Inducting businessmen into governance is an experiment that has gone awry twice in the past. But that hasn't deterred Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
Most Indians have heard of T.T. Krishnamachari, who founded Chennai-based TTK Group way back in 1928. He was one among three key businessmen — the other two being R.K. Shanmukham Chetty and John Mathai — that Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru relied on. Sam Pitroda, a successful technologist in the US whom Indira Gandhi had invited to India to start up C-DoT, became Rajiv’s technology advisor. Shortly after Rajiv’s government was voted out in 1989, Pitroda had to face a CAG audit. Clearly, much has changed since then. Political stability is no longer an issue in Manmohan Singh’s second term. That is why many reckon Singh’s plan to induct senior business leaders into his government is well-timed.
It isn’t easy giving up the comforts of a corporate life for government service. But some have and they know failure is not an option. We chronicle their journey so far.
The Invitation
Arun Maira was on a train in Prague when his phone began to buzz. It was the Indian Prime Minister on the line. In fact, his idyllic vacation had suddenly turned topsy-turvy that morning with an urgent mail and a call from his college batch-mate and deputy chairman of the Planning Commission, Montek Singh Ahluwalia. “The PM would like you to join the Planning Commission.”
Shailesh Gandhi got his wake-up call some five years ago. One of his professors chided him: “You used to be so critical about the society. What now?” By 2003, he had sold off his packaging business and become a Right-to-Information (RTI) activist. One day, he got a call from Prithviraj Chauhan, minister of state in the PM’s office, inviting him to come on board.
In June last year, military veteran Raghu Raman became the CEO of Mahindra Defence Land Systems. In the wake of the 26/11 terror attacks, the government decided to set up a national grid that would link up all the intelligence agencies in the country, under the leadership of Home Minister P. Chidambaram. Raman was one of the candidates being vetted by the government to head the NatGrid.
Nandan Nilekani got his call from the PM towards the end of May 2009. Then on June 15, Singh offered him the role of Chairman, Unique Identity Authority of India, with a cabinet minister’s rank.
The Nurturing
Maira has arrived at an interesting time. The Planning Commission is at the cusp of change. The focus has to now shift to shaping strategies, rather than directing budgets. As a heavyweight consultant, Maira has a recipe to deal with the inward-looking culture. He is beefing up the quality and the level of engagement — by reaching out to all stakeholders. Maira’s big areas of focus: Urbanisation and industrialisation.
(This story appears in the 04 June, 2010 issue of Forbes India. To visit our Archives, click here.)