My grandfather, when I was young, used to watch a serial called ammamma.com. It was in 2007, I think. The serial is about the women in the house, they learn the use of internet and with the help of the internet, they try to solve the problems of the people around. My grandfather used to love the idea of using the internet to solve people's problems. He used to ask us to watch and learn to be as strong as those women in the serial. I agree, the theme of the serial at that time, stood outstanding, when internet was just a bud in India.
Well, now in 2023, we see India developing into a new world leader with the right use of technology and internet of things. India's economy is the fifth largest in the world, leaving UK behind India. What made UK stay behind or what made India move forward?
We see Indian Prime Minister conducting hackathons, websites loaded with information, transforming India into a digital India. On the other hand, we could see UK's ex-Prime Minister Borris Johnson using bizzare phrases on technology and its disadvantages in UN assembly.
Every element invented has pros and cons. It is on humans how we use and at what time to what extent. Only a smart futurist can read between the lines and implement the growth organically. When development is happening, the disadvantages or mis-utilisation needs to be taken care. Avoiding the development or ignoring is not the solution.
My parents had recently gone for Europe's sight-seeing tour. The tour manager messages to the tourists from India in the whats app group to carry euros as the tips and any other expenses need to be paid in cash. Now, lets take the development in India, the street vendors, coconut sellers, growing kids, all of them, who are learning about smart phone are learning about paying online as well simultaneously.
We had visited Gujarat last year and we see every sight-seeing place has a website , full of details and booking details. You want to go for a boat ride or visit the tallest statue in the world, everything is to be booked through online. The staff who is managing is also aware of the instructions and booking process. The commuting near the Statue of Unity for sight-seeing is through battery autos driven by women. Women empowerment and environmental consciousness, both implemented at the same time.
Ray Dalio, a founder and co-chief investment officer of Bridgewater associates, a global macro investment firm, popularly known for his practical understanding of economics, asked our Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a Future Investments Initiative conducted 3 years ago, in a quick 15 minute interaction, "how PM Modi thinks" rather than asking "what PM Modi thinks". Ray Dalio wants to know how meditation had made PM Modi think while Ray Dalio, himself is a follower of Meditation. Ray mentions to Modi that "We both meditate and it has an effect on how I think. So, I wonder if you can share some thoughts about how you think and how that pertains to looking about the world."
I quickly correlate to Krishna's words here about how a thinker sees the world.
या निशा सर्वभूतानां तस्यां जागर्ति संयमी।
यस्यां जाग्रति भूतानि सा निशा पश्यतो मुनेः।।2.69।।
yā niśā sarvabhūtānāṅ tasyāṅ jāgarti saṅyamī.
yasyāṅ jāgrati bhūtāni sā niśā paśyatō munēḥ৷৷2.69৷৷
Meaning - While it is night for all other beings, a balanced one is awake in those times. While all other beings are awake, the sage or muni or the thinker is asleep.
I understand this to be, while many look with our 2 eyes, we tend to forget the reality rather get carried away by many other things. Closing the eyes and contemplating on the same leaves us with more analysis and thoughts. A thinker becomes smart if he can read in between the lines and understand the present. Definitely if he acts now as per this practical understanding, he is a smart futurist.
Leaving the party, politics, region or religion apart, I don't find any other person who is as smart as Narendra Modi whose intention as well as action is for a broader audience, the world.
Well, getting back to Modi's reply to Ray, Modi said, in the man's journey of life or journey of health, conflict is natural and we have to work towards conflict resolution. Being a person related to meditation, meditation plays a vital role in having a balanced thoughts, balanced life and a right view of the world.You end up taking meaningful decisions. and he goes on talking about evolutionism is important than expansionism, ....I would highly recommend listening to the ideas of Modi to learn about the thinking process. I would like to attach the Ray Dalio's youtube link for your reference.
I would attach a recent Modi's US visit's video link as well, where Ray Dalio says Modi as a radical reformer and the changes India will see are going to be startling.
A global investor, who is much sought after Warren Buffet, making these statements is always a great opportunity for Indians to grow economically stronger. Recently Ray Dalio invested $1Billion equity fund which concentrates on Indian emerging markets. Groww.in had come up with a good read on Ray Dalio. Worth read
While the whole world is looking after conflict management , our nation's leader is looking after conflict resolution. If the nation's leader can be a smart futurist, the whole nation moves towards growth and prosperity.
Many ways the youth of the nation is becoming independent and by starting their own initiatives in MSMEs(Micro Small and Medium Enterprises). Whoever wants to start an MSME can directly register on a website called Udyam registrations for free of cost. No paper work, no bribe, everything digital. As per recent report there are 1 crore registrations. Approximately 45% of exports are from MSME.
Krishna says in Chapter 3
यद्यदाचरति श्रेष्ठस्तत्तदेवेतरो जनः।
स यत्प्रमाणं कुरुते लोकस्तदनुवर्तते।।3.21।।
yadyadācarati śrēṣṭhastattadēvētarō janaḥ.
sa yatpramāṇaṅ kurutē lōkastadanuvartatē৷৷3.21৷৷
Meaning - (Acharati Shreshta) whatever the best people do, (lokah tat anuvartate) the rest of the people follow.
The best here is the person whom we feel is doing right. We tend to follow that same person without any second thought. If the leader is doing the right, for the better good of the society, through the use of intellect, automatically, the leader can rest be assured as the followers follow the same methods.
If the leader is confidently carrying the work, the rest of the team with out any effort awake, follow and work confidently.
Lets understand the meaning of the Bhagavad Gita and try to implement Bhagavad Gita as action completes you.
-Keerthi Peratla.