29 June 2009

Nandan Nilekani joins Indian government

TED2009 speaker Nandan Nilekani has stepped down from the company he co-founded, Infosys, to take a cabinet-level role in the Indian government. It's a rare step in Indian politics -- in fact, the Times of India calls Nilekani's move "the biggest movement from private sector to government in India in recallable memory." Nilekani will head up a three-year program to provide every Indian with a unique identity card. From the Times story:

Nilekani, who will quit his job as co-chairman of the Rs 22,000 crore Infosys to avoid any conflict of interest, has been given the rank and status of cabinet minister, a deadline of three years, a corpus of Rs 100 crore and -- perhaps most importantly -- the flexibility to draw in talent from the private sector to build his core team.

Video: Nilekani talks about his appointment for the Economic Times >>

Nilekani's recent book, Imagining India, takes a visionary look at his country -- its massive economy, and its even more massive potential. Watch his TEDTalk to find out more about his radical re-think of India's economic and social structure.

And find out more about TEDIndia -- taking place this November 1-4, on the Infosys campus near Mysore, India >>

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17 March 2009

4 chances to see TED speakers live, this week and next

TEDIndia's Lakshmi Pratury will be interviewing two TED speakers next week in the Bay Area:

+ March 30, 2009, hear TED2009 speaker Nandan Nilekani, the founder of Infosys and the author of Imagining India, at the Crowne Plaza Cabana in Palo Alto, 6:30-8pm. Tickets: $15 members, $25 nonmembers. Premium tickets (includes reception, book and priority seating) $100 members, $125 nonmembersMore info.

+ On April 2, 2009, hear John Francis, author of Planet Walker, at Le Petit Trianon, 72 N. Fifth St., San Jose, 6:30-8pm. Tickets: $15 members, $25 nonmembers. More info.

Both events are presented by the Commonwealth Club, Silicon Valley. For tickets, call (800) 847-7730 or register online at www.commonwealthclub.org/sv.

+ Meanwhile, up in San Francisco on April 2, the wonderful Jill Sobule is playing songs from her new album to benefit the 826 Valencia writing lab. Drinks at 6:30pm, concert at 7:30pm. Tickets: Minimum donation of $100 to benefit the free student programming at 826 Valencia. Online ticketing: 826valencia.org/sobule

+ And this Thursday night, March 19, in New York City, catch the white-hot pianist Eric Lewis in a set at Le Poisson Rouge, 158 Bleecker St. If you loved ELEW's TEDTalk performance -- drop by. Doors 6:30, show 7:30. Tickets: $20 advance, $25 door. Get tickets online or (866) 55-TICKETS. More info.

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