Innovations from East India
There is no question about India’s leading position in Information Technology. It may be surprising, however, that the communistically governed state of West Bengal (which has been so for 30 years now) has made amazing progress with regard to IT and is now showing the highest growth rates in India. Through reforms following the Chinese example, the democratically chosen government is actually pursuing the aim of ensuring education and prosperity for the over 80 million inhabitants. Kolkata, West Bengal´s capital, is turning into one of Asia´s new High-Tech centres. Also here, the technical revolution has led to the construction of various IT parks and Special Economic Zones. In Kolkata for example, after Sector V in Salt Lake and New Town in Rajarhat a third IT-centre with 630 acres of land is at present arising covering nearly 3 times the area of Salt Lake. Other flourishing IT centres of West Bengal with software technology parks can be found in the cities of Durgapur, Kharagpur, Siliguri and Haldia. Investors can profit from West Bengal`s main strengths: a cooperative government, low cost of operations, highly qualified staff, reliable availability of energy (a rare thing in India), the required infrastructure and good contacts with consulates and associations – all which make this region interesting, and not just for the IT industry. The professed aim of the government is to be one of the Top 3 Indian IT locations in 2010. These plans appear practicable if, as announced, large parts of the population can have access to education and technology competence as well as knowledge of government business (E-Governance). Researchers of West Bengals academic institutions, such as the renowned Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur not only ensure the education of highly qualified employees but are already cooperating closely with the IT industry. The positive technological changes lead to increased internationalization. West Bengal is becoming a strategic investment location for East and West. Su Yu Xi, China’s ambassador in India, regards Kolkata as the knowledge capital of the country and is certain of the strategic advantages for Chinese business people there. The first large Chinese investment for an Indian IT project will therefore take place in Kolkata. In 2006, the year of the Chinese-Indian friendship, the construction of the Bengal Peerless Nanjing High Tech Industry Investment Zone for 6 million U.S. dollars was agreed upon and initiated in March 2007. Both China and India see the necessity for intensified technological cooperation. Knowledge-based technologies like IT and biotechnology will be promoted in the new zone. After Nanjing, Bengal is planning cooperations with all the Chinese provinces, the first will be Beijing. Apart from this High-Tech zone, AXIS, a futuristic shopping centre with a range of Chinese and European goods on display will also emerge in New Town, Rajarhat. One cultural highlight of this lifestyle complex completed in the summer of 2008 will be a Mozart centre, and even more European presence is possible. This increased orientation to Europe is discernible through innovative media projects like the new European-Indian news agency INEPNEXT or the Bengal Website Europe News Today, projects with the aim of strengthening the exchange of knowledge and experience between the two continents. Kolkata’s principle focus in Europe is Germany. The German ambassador in India, Bernd Mützelburg, is impressed by the new look of the “City of Joy”, Kolkata. He confirms the great support of the dynamic Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee for German investments (e.g. the recent “Hunger Hydraulics”) and points to the corresponding German response like the direct flight from Kolkata to Frankfurt three times a week. Inseparable links between Germany and West Bengal have now been forged and the time has come to diffuse the strengths of this knowledge and technology region to a broader audience.
Text: Anita Shukla
Picture: (c) Purvi Shah-Paulini
Episode 14: The Wisdom Workshop Chapter 7 “Leadership & Consciousness Development”
“Everyone lives in a different world in the same environment “ (Arthur Schopenhauer)
How can it be that the development of humans from a baby to an adult goes through so many stages? From just being and being needy to a person with the ability to think in complex ways and find solutions on complex questions? How can it be that own brothers and sisters, who were raised by the same parents, have total different world views, same with the colleague sitting next to you in the office, working for the same company? What does consciousness development mean for today’s leadership in Teams, but also in Politics and economics? What kind of leader do we need to implement the so badly needed CHANGE or PARADIGMSHIFT that is connected to the Value system?
Watch or listen to this Episode:
Episode 13: The Wisdom Workshop Chapter 6 “Emotional Hygiene”
“If you don’t let your past die, then it won’t let you live.” (Dr. Traci Lynn)
We wake up every morning do our daily routine, especially the morning toilet, where we keep ourselves clean by brushing teeth, having shower and so on. I ask myself why do we not do that with our Emotions. What happen if we integrate this in our daily rituals? And what possibilities exist to practice emotional hygiene?
Following statement on Pinterest nails it:
“Feeling the need to be busy all the time is a trauma response and fear-based distraction from what you’d be forced to acknowledge and feel if you slowed down”. (Unknown)
Listen to or watch our thoughts on this topic:
Episode 12: The Wisdom Workshop INTERVIEW with Nicole Sagner on Passion & Purpose
“If you can’t figure out your purpose, figure out your passion. For your passion will lead you right into your purpose.” – Bishop T.D. Jakes
What does Leadership have to do with wildlife? My old school friend Nicole Sagner, who is a trails guide in the Etosha Park in Namibia gives us an insight on what she learned about planet, animals, the ecosystem and the link to us humans. Listen to her experiences in the corperate world and her to follow her inner voice to find her passion. And through her passion finding her purpose. A wonderful voice that has so many important stories to tell.
Listen to or watch the interview.
Episode 11: The Wisdom Workshop Chapter 5 “Individualism & Collectivism”
“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” (African proverb)
What influence do collectivism and individualism have on our societies and what do feminine and masculine qualities have to do with this?
When we do things consciously on behalf of our Ego we do consciously things on behalf of the whole.
Watch this chapter on why it is important to have a look in the context to what we do individually which has an impact on the collective.
Episode 10: The Wisdom Workshop Chapter 04 “Goals & Vision of a new era”
“When learning is purposeful, creativity blossoms. When creativity blossoms, thinking emanates. When thinking emanates, knowledge is fully lit. When knowledge is lit, economy flourishes.”
― A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Former Indian President
What politics, economics and individuals should question nowadays is: If we talk about goals, what qualities should these goals have nowadays? Is it about materialism or should they also question the purpose? Why are we doing or creating something? IS the planet included?
Listen to or have a look at our conversation!
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