NASSCOM '05

Many truths sprang forth from this year’s conference. Some snapshots of the three-day extravaganza:

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Abul Kalam Azad, President of India, renowned scientist and the driving force behind India’s nuclear program, addressed the gathering on the last day of the conference. He had heard of the conference’s ambitious aims to increase India’s share of the global IT pie from 3.5% to 6% by 2009. But he was not impressed. He chastized, “It is crime to under-aim! You must get to 15% in five years, I will give formula!” With this ominous pronouncement, he unveiled a dense powerpoint presentation, filled with numbers and graphs and charts that sent my mind swirling. When the time came for question and answers, revealing his erstwhile Professor status, he barked, “Mr. Mehta. Where is Mr. Mehta? Ask me a question!” Flabbergasted, the software scion loosened his tie and hastily asked a question, and I could see others squirming in their seats lest they be called upon next. Yes, only the President of India could have sent us all back to scary seventh grade days.

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Narayana Moorthy, esteemed founder of Infosys and the godfather of Indian IT on “compassionate capitalism” and how to be a successful entrepreneur:
a) Need to have an idea that can be expressed in a simple sentence
b) Need a team that is mutually exclusive but comprehensively inclusive
c) Need a value system
d) Essential ingredients are speed, imagination and excellence in execution.

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McKinsie’s crystal-ball predictions on IT and India:
- Indian global delivery model will continue to gain ground in the world
- Segments like infrastructure (server and network monitoring, data centers) will be looked at for delivery and will begin to move offshore.
- Call centers will become obsolete in a few years as voice-recognition software nears perfection.
- Wage inflation growing tremendously in India; India needs to focus on advantages other than cost in order to maintain it’s ‘poster child’ for IT image

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And of course, I have to have My Own boxing g-Love At First Sight Bombay Bollywood Story

I thought I was prepared for the onslaught of NASSCOM ’05 that Tuesday afternoon. Clad in the first western business outfit I’d worn in many months, and with conference pad and shining new pen in tow, I felt I was ready for anything. At the foot of the stairs near the registration desk, I paused and took a deep breath. In a sea of black suits and bulging tummies, I realized it: not only was I fortunate enough to fall into the .5% of the female population there, I also had the distinction of being youngest among the 1200-odd delegates.

It didn’t take long for Mr. Sanjob to register this fact. As I walked away from the registration desk, he gallantly reminded me in his unbecoming Atlanta-twanged Orissan accent, “Miss, you habh phorgotten your complementary bhag.” I looked up to find the origins of this unsolicited remark, and my line of vision immediately fell upon the stomach of an enormous, walrus-like man who was standing stupidly with a toothy grin. “Oh, great, I’ll go get it”, I hurriedly remarked with a half-smile-half-grimace, hoping that he would disappear if I waited at the desk long enough. But, gallant as he was, he waited till the bag was in my hand, and decided to escort me along the hall.
Shall bhee get lunch? he volunteered. As luck would have it, the conference was kicking off with a networking lunch. I was alone, with no fellow colleague who could be used for deflection purposes. My cell phone refused to work, ruling out the possibility of an urgent, phantom phone call. With no exit strategy, I thought: what the hell, what’s the worst that can happen?

Plates in hand, we sat down at the only available “table for two”. After a long description of his company and his life ambitions and goals (a few pointed questions easily broke that dam loose), he said, “so tell me more about you.” I looked squarely at my plate, fumbling to pick up the few remaining pieces of rice. “My life is pretty boring…umm…I like listening to music..wow that desert looks greatI’mgoingtogogetsome.”
Back at the table, he began again. So, Smita, bhat do you like to do with your phree time? I looked down at my plate, searched for remaining edible items, and decided to begin the task of slicing a grape into eighths. In between, I mumbled, “mmm…I like readingwhatdoyoulike to do” With the look of a sage, he said, “I like to travel, but I hate traveling alone. All my friends are married. I hate staying in hotel rooms alone, you know?” Pause. “Ermmmm” I muttered, fully engrossed in the arduous task of fruit dissection. He continued: “I also like to give back to the community in my free time. I’m a member of Atlanta’s two biggest….(blah-blah)..But in particular, I love teaching Children. I just love Children.” A deliberate pause followed, and he looked solemnly at me. It was a 6-star lunch, but I almost felt like throwing up. As I excused myself on account of ill-health, I thought, so this is what a Bollywood film feels like..