We have 3 winners for the A Better India, A Better World competition! Contestants were asked to give their opinion on what they would do to create a better India. They have won a personalized copy of A Better India: A Better World, signed by Narayana Murthy! The entries are also published on the Facebook page for NR Narayana Murthy, where you can join in and debate the ideas and issues raised.

Here are the winners and their submissions:



'Gone are the days when patriots need give their lives for the sake of their country. Today our country needs those who can live for it more than those who can die for it. We don't need to shout "jai ho" out loud, leaving behind our work. Instead we need to become experts and excel in our respective fields, and while doing so, we must keep India in mind first. We should think of how we can better India by best using our skills and talents, and ensure none of our actions bring harm to our country.

For example a sweep keeper can make a better India by keeping the roads assigned to him clean, so that every citizen that passes by on that road feels proud of the roads and the cleanliness in India. Nobody in the country should feel that his role in country's progress is not important'.



India is plagued by numerous problems and ironically the solution is just one. Illiteracy exacerbates poverty and makes the ingenuous vulnerable to religious fanatics, armed groups and bigots. Here I elucidate the problems that arise from lack of education and how to approach them.

Education breeds tolerance, it allows individuals as well as communities to break the shackles of ignorance and places them on the road to emancipation. The Government Schools have been successful in providing free education but have failed to meet their objective. The elixir lies in awarding scholarship to students with family incomes below a certain threshold and supporting them through high school, graduation till they find employment. This financial support can be commenced when the student drops out of school. It will ensure that instead of being a burden on the family, school going children contribute to the income.

In India politics and religion are the components of an abstruse entanglement that exists at the national level. Not so long back caste was predominant but lately it has been toppled by religion. An awareness and mass literacy can help tackle the problem. Also one cannot keep from observing that minorities do not hold any prominent position in the Civil Services. Reservation will only aggravate the problem. Hence, encouragement from all sources and better availability of opportunity can alleviate this disparity. Education in both the cases can bring about the desired changes.



I would start at the very primary school level and try to inculcate values in the tender minds, show them ways to love and respect people of all religions, faith, caste and creed. These would be so deeply ingrained in them that no amount of subsequent attempts to develop hatred would survive. Secondly, I would seek to change many points in the Indian Constitution that give legitimacy to our so-called leaders, who have failed miserably in upholding unity in the country. People with criminal backgrounds should be debarred from entering politics.
I would introduce policies and ensure their strict implementation whereby farmers get due prices and speedy procurement to enable them to live a life of hope and dignity. The introduction of swift judicial processes whereby criminals are punished in such a way that act as a deterrent to others is needed. I would ensure better distribution of wealth so that people don't die of hunger and poverty. I'd impress upon people that it is we ourselves who can, with our collective efforts, make a difference and contribute to our nation's peace and prosperity. AS Gandhiji said," Be the change that you wish to see most in your world."