Mr. Shekhar Datta, Chairman, BSE Ltd., Speaks About Leadership Through Indian Values

Mr. Shekhar Datta, Chairman, BSE Ltd., Speaks About Leadership Through Indian Values

Mr. Rajive Kaul, Fr. Joseph, Prof. Williams, Fr. Augustine, Proud Parents of the graduating students, Hon'ble Dignitaries, Guests, Invitees, Ladies & Gentlemen,

Let me begin by congratulating all the students, their parents and guardians, on reaching this milestone. The commitment, the passion, your intellectual enterprise and plain hard work, has brought you, my dear students, to this day. In this formal ceremony, you celebrate the achievement and step into the next exciting phase of your life. The eventful years you have spent here, I am sure, have prepared you well for the life ahead.

A convocation indeed is a momentous occasion in our lives. It marks both, an end and a beginning. Our years of formal education come to an end, and our new learning, as useful members of the society, begins.

Being in the midst of so many young persons, I am reminded of my youth. I consider myself privileged to be part of the generation that witnessed the dawn of independence. It is extremely hard to describe in words what we experienced at that time. Those were 'heady' days, indeed! There was hope, and there was joy; there were dreams, and there were expectations; above all, there was commitment to the cause of nation building, on which the country was embarking. The spirit of freedom found manifestation in all walks of life - in science and technology, in construction and engineering, in law and social reform, in education and literacy, in literature and journalism. An ancient civilization was gearing up for its tryst with destiny.

Although it is simply impossible to re-create those days, I see a similar ferment today. The eyes of the world are on India. Once again, an ancient civilization is asserting itself for its rightful place on the world stage. Instances of Indians occupying positions of leadership in global corporations are becoming increasingly common. Our companies are making their presence felt overseas through high profile acquisitions. Indian technological and managerial expertise is running companies from Shanghai to Sao Paulo. Clearly, a second 'tryst' with destiny has commenced.

A Wharton Study titled, "The DNA of Indian Leadership", concluded that the leadership characteristics of Indian managers are indeed unique in their focus on 'long term strategic vision' and on 'organizational culture'. It is a tribute to the quality of Indian corporate leadership that they work with a global mindset in a framework defined by Indian values.

In today's world, knowledge has become the 'key' in economic development. There has been a fundamental shift in the nature of work over the last couple of decades - from occupations rooted in industrial production, to occupations associated with knowledge and information technology.

The emergence of India, as a major force in the knowledge driven world, should not come as a surprise. A moment of reflection will clearly indicate, that the values that have sustained our civilization through the millennia, are precisely the 'ones' that are required for success in a 'knowledge driven world'. Our rich tradition gives us enormous advantage, when it comes to handling challenges in a knowledge driven world.

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