Harvard, Wharton annual India conferences to focus on economy

Ahead of general elections, India's economy will the broader theme of the two top American universities -- Harvard and Wharton -- for their annual India conferences in the next few weeks.
'India, Turning the Page: Prospects & Paradoxes' is the theme of the Harvard India Conference on February 15 and 16, while 'India: Time to Reboot' is the theme of 18th Wharton India Economic Forum a week later on February 22.
Wharton, which was in the middle of a controversy last year for its decision to first invite and then withdraw the invitation to BJP leader Narendra Modi to address the conference via video, has tried to keep its panel of speakers non-political.

Harvard on the other hand has invited a galaxy of Indian politicians from almost all major political parties for its two-day conference.
Prominent among these include BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi and CPI leader Sitaram Yechury.
All three have been invited to participate in the panel discussion on 'Global implications of India's 2014 Elections', with Prasad delivering the key note address.

Former Army Chief General (rtd) V K Singh, who is a member of the Anna Hazare's anti-corruption movement, has been invited to deliver key note address on 'Leadership Lessons from the Indian Army'.
"In the brightest and most challenging phases of India's recent history, we've seen a continual tension between two views. On the one hand, there are those who believe that the next wave will be the best one yet, and that no nation on this planet, with its endless possibilities, is positioned for quite the success this nation is," said the Harvard India Conference.

"There are others who promote the growing skepticism in global attitudes, lagging human development indicators, and believe India is an economy that consistently over promises," it said.
"In the middle, we see the vast and dynamic spectrum of political, economic and social attitudes, puzzled yet enticed by the enigma that is the Indian millennial story.
"Somewhere between the game-changing activism and still sub-par growth, between the industries posting gross performance beyond compare and those driving the rupee to an all-time low, between what was perhaps an overconfident idealism 10 years ago and an unwarranted current cynicism... India is at an indelible inflection point," Harvard said.

Among other prominent speakers at the Harvard include Dr S Y Quraishi, former Election Commissioner and Pawan Munjal MD and CEO of the Hero Motocorp.
Wharton India Economic Forum has invited Vikram Malhotra, chairman of the Americas McKinsey & Company, for key note address.
Among other invited speakers are Dinesh Kanabar, Deputy CEO, KPMG India and Ravi Venkatesan, former chairman of Microsoft India.