V Vaidyanathan, assistant vice president and head, global innovation office, Cognizant Technologies, is the chairman of the 'Innovation Track' at the Pan-IIT 2008 conference to be held in Chennai at IIT-Madras from December 19 to December 21.
In an e-mail interview with rediff.com, he speaks about Pan-IIT and the various ways in which IIT-ians have brought glory to India. Excerpts:
How do IIT-ians plan to give back to their country and to transform it?
A survey conducted as a part of Pan-IIT clearly brings that out. As we look ahead, the theme of Pan-IIT-2008 gives a flavour of the dimension in which it will happen. Creating and nurturing research and innovation eco-systems in India, driving entrepreneurship, leading large organisations, and direct contribution to nation building by way of participating in Policy making are some of the ways in which the IIT-ians are contributing to India.
This Pan-IIT-2008 conference reflects on that, brings it to foreground and intend to amplify it.
How do forums like the Pan-IIT help? What are the biggest achievements of the Pan-IIT?
The fact that IIT-ians form a significant part of the best brains of the country is well known. Forums like Pan-IIT bring them together and target it towards nation building. That is the significant role I see happening.
If IIT-ians are the 'bright Sun', Pan-IIT would be the lens which focusses it towards productive purpose.
What do you think is the biggest contribution of IIT-ians to India?
In India, they were (and are) part of leading and running major corporations and forefront of major scientific and research activity. From space science onwards, you would find IIT and/or IIT-ians engaged in foreground or background.
In the global arena, they are salient members of scientific and research community, leaders of corporations VCs and entrepreneurs. When one takes a broad view, the fact that they bring glory to the country of origin is something to feel proud of.
In difficult times like these, how do IIT-ians plan to help the industry, the country?
To my great surprise, I am finding IIT-ians in many different areas steering the ship. People like me are in the Industry ensuring that we continue to sail. There are many who are directly and indirectly involved at policy level and contribute.
What are the challenges that India faces in the new millennium? How can IIT-ians help address these challenges?
The new millennium heralds the time of India. This is our moment of opportunity to take our place under the sun. As indicated earlier, IIT-ians playing significant role in not only addressing the challenges, but also create and lead opportunities.
Where I see IIT-ians playing a significant role is in actually driving the solution.
What keeps India from becoming a product giant like it is in services?
Nothing prevents India from becoming a product giant. Most of the time it happens by first catering to the domestic market and then taking it to the global market. You already see evidence of that. As our economy grows, we will see more of it.
How do you contribute to the society, industry, IIT?
If it is a direct personal question, I do that in my own way. What I do it as 'social cause' is small (in relative terms)
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