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The Rediff Business Special: Mukesh Ambani

'The new era is not for the feeble hearted'

No knowledge-based society can flourish without the full participation of women. You cannot hope to achieve a successful great leap forward if half of your people are not involved in the creative process. Indian women have demonstrated they are next to none in the world. May I say that Indian women have been quicker to seize the opportunities of globalisation than men -- both in beauty as well as in brain -- Sushmita Sen and Aishwarya Rai became the most successful ambassadors of Indian womanhood. Kalpana Chawla, with her grit and determination, catapulted herself from being a shy girl in Haryana, into a confident astronaut exploring outer space. For Indian women, the sky is not the limit.

I have no doubt that the information revolution will totally transform the work environment for women. It will demolish gender inequality. Women will be equal partners with men. The most revolutionary changes of the next 20 years will be come from the desire of Indian women to enrich themselves by participating in all human endeavours.

Indian woman will discover unique ways of blending religious commitment, cultural traditions, and family obligations with new work styles and leadership in various areas. They will redefine feminism the 'Indian Way' providing an additional dimension to our common humanity.

I hope this vision for India 2020 will stimulate your thinking. I do not have answers to our all problems. I may be looking at the sky, but my feet are firmly on the ground. This vision envisages flowering of an individual, strengthening of community, building institutions and strengthening our country. In fact, it ensures that a vibrant and dynamic India is able to play a befitting role on the global arena. It rejects an isolationist approach.

I invite all of you to join in the great march towards India 2020 of my dreams. Towards making this country an economic superpower in 20 years. Several nations as well as individuals in our times have achieved miracles in a 20-year span.

The mantras of my life

Before I conclude let me share with you a few mantras that hold the secret to success:

• Think big. Challenge conventional wisdom. Think differently. Think long term.
• Work towards long-term objectives. Do not get distracted by short-term opportunities.
• Always aim for the best. Not just the best in India, but the best in the world. The best technology, the best equipment, the best workforce.
• Demand excellence. Never compromise.
• Do not fear change or the unknown.
• Embrace the information technology revolution. Make the fullest use of technology.
• Create leadership qualities and, above all, trust in your people.
• Work hard. There is no substitute for determination and perseverance.
• Never accept defeat. Turn adversity into opportunity.

I have learnt these mantras from my father in the process of building Reliance. But these are not the monopoly of Reliance alone. I would like to see these principles enshrined in the consciousness of every individual and business entity in India. Nothing can then stop India from becoming an economic power.

This new era is not for the feeble hearted. The time has come for us to think adventurously and act decisively. We have the resources and we have the opportunity. We have to summon the determination and make the effort. My optimism springs from my faith in the youth of India. It is sustained by the richness of our civilisation. It is strengthened by examples of our achievers.

Our generation cannot shirk its duty to the country and to the future. Making India one of the five economic superpowers may appear to be an impossible dream today; it will become a reality tomorrow. Let us take India forward and achieve the impossible.

Let me challenge each one of you today to think and contribute to our India 2020 vision. Let us together hand in hand create an India our children can be proud of. None of us can finish the race alone. We can only achieve our destiny together -- one hand, one generation, one Indian connecting to another.

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