Thaindian News

New Delhi, Nov 14 (IANS) Terming Mahatma Gandhi as the greatest social innovator of the 20th century, National Innovation Council chairman Sam Pitroda Monday said it was unfortunate that Gandhi had been “forgotten in the country”.

According to the technocrat, who played a key role in India’s telecom revolution during the 1980s, “we need to bring the focus back on rural areas to develop India” as the “American model based on consumption is not sustainable in the long run”.

“The American model needs examination by the world,” said Pitroda.

“It is unfortunate that Gandhi has been forgotten in the country.”

“We hang Gandhi’s picture but have forgotten his works,” said Pitroda, adding: “You can wear jeans and drink Scotch and still be a Gandhian.”

“It is not about dressing. The youth need to focus on his (Gandhi’s) values.”

He was speaking at a public lecture on Gandhi and Social Innovation here.

Highlighting the major problems being faced by the country like security, hunger and poverty, the technocrat said Gandhi preferred the best talent to solve the problems of the poor and not the rich.

Stating that Gandhi “makes a lot of sense” today, he said that the “world politics is rooted in inequality”.

“The real conflict among the Arab countries is over issues of development and poverty,” said Pitroda citing an example.

Observing that use of information technology can bring more transparency, the technocrat said “the government needs to open up” as more and more people “want to know what the government is doing.”

“We can’t hide confidential information,” he said.

Speaking on the occasion, founding member of Gandhi Peace Foundation Anupam Mishra termed Gandhi “an innovation in himself”.

“Innovation in ideas is more important than instrumental innovation as it lasts for centuries,” said Mishra.