International Forum: India

 “India and China is where the money is,” declared my business professor, Mark Levine, “If any of you can find a way to tap into those two global markets you will be extremely wealthy.” I was surprised to hear my business teacher broach the subject of India and it’s emergence as an economic/consumer powerhouse. However, my surprise was not in his comments, it came from the irony of the moment… The night before I attended an International forum where three students from India came to talk about their country. The two lectures coincided perfectly.

As I sat and listened to the three speakers, Deepthi Tatavarthi, Amit Sawant, and Sudhir Sharma, I was amazed by their description of their homeland. They shared several different aspects of India specifically changes, challenges, and culture.

First they talked about changes that have been occurring in the last five to ten years. Something that they stressed was the decrease of unemployment. This they largely attributed to the numerous call centers. Call centers where Indians answer phones and serve as tech/costumer support for countless companies around the world. Real estate is another field that is taking off. As India becomes a lucrative place for investment, westerners have started to buy up real estate. The students also commented on the increase of wealth affecting all levels of Indian society.

Next, they talked about challenges facing India. Infrastructure was a key subject. As disposable income increases for Indians they are starting to buy cars. The Indian automobile manufacturer, Tata Motors, produces a car for $2,467 making it the cheapest in the world. This surge in cars is a problem because roads are in disrepair or simply not in existence. Energy has also been a challenge historically. Supplying enough energy for the second largest population in the world is a daunting task. Random power outages are common place. Challenges are not limited to infrastructure.

In the past, superstition had been a characteristic of Indian society, however, in recent years it has declined rapidly. Another integral part of Indian culture is arranged marriages.  Ninety percent of Indian marriages are arranged. Compatibility between a man and woman are determined by social status, religion, and astrology. The parents of both parties meet and agree on arrangements. The arrangements include when the man and woman will first meet, the dowry, and the ceremonies. On average 1500 people will attend an Indian wedding

It was very interesting listening to people from another country. I was amazed by the subjects they shared about. Unfortunately I cannot convey everything discussed. It was a great presentation. I would recommend attending student panel lectures such as this one.