India Calling?

This morning, as I brushed my teeth and looked at my goofy-self in the mirror, I asked 'Sanjay, what are you doing?' Such a question is not unwarranted, for I aspire to leave a cushy job, a respectable salary, and a newly bought home in the San Francisco bay area (where a good majority of the world population would relinquish their life earnings to relocate to) to become an unemployed student IN INDIA? Do I really have what it takes to survive in India, with mid day sun beaming the temperature close to 40+ celcius, with having to fight for every inch of space with millions of others, and with dust, pollution, corruption, and rudeness rampant in a day to day life? I don't have a clue.

But there is something about India that gets my juices flowing. With newly established businesses thanks to a gradually flourishing economy, these businesses, in their infancy when viewed in a global context, will need expert management to grow as leaders in the regional markets. Why not try to apply my skills where they would be much more appreciated? We all know India has the knack for producing brain powers in the ranks of scientists and engineers. Despite India's prominent business schools, where it lags behind is in its ability to pump out business leaders, the kind that are decision makers and trend setters. With sometimes too much drama and emotions attached in business settings, the Indian leaders often fail to exercise their street smartness and rather use their emotions when making business decisions.

India needs to be careful not too ride the wave of the recent economic success to inflated optimism. Now that the economy is improving, it needs to find ways (and this will be difficult) to keep the rate of improvement constant or better. The IT sector, which thus far has been the lone contributor to it's economic U turn, needs a lending hand from other sectors for the economy to continue to expand. If this is not motivation enough, the looming shadow of overpowering China on the north ought to keep the fire alive in India. China's infrastructure has not been improving solely on the shoulders of IT prominence, but rather on the shoulders of all different sectors and therefore has comparatively a much more stronger economic foundation. The tussle between China and India promises to be interesting, and what better view than to be in India right in the middle of it all.