From Arjun Malhotra, Chairman and CEO of Headstrong, Chairman of TiE Global, co-founder of HCL Technologies:
"Vision India 2020 is a timely addition to the series of recent overtures on how India is emerging as an economic superpower amidst its myriad challenges. Sramana pontificates like a visionary entrepreneur with her bold, sincere and pragmatic diagnostics, and then, comes up with her skillful problem solving techniques. As most parts of the world economy remain eclipsed by the ominous clouds of recession, this book throws up positive insights for truly bold entrepreneurs.
It is indeed refreshing to read through Sramana’s futuristic dream of India, which she argues is not a figment of imagination. For her, the opportunities that lie ahead are not any kind of fiction – economic, scientific or social – but rather, a set of viable business plans for entrepreneurs to implement. She does it quite effectively, presenting a vast sweep of multiple untapped opportunities in the realms of infrastructure, IT, tech services, energy, healthcare, lifestyle, entertainment, education and also ventures into rural as well as slum development.
These are undoubtedly challenges that India seems to be well poised to address. But many believe that time is running out and the urgency is expressed in diverse quarters by all those who are avidly following India’s incredible growth story. India does trigger hope amongst entrepreneurs like no other nation on the face of globe. Running through the entire theme of this book is the predominant role of visionary entrepreneurs who are ready to innovate and address new business challenges. There are some very interesting, uncharted territories highlighted in the book that should excite entrepreneurs within India and outside. India is already one of the core centers for global investment and the scale of projects outlined here should motivate investors worldwide.
She also talks about diversification into new areas and tapping global resources and know-how in a very effective manner. This should be worth exploring and some of the success stories outlined in the book should inspire many others. Vision India 2020 is also a good reminder that, in midst of the euphoria of India’s recently acquired success in specific areas, some of blunders made by advanced nations in areas like environment, energy and urban development should be cautiously avoided while building a modern economy and society.
Overall, there is a great message that it's every entrepreneur's responsibility to change the world for the better. Though a few solutions cited seemed more like ‘common sense’, these are often not thought through to translate into big bang businesses that are profitable and impact generating. I am sure the nuggets of examples thrown in this book can excite many entrepreneurs – those who are veterans and also those budding amongst our next generation of youth. Nearly 45 ideas with recipes for success are elegantly wrapped up in 220 pages that does make for interesting reading. I am sure this will also raise the level of curiosity and interest amongst entrepreneurs, policy makers and investors worldwide on new partnership and collaborative business models."
From ForeWord Clarion Reviews
"Vision India 2020 is a visionary romp through a possible new future for India. It looks back over a decade-long transformation of the country from its current status as ‘back office for the world’ to that of world leader through the application of the principles of visionary entrepreneurship.
"Mitra’s ‘futuristic retrospective’ traces the strategies, business models, processes, and alliances that, in her visionary dream, built strong and profitable enterprises in areas that include technology and technology-enabled services, infrastructure, rural and slum development, healthcare, lifestyle brands, education, and entertainment. Building imaginary entrepreneurial ventures in forty-five sectors vital to India’s growth and development, she references real world companies and the people who run them, and bases her strategies in knowledge obtained through experience and filtered through a mind unfettered by stereotypes and the ravages of history.
"Although readers feel her heartbreak over the dire circumstances in which many of India’s people still live, her belief in the potential of these same people to build sustainable, prosperous, and creative lives for themselves as they secure India’s future as a world leader makes this an encouraging, lively read. Mitra is bold and adventurous, and her portrait of India as it could be ten years from now offers hope, not just for that country, but for any nation that is willing and able to learn from the past and encourage and support its visionaries in dreaming big for the future."
Ten years from now, India stands to be the world leader in everything from technology innovation to state-of-the-art railways, solar energy to film animation. But these opportunities are in the hands of today’s entrepreneurs.
Vision India 2020 invites aspiring entrepreneurs to take a journey into the future and back again through a “futuristic retrospective.”
Throughout this revolutionary business fiction, renowned strategy consultant and entrepreneur Sramana Mitra explores forty-five possible business ventures set to forever change the face of India. In her call to visionary entrepreneurs everywhere, Mitra incorporates real-life scenarios, strategies, and business models to show how daring ideas can turn into billion-dollar enterprises.
