Sam Pitroda

Gandhi and Tagore: Beyond Nationalism, Towards A World Federation globalgandhi.com/gandhi-and-tag…

I’m sharing a note from Ela Gandhi, granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi, endorsing the recent letter addressed to world leaders. Her words are a reminder that the idea of “Right against might” is not just history—it is more relevant today than ever. At a time when conflicts risk escalating globally, her call is clear: Stand for humanity over power, Protect innocent lives, and Choose dialogue over destruction This endorsement strengthens the spirit of the original message - one that calls for courage, compassion, and conscious leadership. Read the original letter here: globalgandhi.com/press-release-… The message is consistent across generations: Peace is a choice—and the time to choose is now. #Peace #Leadership #Humanity #Gandhi #GlobalDialogue

@INCOverseas @INCIndia Congratulations .

Yesterday, the Indian Overseas Congress convened its National Board Meeting under the leadership of our Chairman, Sam Pitroda, and President, Mohinder Singh Gilzian, focusing on upcoming state elections, new responsibilities, expanding membership, and strengthening organizational growth in the coming months. We move forward with clarity, renewed commitment, and a stronger vision for the future.

Delighted to speak with the Father of India’s Telecom Revolution and advisor to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, Shri @sampitroda on technology and democracy. We discussed how technology is shaping democracy in contemporary times. Watch the full conversation here: youtu.be/0y9Yx3-itiE?si… (Interview conducted in personal capacity)

A Letter from Mahatma Gandhi to the Leaders of the World on the Matter of the Suffering in the Middle East In a time of deep global conflict, the Board of Global Gandhi has shared a powerful message—reimagining how Mahatma Gandhi might speak to today’s leaders. This is not about politics. It is about humanity. A few reminders that stand out: - Violence does not resolve—it multiplies suffering - The weakest among us define our civilization - Peace is a choice, not an outcome of exhaustion This message calls for courage—not of power, but of compassion. We believe it deserves wider global attention and reflection. The light is still possible. Someone must choose to begin. Read here: globalgandhi.com/press-release-…

India’s telecom revolution began with a simple belief — that we could build world-class technology ourselves. The journey of Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) holds important lessons for innovation, policy, and nation-building. thehindu.com/news/national/…

PM @narendramodi’s foreign policy (mis)adventurism has compromised India’s national interest, pushed us into vassalage & makes us complicit in the attack on the rules-based world order. An urgent recalibration is needed. @salman7khurshid & I write in @IndianExpress today.

@gurdeepsappal Agree. Congratulations .

I write for The Hindu: India presently holds the Presidency of BRICS. BRICS was established in 2009 to develop a counter balance to US-West hold on economic architecture in post world war world. With its own Bank, own payment gateway, allied strategy group SCO, it has established itself as a power group. Iran is a member of BRICS now. But under Modi, BRICS went silent! When under attack, It left its member alone. No meeting, no statement, no support. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in Munich Conference, clearly dwelled on US plan to go back to imperialism and take control of economic space in global south, including India. It started with attack on Iran. But India switched sides. It abdicated it leadership role as BRICS Chair, stood by US, and has effectively made BRICS fragile and ineffective at a critical juncture. The hard work of 17 years was delivered a lethal blow. Why did Prime Minister Modi decide to join US side, knowing fully well that Trump’s plan, well explained by Rubio, is being called East India Company 2.0? India is not a Trump ally in this grand game, it is a target, a challenge to be addressed, a power to be vanquished. India must stand against this Trumpian dream. The East India Company is yet not a forgotten chapter. Its memories and independence struggle are still part of collective Indian consciousness. India had an opportunity. As BRICS chair, it could have played a transformative role in this crisis. It had historical relationships with both Iran and the U.S. Its diaspora work in the U.S., Israel, Iran and all countries of West Asia and is influential too. It is the world’s largest democracy, with a marked tradition of moral leadership, civilisation advantage and a history of ethical positions. Instead, Mr. Modi visited Israel 48 hours before the attacks and then gave up even the pretence of neutrality. BRICS at a crossroads - thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/…

Inclusion over exclusion. Collaboration over blocs. Data over noise. My thoughts on AI, geopolitics, and India’s path forward. youtu.be/0th6e4UAqXg?si…

Technology must serve democracy and inclusion. I shared my views on India’s future, innovation, and governance in this conversation. globaltv.in/sampitroda/

My heart felt condolences to the family & friends of Dr. Madhav Gadgill- a leading #environment #scientists & activist. I had an opportunity to work with him as a member of the Science Advisory Council of the PM of #india, Rajiv Gandhi in 1980s. We miss him.

My heart felt condolences to you dear Anil , your wife and the family. Sam pitroda

Sharing an important conversation on India’s place in a changing world. Global dialogue, democratic values, and honest engagement across borders are essential as India continues to evolve. Conversations like these help broaden perspectives and strengthen our collective understanding.

Sharing my thoughts on Rahul Gandhi’s recent visit to Germany. Engaging with people, institutions, and global forums helps broaden perspectives and strengthens democratic dialogue. Honest conversations and global engagement are essential for a confident, forward-looking India. youtube.com/watch?v=uiOA2-…

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas! 🎄 May this season bring peace, compassion, and hope to every home. Let us renew our commitment to kindness, unity, and service to humanity.

