India is in the cusp of revolutionary changes -- since May 2014 -- as development initiatives are unleashed to channelize the energy and resources of India.
India with over 1.2 billion people is possibly the youngest nation on the globe; about 75% of the population is less than 35 years of age. Academics everywhere have a responsibility, it is there dharma to reach out to these youth and impart their knowledge and skills.
This is an appeal from a coalition of US based academics. to American Academics.
The coalition seeks signatures from colleagues teaching in colleges and universities across all disciplines.
The accrual of signatures will close by next Monday September 15, 2015.
https://docs.google.com/forms/
If the academics don't want to do it themselves on this link, their endorsements may be sent to Dr. Narayanan M. Komerath, Professor of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta. komerath@gatech.edu
Dr. Narayan M Komerath is the contact who will upload the name and affiliation of academics who endorse the Welcome Letter.
Dr. Narayanan M. Komerath, Professor of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta. komerath@gatech.edu
[quote]NEW DELHI: Narendra Modi, who will be the first Indian PM to visit the US West Coast after several decades, would not only perform at yet another diaspora show on September 27 but will also try attracting investments and expertise for Digital India, innovation projects and clean energy initiatives with meetings lined up with top IT CEOs of Silicon Valley and startups besides visit to Google labs.[quote]
Dr. S. Kalyanaraman Sarasvati Research Center Sept. 7, 2015
PS. I am reminded of the narrative of an episode from Ramayana rendered in Indian folklore and tradition.
A squirrel participates in the building of the Sethu to cross the Gulf of Mannar to reach Ashoka Vatika where Devi Sita is held in captivity against her will. Rama admires the squirrel which contributed by rolling around in the sands of Dhanushkodi beach and unloading the sand from its body on to the Sethu, to speed up the bridge-construction process.
I feel like a squirrel sending out this momentous Welcome Letter drafted by a coalition of US academics.
My humble namaskarams to this coalition and wishing them every success. Also a prayer: jeevema s'aradah s'atam, जीवेम शरदः शतम् may you live a hundred autumns.
Dhanyosmi. Kalyanaraman
India with over 1.2 billion people is possibly the youngest nation on the globe; about 75% of the population is less than 35 years of age. Academics everywhere have a responsibility, it is there dharma to reach out to these youth and impart their knowledge and skills.
This is an appeal from a coalition of US based academics. to American Academics.
The coalition seeks signatures from colleagues teaching in colleges and universities across all disciplines.
The accrual of signatures will close by next Monday September 15, 2015.
https://docs.google.com/forms/
If the academics don't want to do it themselves on this link, their endorsements may be sent to Dr. Narayanan M. Komerath, Professor of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta. komerath@gatech.edu
Dr. Narayan M Komerath is the contact who will upload the name and affiliation of academics who endorse the Welcome Letter.
An Overview on the Welcome Letter initiative
Indian PM Modi is visiting the US again, and the word from the Consulate is that a major Education partnership deal is in the works in addition to the deals with Silicon Valley, and the anticipated opening of the Indian Defence industry to American investment and technology collaborations.
Indian PM Modi is visiting the US again, and the word from the Consulate is that a major Education partnership deal is in the works in addition to the deals with Silicon Valley, and the anticipated opening of the Indian Defence industry to American investment and technology collaborations.
Some academics thought it would be a useful idea to do this "Letter of Welcome".
Hope you will read and support the attached. The Google link is self-explanatory. Dr. Komerath has attached a summary on Modi's government to-date, that I developed to send people who may not be familiar with recent Indian developments.
https://docs.google.com/forms/
If you agree, I would appreciate your forwarding this to others in academia as well.
Thanks!
******************************
Here is the letter that shows up when u click that:
Request to Academic Signatories for Welcome Letter to India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi
Dear Colleague,
A coalition of U.S. based academics are seeking signatures from colleagues teaching in colleges and universities across all disciplines. We are seeking to close accrual of signatures by by next Monday, September 14, 2015. Please forward this link to your friends and colleagues in academia only and encourage them to sign on.
The text of the letter is included below. After the collection of signatures, the welcome letter will be publicized through various channels, including but not limited to, media, direct engagement with business and government leaders, and the public at large.
Thank you for your support.
