Losing My Virginity

:
18 November 2005

Thank you so much Mrs Scindia for the wonderful introduction, I am truly honoured and humbled to have been invited to participate in the Madhavrao Scindia Memorial Lecture.

I sincerely wish I had had the opportunity to have known Madhavrao Scindia, the distinguished man whose memory we are honouring today. It is clear to me that he was a charismatic visionary whose powerful legacy will continue to inspire Indian people. His dedicated approach to life and commitment to liberty remains an inspiration to all of us.

My early memories of India start with my first visit around 30 years ago. I remember India as a mystical and spiritual place with strongly ingrained traditions. There was little indulgence and people worked hard so that their children could aspire to great things.

Today as soon as you enter India you cannot help but be overwhelmed by the optimism.

India has transformed into an agile powerful democracy whose people have a strong sense of pride and purpose. People in India know what they want and what it is worth to them. Indian people today are confident, articulate and grounded. They know that the world is watching and that when India speaks -the world listens!

High quality education, a good work ethic and strong service sector have given Indian people choices and social mobility. Middle class families are eating out, going on family holidays and enjoying the consumer market. India is an astoundingly youthful market with over 50 per cent of the population under 24 and an emerging middle class market at least twice as big as the UK, and growing fast.