I believe in consensus, not controversy. This conversation reflects my views on democracy, global engagement, and why open dialogue is the only way forward for India and the world. youtu.be/1wVJancfud0?si…

Free AI Training (Day 2): Advanced Skills, Career Growth & Ethical AI x.com/i/broadcasts/1…

Free AI Training (Day 1): Introduction to AI & Practical Applications x.com/i/broadcasts/1…

The year is 1948. India has just become free and is trying to have a tryst with destiny. And in a country with endless possibilities, you are a 27-year-old man from an affluent family. You have also studied in prestigious institutions like Loyola College and College of Engineering Guindy and have been given a scholarship from the Govt of India to go to the USA and study Dairy engineering. You go to the USA and realize that studying metallurgy and nuclear engineering is more useful and interesting than studying techniques of extracting milk from cows. You follow your instinct and successfully complete your course. You are now a nuclear engineer. And in a world that has just gone nuclear, the opportunities you have are limitless. The world is at your feet. Then the Govt of India becomes a reverse Lannister calls in its debt. They want you to work for them for a limited period as an obligation to whatever they did for you. You have no choice but to come back. You hope you are sent to glamourous locations like Bombay or Madras where you can spend your obligatory time in comfort and luxury. You are an America Return Nuclear engineer after all. But the Govt of India cares as much about your designations and qualifications as a Nokia 3310 cares about a drop. So, they play a cruel joke upon you. They send you to a small decrepit town in Gujarat which doesn't even have electricity. Your accommodation is a rundown Garage and the only sign of life around you are the mosquitos, who are trying to taste your blood. The town is called Anand. And the only Anand you have there is its name. Else it is all despair. You, an affluent gentleman from south India, who doesn't speak a word of Gujarati, who has never lived in a village, are now stuck in a god foresaken village in the middle of nowhere. And You want to get out of this god forsaken place on the first chance you get. Then something happens. You start going around the town. You start speaking to people. You understand their way of life. You understand what they want. Without you realizing you start falling in love with the place. You want to do something for them. And then you create a revolution. A revolution that has changed the face and fate of India. A revolution whose gifts we are still reaping 65 years after it started. And You are the one who started it all. You are Dr Verghese Kurien. Operation Flood was, is and will be one of the greatest movements India has ever had. We went from a country that used to import milk powder from New Zealand and other countries to becoming the largest milk producing country in the world, in 30 years. It gave livelihoods to close to more than 100 million farmers over the years and has lifted more than 50 million people out of poverty and starvation. If you count the people emancipated by Operation flood, it would be the 30th largest country in the world, ahead of Spain, South Korea and Argentina. Today, we move the global dairy market and it is singularly because of Dr Kurien. And he didn't stop at dairy. He realized that India was heavily dependent on Southeast Asia for its edible oil needs. So he got all the oilseeds growers together and started Dhara, India's own edible oil brand. He so thoroughly disrupted the edible oil industry that for a brief period of time, he significantly reduced our dependance on palm oil. Unfortunately, our babus intervened and as they usually do, destroyed it all. But that's the story for another day. When Karnataka's Cocoa farmers went to him to seek salvation from Cadbury's oppression, he created Amul Chocolates and created a big dent in their market share. He also ensured Cadbury treated the farmers with a lot more respect and fairness, now that the farmers had option. When Indira Gandhi complained about farmers not getting fair price for their vegetables, he started Safal, a vegetable selling co-operative under the NDDB umbrella and made it a success. Now most of this is known. But what we don't know more about was Dr Kurien the innovator. Dr Kurien and his friend JJ Dalaya were the first in the world to synthesize buffalo milk and convert it to powder. This allowed us to store and supply milk during times of deficiencies. He was the first to create condensed milk or as you call it, Milkmaid / Mithai Mate, from buffalo milk and ended Nestle's monopoly in this segment for good. He was also the first to pack a dense substance as oil in a Tetrapak, something that their own Swedish engineer's thought was impossible. He made it possible. I can keep going on and on. In today's world, words like Legend, GOAT, superstar are thrown around very very loosely. People who hit balls with a stick, give useless expressions on a giant screen and make cringy unwatchable 30 sec videos on some apps or crack some vulgarly unfunny jokes are given these epithets today. So, what would you call a guy who saved India from hunger and starvation? What would you call a guy who prevented India from malnutrition and stunted growth? What would you call a guy who made a basic commodity like milk, accessible to a billion people? We don't have words for that. Maybe we need to invent some. One more very commonly misplaced word today is disruption. Anything and everything are disruption now. The development of an app, delivering grocery or food in 10 minutes or writing an additional line of code are all what passes off as disruption today. That is not disruption. Disruption is where you create something that changes the lives of people forever. Disruption happens when what you create, rewards people for Generations. Disruption is where you help poor farmers break the vicious circle of poverty and throw them 354 steps up the economic ladder Disruption is not how you change how people do certain things; Disruption is when you change the people themselves. Dr Kurien was India's first and the greatest disruptor. Dr Kurien is India's true GOAT. So, Happy Birthday Dr Kurien. India is grateful that we had you walking on our soil. Thank you!! P:S: The attached image is that of the recreated Garage that Dr Kurien first stayed. Garages have a unique connection to the world of tech, as a lot of tech companies started from there and are worth some bajillion dollars today. This is a Garage that lifted 60 million Indians out of poverty. With all due respect to HP and Google, this is the greatest Garage of them all.

VERY HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO FAMILY, FRIENDS, IOC LEADERS, IOC MEMBERS AND ALL WELL WISHERS. WITH LOVE, RESPECT & GOOD WISHES.