India is fertile ground for disruption

BY PAWAN LUTHRA

Aninterestingobservation duringa recent conversation with afriendstarted me thinkingof the professional work oppormnitiesin India versus those overseas,especiallyin western coLmtries.

This friend had his children study overseas,notonly because he could affordit,bm alsobecause he believed in thestrucmredapproach which gives thestudents awider perspective on issuesbeforesettlinginto amorerigid and definedcourse. However,he was keen that the children ren1rn to India to pursuetheircorporatecareers.The learning curve is steeperinIndia,he shared; and there'splenty of disruption takingplace.

Asa term bandied about in business circlesfor afew yearsnow, disruption goesbeyondinnovation. Itchanges not only how we do business, butalsohow we think andbehave asa society,even intrudingon ourdaily habitsin many instances. Itis destructivein that it does a\vay with existing paradigms,but itis also much, much more creative.

InIndia, as themasses break through socio-economicboundaries,a populationthus far steeped in tradition is hungry forchange.The systems in placeare challengedas they scamper to catch up with thefast-pacedchangesin social andbusiness life.Thegovernment agenciesarestruggling to keep up withexpectations,and so there are oppornmities aplenty for disruptors to stepin andcreate greateroppormnities for themselves andothers.

Manyorganisations arestepping up to themark inthisregard.The private banks and the telcos bavemoved wayaheadof theirstate controlled counterparts to offer new andinnovative products.

In fact,only days ago,India's richest man MukeshAmbani laidout his vision for hisrelecom firm RelianceJio, offering rhe world's cheapestinternee dataat$1 agigabyte ascomparedro ahout$5 pet gigabyte now available. With acountrywherethemarket willbe inmillionsof customers, this kindof disruption willrevolutionisetheindustry. Onesuspects Ambani's competitors will have their thinkingcapson to find similar disruptive options to disrupt this latest offering.

Excitingtimes indeed.

Meanwhile, for choseof us who are more settled in ouradoptive homeland, the issueis what kind of positive disruption wemal<e to ourprofessional and personallifestyles here, especially if tl1e feelingischarthe career has plateaued. Will taking up a healthier lifestyle create a disruption ro the routine of work, television and social life? Will breaking awayfrom corporate life ro start a new business createa professional disruption?

Perhapsitis tin1etogive upideasto whichonehas snickto in thepastor skills which wehavefOLmd comfortin to try somethingbold and new Afterall,if ir is nothurting or being uncomfortable,then one isnor disruptingenoughandchangingenough.