I believe India's growth story is yet to start... I am not an economist, neither an investor in equity and neither I have any data to support my claim :) My so called prophecy is purely and simply based on my observations and interaction with people around me, especially the next generation - India is just restless right now... it wants to prove something to the world and to itself. There is ideation, there is competition and there is search for the right team - how far it will go, only time will tell but I feel all this is giving splendid rise to 'Entrepreneurship' and it is going to be one interesting thing to note and enjoy being an Indian - India will change.
My simple gut feel is that if you visit any Coffee parlour like CCD / Barista / Costa - there will be a significant number of business ideas being discussed at different tables anytime of the week (though the number of romantic dates will be anytime more :-) )
It is very simple - huge English speaking 'young' population + super growing power of Internet (Facebook / YouTube etc.) + extensive intrusion of traditional media (reality shows / news channels / foreign shows) + growing exposure of wealth (BMWs / Mercedes / iPads / iPhones etc.) + big unorganised sectors + considerable lack of amenities + jugaad attitude is simply helping the desire to 'change one's own life' to be put as a fast rolling ball.
Look at movies like Rocket Singh, Salesman Of The Year / Band Baaja Baarat / Badmaash Company (incidentally, all these movies have come from Yash Raj Films Studio) and then Guru - all talk about business ideas being given birth by characters belonging to middle class households.
And then movies like The Social Network just makes everyone believes in himself / herself... the kind of success being thought through is mind blowing and every idea looks like a Gold Mine to the thinker - the movie poster stares at you or even challenges you . There are now magazines (Entrepreneur) and newspaper articles being dedicated to this side of a human society. The fact that there are now multiple number of business channels in India - CNBC / ET Now / Bloomberg UTV / NDTV Profit speaks loudly about the trend. Even advertising is talking about this explicity - Tata Sky says 'poochnay mein kya jaata hai' while Bank of India clearly talks about starting own business (check it out at http://www.afaqs.com/advertising/creative_showcase/index.html?id=28166&media=TV&type=Indian)
Any idea under the sun can be started as a group on Facebook... you don't need any business plan :) Just an Idea + a little pro-active attitude and there you go - innovate, create, modify, persuade, pull - push just to ensure the idea remains kicking... what else is Entrepreneurship?
CSR initiatives like Mahindra and Mahindra's http://www.sparktherise.com/ clearly challenges the entrepreneur in you. Shows like Kaun Banega Crorepati ensures that the common man is no more common - he/she doesn't have to worry about the diction or looks to become famous (and successful, if the right answer is given).
And this entrepreneurship is not only happening in IT / Internet sector - growing visibility of cultural acts like Theatre, Stand Up Comedy, Photo / Poetry Exhibitions also point towards this rising phenomenon - can anyone believe that the Photo / Painting Exhibition place at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi is booked till 2013 / 2014 while the one at India International Centre is booked till February 2012? One can experience the saliency of the social sector and social entrepreneurs by just talking to people and reading in news.
Every man / woman, in someway or the other wants to do something of their own and it stems from that inherent desire to be in charge of your life / destiny / get acknowledged... Success stories like Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Barack Obama, Dhirubhai Ambani, SRK, Narayan Murthy, Sabeer Bhatia are stories that actually blur the difference between dreams and reality.
I also believe that Indians have an added advantage - we are born entrepreneurs, even if we don't believe in it or we have never been made to realise it. Most of us have grown up in an environment of pressure & scarcity - social pressure / lack of water / irregular electricity / strong 'foreign' aspirations can bring the best in us or make us the most complacent fellows. Unfortunately, a lot of us have never thought that Entrepreneurship does not equal to Risk Taking ability - it is purely the ability to think of a solution (to an existing problem / need) and then solve it using various means (finance or money is just a veryyy small mean). As a result, I believe majority of Indians are still dhakka start, while a few are self-starters who ensure the 'plunge' is more about the journey than just destination - inshAllah, the 'dhakka' start will change with time :)
With a definite process being talked now... Venture Capital / Private Equity / Globalisation / Team Work, people are realising that it is indeed possible to think big, really big :) And the biggest advantage of this is that India will grow big, really big - by the way, most of the developed economies have become what they are today, because of Entrepreneurship.
And what does it take to be a successful Entrepreneurship? Hmm... remember the punchline of Domino's pizza - 'Hungry Kya?'... need I say more? But yeah, do ensure the warmth stays even if you are the most fiercest of entrepreneurs - be different guys.
Entrepreneurs, indeed, have the unique ability to ignite / reignite the fire just by their presence, thoughts and confidence. And so ladies and gentlemen, the next time you come across an entrepreneur, engage with him/her - support him/her in whatever way you can... I am sure he/she will leave you ignited.
And if you do get ignited, don't let that fire die - definitely do something to ensure that India and the World is a better place to live and leave :)
