Posted by: Steve Hamm on June 25
Nandan Nilekani capped off more than 25 years in the top executive ranks at Infosys earlier this year by publishing Imagining India, a book in which he passionately called for governmental and cultural reforms. Now he’ll get a change to act on some of his own advice. Word came down minutes ago that Nilekani, Infosys’ co-chairman, has been appointed as a cabinet minister in the Indian government. On July 9, he’ll take over as Chairperson of the Unique Identification Authority of India, which is similar to the U.S. Social Security Administration.
Nilekani was one of the co-founders of Infosys in 1981 and served as its CEO from 2002 to 2007—a period when Infosys and the entire Indian tech industry exploded onto the world stage. He has been an articulate spokesman for an industry and a point of view—that thanks to the Internet and lower data communications costs, knowledge work can now be done anywhere in the world where the talent exists. A revolutionary thought. It was he who awoke New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman to the disruptive changes that are taking place as a result, telling him famously that “the world is flat”—which led to Friedman’s book with that title.
I reviewed Nilekani’s book before it came out, and, given the amount of work and thought and passion he put into it, I’m not surprised that he has agreed to serve in government. Given the kind of frustrations that his Infosys co-chairman, N. R. Narayana Murthy, has experienced in his forays into state government affairs in Bangalore, Nilekani goes into this fully aware of the potential pitfalls. So he must think it will be well worth the trouble.
My only question is: Why this posting? It seems like commerce secretary or communications and technology minister would have been more appropriate. I’ve sent him a message asking for an interview, and, hopefully, that and other questions will be answered soon.
By the way, GlobeSpotting loyalists may recall that Nilekani was a guest blogger on the site during the World Economic Forum in January of 2008. Ah, we knew him when…
I think there is a mistake here - Mr. Nilekani will not be a Cabinet Minister, but the Chairperson of the Authority with the rank of a cabinet minister.
He will not be a part of the union cabinet, and will not be able to attend cabinet meetings.
Regards,
Jay, Bangalore
Its a good move by our prime minister Manmohan singh to appoint a techsavy guy for this project, as the project needs some one like Nandan Nilekani who can use all his experience for proper planning & implementation.
Yes there should be a unique identity card for every citizen where it can serve for multiple purposes.
Dear Sir,
Kindly forward my mail to Mr Nandan Nilekani,if possible.
Dear Sir,
I am confident that you can do this giagntic task succesfully,just as Mr Ratan Tata,MR Sridharan and you and Mr N. Murthy,to name a few have done in the last decade to take our country to the new heights.A lot is still need to be achieved.I am writing to you from deep in South Sudan,Darfur, where I am on a field mission with the Int. Comm.Of The Red Cross(ICRC) as an Anaesthetist for the Flying Surgical Team here.I read the news item in Economist here recently(apporx 2-3 weeks after it was published, as it takes this much time to arrive here by our special pouch!)
I wish to communicate to you offer my services in ANY capacity to be a part of your team in order to be a part of the IT revolution of our lifetime.I am almost 60 years of age but fighting fit for any task assigned and money is the last if not the least consideration of this offer.
I am expected back home in early August ,if it is all quiet in this volatile part of ther world,Inshaallha,as they say here.
Thanks and Regards
Dr Sunil Kumar,MD,
Anaesthesiologist
14,SAKET;MEERUT:250003.UP.India
Mobile +91 9837020556
Nandan Nilekani can be a person of all honour but shall never ever become the person of honour as long as I am alive in related to his assignment of the unique I D system because Nandan Nilekani himself knows that this is not his creation and can never be his creation as with valid proof and clear eveidence I am the CREATOR of this whole identification system and soon Nandan Nilekani will be facing the truth of the JUSTICE system from which I shall challenge him to prove this unique ID system as his creation beyond the point of reasonable doubt.Nandan Nilekani will loose with me. AS FAR AS THEY SAY "TRUTH ALWAYS TRIUMPHS".
sir,
i have another idea for prevnet this kind of currency duplication which are occured in our country..
i m software engineer and i want that to share my idea with our govenment representative to stop and make our country secure so plz fwd that to mr nandan nilkeni.
i will give that detail about projec to them..
India is struggling in right direction in scaling heights in different fieldsincluding economic refoms and secure threats from outside and inside.
India will have to demonstraste magnamity in delaing with Paksitan as it is much junior a neighbour to harbour any threat no doubt there are groups within Paksitan who are adamanat to hurt India's secuirty but they can be handled with mutual strategy and joint efforts. India has to show to the world it is willing to work with Paksitan and remove mistrust by installing more sokftern approach and extending a hand of frienship and work together for mutual benefits.
Ihn my opinion when I see rural poverty and illiteracy in India I feel India has to devote itself to irs rural masses who are suffering a lot and have not benefitted from any prosperity we notice in big cities llike Bombay etc., It is a long way befokre India can command its superiority it will take time long time before every Indian has food and job and education. half the population lives under 2$ a day this speaks volumes about apaathy of Govt in handling the major issue since independence and needs urgent steps to come out of Delhi and Bombay and visit
areas where farmers are committing suicide and hunger and povery are nakedly visible. we should not make judgement by lookingaat Bombay Delhi and Bangalore only. the real inidan live in villages and they have not shared the fruits of prosperity India claims they are the worst victims.
I think one has tobe very realistic and prgmatic in assessing any sistuation.

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