Re: Why doesn't India have an Elon Musk? My two cents oops paise worth:
I totally agree that our culture does not encourage or imbibe risk taking attitude. A well entrenched spiritual and religious tilt (and I have nothing against it) is our biggest strength and also our biggest enemy. When you believe that everything happens for a reason, that God does what is best for you that this world is Mithya - this really does not help innovation. We like families, parents that gives us security but again does not let the individual thinking soar.
We are also accumulators of wealth. Ambanis, Hindujas, Mallyas have had their and their families wealth grow. They may splurge on IPL teams, buy jets and live exotic lives and they also provide livelihood for thousands of people. Paying salaries while earning profit is business only and not innovation and visionary thinking. What makes news is that Mukesh Ambani has not raised his salary (does he even need one??) this year but never that he has backed something radical. They even quit keeping non-veg in their marts! (nothing against veggies but as a business it does not make sense or does it?) Ratan Tata may back Snapdeal and Narayana Murthy into some other start up but these are businessmen not true innovators. There is no disruptive thinking here. And they will die and leave thousand of crores to their heirs rather than risk anything thats it. Although I must say that Nano was a great dream to have.
Average Indian is much more aware of the world, quite intelligent but at the same time looking for comfort not adventure. We kill teenage dreams as organised text book schooling and coached sports periods take precedence. Sports quota in jobs, colleges and institutes used to be the sole factor but that has changed a bit now. Why do people join police or civil services or become teachers or take up government jobs? Because they ARE government jobs noyt because they really love these jobs.
Till the time we agree as a society that failure in career or business is an option, that not marrying/having family is an option, that being a brilliant individual rather than an average everyone's man is an option we will not have people coming up with out of the box ideas. Look at all the innovators - they are very close to being eccentrics. I fear that right now that even if we have an Elon Musk amongst us he is more likely to be ridiculed and labelled mentally unstable rather than being hailed as a hero. Look at desis abroad - we are good at winning spell bees and every other day find a PhD who has found out something in a lab but when we truly are ready we will have someone combine scholastic aptitide with mass appeal and commercial viability. That day is still far.
EDIT: Ever wonder what Elon Musk will feel or say when he sees Tesla in India going to a Temple or Gurudwara or any other religious place for getting a puja/ardaas done and getting an idol on the dashboard These may be mutually compatible concepts but consensus will not give birth to revolutionary thinking. Imagine being a Galileo in medievel times. Imagine saying Earth is not the centre of the universe. Till we challenge we will only be followers. Let a child play. let a child have his own brain, let them explore. Even if we are able to slightly move away and give space to kids of today who know how to operate mobiles, remotes, video games and internet at an age we hardly could manage our tummies this can happen here too. Takes a few generations but it has to start sometime..
Last edited by adtalwar : 2nd June 2015 at 16:58.
Reason: Added text
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