TEXT OF LETTER:
We, the undersigned, as faculty representing diverse disciplines in the American academy, join fellow Americans in welcoming India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi to California’s Silicon Valley on his inaugural visit thereSeptember 26-27, 2015. We note that Prime Minister Modi’s visit comes at a transformational moment in a relationship between the two largest democracies in the world representing 1.5 billion people—one-fifth of humanity.
We understand that Prime Minister Modi will interact with leaders of flagship technology companies ranging from Google to Adobe, and Microsoft to Tesla, and that he will address over 18,000 Americans -- many of Indian origin -- members of the U.S. Congress, civic leaders, and others at a community reception. We believe that these engagements will promote economic, political, social, and strategic interests of the United States and India.
We welcome, also, Prime Minister Modi’s support for the Digital India initiative that heralds a new age of participatory democracy and transparency in governance in India, leveling the playing field for vast numbers of India’s citizens. We recognize the indigenous talents of Indian scientists to develop the infrastructure to effectuate Digital India and other initiatives predicated on technological advancements, even as we express our hope that Prime Minister Modi will seek partnership with American academic and business leaders with the expertise and experience to ensure that Digital India realizes its potential without imperiling India’s privacy laws and individual liberties.
We are encouraged by reports that 170 million new bank accounts have opened, accompanied by government-backed catastrophic insurance, bringing hope to the most needy in India. Tying these accounts into the Aadhar identity document program could give many citizens their first clear symbol of empowerment. We acknowledge also that under Prime Minister Modi, India’s civilizational contributions of yoga, spirituality, religious pluralism, art, and music are enjoying renewed patronage and public acceptance globally.
As educators, we recognize that India is home to the largest youth population in the world, and success in improving basic facilities at over 400,000 government schools this past year, inspires confidence in Prime Minister Modi’s commitment to education. We believe that partnerships in Silicon Valley and knowledge exchange with the American academy have the potential to offer solutions in educational entrepreneurship necessary to reach and inspire those 356 million young Indians and prepare them for the 21st century. And as with the prime minister, we too are inspired by the late Indian President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s vision for “India 2020,” and are committed to join Indians in realizing that goal.
We welcome Prime Minister Modi to the United States and look forward to a mutually rewarding and productive dialogue between our nation and India.
Sincerely,
(The undersigned)
Hope you will read and support the attached. The Google link is self-explanatory. Dr. Komerath has attached a summary on Modi's government to-date, that I developed to send people who may not be familiar with recent Indian developments.
https://docs.google.com/forms/
If you agree, I would appreciate your forwarding this to others in academia as well.
Thanks!
******************************
Here is the letter that shows up when u click that:
Request to Academic Signatories for Welcome Letter to India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi
Dear Colleague,
A coalition of U.S. based academics are seeking signatures from colleagues teaching in colleges and universities across all disciplines. We are seeking to close accrual of signatures by by next Monday, September 14, 2015. Please forward this link to your friends and colleagues in academia only and encourage them to sign on.
The text of the letter is included below. After the collection of signatures, the welcome letter will be publicized through various channels, including but not limited to, media, direct engagement with business and government leaders, and the public at large.
Thank you for your support.
TEXT OF LETTER:
We, the undersigned, as faculty representing diverse disciplines in the American academy, join fellow Americans in welcoming India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi to California’s Silicon Valley on his inaugural visit thereSeptember 26-27, 2015. We note that Prime Minister Modi’s visit comes at a transformational moment in a relationship between the two largest democracies in the world representing 1.5 billion people—one-fifth of humanity.
We understand that Prime Minister Modi will interact with leaders of flagship technology companies ranging from Google to Adobe, and Microsoft to Tesla, and that he will address over 18,000 Americans -- many of Indian origin -- members of the U.S. Congress, civic leaders, and others at a community reception. We believe that these engagements will promote economic, political, social, and strategic interests of the United States and India.
We welcome, also, Prime Minister Modi’s support for the Digital India initiative that heralds a new age of participatory democracy and transparency in governance in India, leveling the playing field for vast numbers of India’s citizens. We recognize the indigenous talents of Indian scientists to develop the infrastructure to effectuate Digital India and other initiatives predicated on technological advancements, even as we express our hope that Prime Minister Modi will seek partnership with American academic and business leaders with the expertise and experience to ensure that Digital India realizes its potential without imperiling India’s privacy laws and individual liberties.
