Now, stories give start-up ideas; get Parekh, Nilekani praise

The book, 'India Can', has received praises from top business leaders including Deepak Parekh and Nandan Nilekani

Top business leaders have come together to back an innovative concept of an IIM graduate penning down 21 innovative ideas in the form of short stories — all of which can be start-up business opportunities.

The ideas include motorcycle taxis, terrace farms, asset sweating, pisciculture, state-to-state tourism promotion, rural medics and fashion sourcing.

In a first-of-its-kind effort, management consultant and IIM-Ahmedabad alumnus Ravi Nawal has thrown forward these ideas, which he says can address many significant socio-economic challenges before India, in his first book ‘India Can’. Published by Bloomsbury, the book contains 21 stories.

Nawal said he is reaching out to corporate houses and government departments to take forward the ideas emanating from each of his 21 stories and has already got positive feedback from many.

Accolades are coming from many quarters, including HDFC chairman Deepak Parekh, Infosys co-founder and former UIDAI Chairman Nandan Nilekani and Dipak C Jain, former Dean — Kellogg School of Management and INSEAD. Parekh said the book is “truly inspiring for it offers simple, innovative ideas that may well be transformational for India.”

Nilekani said, “It is now apparent that the rapidly rising aspirations of India's billion plus population cannot be met by ‘business as usual’ methods.”

Jain, who is currently director at Sasin Graduate Institute of Business Administration, said innovation is the engine of growth and development.

"As a collection of short stories accessible to everyone, 'India Can' is a truly innovative way to address important challenges facing India. I certainly hope that it achieves what we should all strive for:success with significance," he added.

The author, who believes that the written word can be a powerful instrument for creating impact, said he does not believe in "pedantic academic discussions on problems and text bookish solutions to these problems".

"I did not want to write a heavy-duty or high-brow book as I wanted it to be meant for the masses".