on Terror” they need india. India is also a strong counter balance the growing threat to the security and long term interests of the united stated of a strong ,powerful but non transparent China.
Q: How can our two countries work closer together?
A: Vinay
The relationship between the United States and India is bound by a common commitment to freedom and tolerance. The two nations may still face tough times ahead in their budding friendship, but their shared commitments and values are bound to help them see their way through any difficult patches. Potent partners in matters military, nuclear, technological, and economic, Washington and Delhi look at each other and see a multifaceted future together; the two allies have so far only scratched the surface of their relationship.
On key global issues, India shares converging interests with the United States in research on energy conservation and clean fuel, including clean coal energy, as well as alternative renewable sources of nonconventional energy like solar and wind. These are areas where U.S. and Indian interests converge. Plus, their fates are already bound together in so far as containing terrorism is concerned. With a very large and peaceful Muslim population, India represents a strong, experienced partner in the fight against terrorism.
And, of course, the United States and India are already together in working to keep trade routes open globally while keeping at bay any demands for measures that would be overly protectionist. For the average American, India promises to be the 'new frontier of the 21st century.” I believe the dream and thrill of a new frontier will capture the imagination of the American people. And I believe this will become the single largest factor in the two counties and their people working together for common good— a win/win situation for everyone.
Q: What technologies do you foresee that will have the greatest influence?
A: Vinay
The efforts will extend across all spheres, but the most important areas will be genetics, biotechnology, nanotechnologies, telecom, health, and environmental engineering. Perhaps of even greater impact will be in the areas of greenhouse effects, defense, and space.
Q: Can you expand on your universities and orphanages that you launched in India?
A: Vinay
In 2002, I set up the Rai Foundation and under that umbrella launched many educational institutions including a university that now has some eight thousand students on fourteen campuses across India , one in Mauritius and will soon open campuses in the Middle East and Africa. The Rai Foundation colleges offers courses in over twenty different fields. Its many other arms address issues ranging from promotion of our ancient arts and culture, to child care, to women's empowerment, to people empowerment , to rural health—with the goal of lifting people from the slave mind-sets of the past and be better prepared for the 21st century.
We have started a unique effort to improve the education of young women through a program we call 'Girl Genius and Gifted Girl,' which provides that any number of orphan girls, and three hundred girls from the poorest families, are accepted every year to receive totally free higher education, including housing and food, with an ample clothing allowance. For those qualified, these benefits continue to a PH.D. It’s a way to bring about better Equity, Access and Opportunity to those not so fortunate.
Q: Will you be coming to the USA?
A: Vinay
Yes, I will be coming to US for the launch of my book from 20th august to 18th September.
Excerpts from the official Press Release:
The buzzword of the twenty-first century is India—and it’s not just a story of software, outsourcing, and faraway call centers. With 1.1 billion residents, the world’s largest democracy is poised to dominate the world stage.
Some facts about India:
* One out of every six people in the world lives in India
* India’s top trading partner is the U.S.
* India is the fastest-growing free market economy
* India is the world’s top destination for retailers
* India is the world’s youngest workforce (over 500 million under age 25)
About the Authors
Vinay Rai is an Indian billionaire, industrialist, philanthropist, and the founder and president of Rai University , which now has fourteen campuses nationwide. He was educated at Delhi University in India and MIT in the United States, and is the former chairman and CEO of the Usha Group, a large Indian company that includes telecom and steel businesses. He is also the president of the Rai Foundation, which is dedicated to improving the quality of education at all levels in India.
William L. Simon is the author or coauthor of more than twenty books, including international bestsellers on subjects ranging from the art of computer hacking, to the building of an interplanetary spacecraft, to iCon, a New York Times bestselling biography of Steve Jobs. Bill is also a screenwriter, and lives in Los Angeles.
For More Information contact: Karen Ammond, Publicist, kbcmedia@att.net 856-869-9403
To learn more about Vinay: http://www.vinayrai.in/