We are encouraged by reports that 170 million new bank accounts have opened, accompanied by government-backed catastrophic insurance, bringing hope to the most needy in India. Tying these accounts into the Aadhar identity document program could give many citizens their first clear symbol of empowerment. We acknowledge also that under Prime Minister Modi, India’s civilizational contributions of yoga, spirituality, religious pluralism, art, and music are enjoying renewed patronage and public acceptance globally.
As educators, we recognize that India is home to the largest youth population in the world, and success in improving basic facilities at over 400,000 government schools this past year, inspires confidence in Prime Minister Modi’s commitment to education. We believe that partnerships in Silicon Valley and knowledge exchange with the American academy have the potential to offer solutions in educational entrepreneurship necessary to reach and inspire those 356 million young Indians and prepare them for the 21st century. And as with the prime minister, we too are inspired by the late Indian President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s vision for “India 2020,” and are committed to join Indians in realizing that goal.
We welcome Prime Minister Modi to the United States and look forward to a mutually rewarding and productive dialogue between our nation and India.
Sincerely,
(The undersigned)
Dr. Narayanan M. Komerath, Professor of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta. komerath@gatech.edu
Background
India operates on the British-derived parliament system, where the executive power is really with the Prime Minister and Ruling Party/Coalition. The electorate is over 600 million distributed across 29 States and 7 Union Territories. In the May 2014 Genereal Elections, Shri Narendra Modi’s National Democratic Alliance was elected to power with a nearly-unprecedented majority and an apparent mandate for economic growth, driving out corruption, recovering illegal funds stashed abroad, and reforming the bureaucracy. He has moved with the speed and efficiency that got him re-elected as Chief Minister of Gujarat thrice, with increasing majorities. He appears to be operating from a very clear and well-planned “playbook”, with both grassroots reform and international deals. His first initiative was called “Swacch Bharat” or Clean India, literally demanding that people clean up the neighborhoods, and improve sanitation in schools and public places. Next he got the banks to open 170 million new bank accounts, each accompanied by government-backed catastrophic insurance. They tied this to the Aadhar National Identity Document project, bringing new meaning to that huge project. Now other grand dreams are looking increasingly realistic. He moved to improve ties with India’s South Asia neighbors, then “looked east” to Japan and Korea, visited China and Europe, and is now returning for a second visit to the US, this time starting on the West Coast and then coming to DC. His emphasis is clearly and urgently on economic collaborations and development.
This visit is crucial. The word from the Indian Consulate is that a major Education collaboration deal with President Obama is in the works. There are several other initiatives on opening up the Defence sector to foreign investment, a welcome mat for technology collaboration (we need to worry about ITAR, sure), and emphasis on rural energy and water projects. Some of the news items below are eye-opening: for instance how he is getting the rarely-cleaned coaches of Indian Railways to sparkle by enabling passengers to text complaints to the Cabinet Minister.
[quote]NEW DELHI: Narendra Modi, who will be the first Indian PM to visit the US West Coast after several decades, would not only perform at yet another diaspora show on September 27 but will also try attracting investments and expertise for Digital India, innovation projects and clean energy initiatives with meetings lined up with top IT CEOs of Silicon Valley and startups besides visit to Google labs.[quote]
3. EconomicTimes @EconomicTimes 8m8 minutes ago
38% of the 970-odd investment plans in execution mode http://ow.ly/RqNJU
38% of the 970-odd investment plans in execution mode http://ow.ly/RqNJU
4. 770 million street lights to be replaced with LEDs, to save 9000 GWh/ year
10. National Career Service Portal Is Now Live; 4.5 Cr Job Seekers Across 959 Employment Exchanges Can Apply for Govt As Well As Private Jobs
11. August 2, 2015: Digital India: Online Police Verification for Passport Applications to start soon
13. Centre to develop 15,000 km of national highway at Rs 1.9 lakh crore http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/new ... 329569.cms
15. September 28: 10 takeaways from the prime minister's UN speech: Rediff.com
16. September 24: MangalYaan reaches Mars orbit
17. August 28, 2014: 15 Million Bank Accounts Opened in a Day
18. August 15, 2014: Full Text of Shri Modi's 1st Independence Day Speech
19. August 13, 2014: Govt starts removing archaic laws