Contesting elections was "big mistake", says Infosys Chairman Nandan Nilekani
Bengaluru, July 27: Infosys Chairman Nandan Nilekani on Saturday admitted that contesting the 2014 Lok Sabha elections was a "big mistake" he made in his life.
"Standing for elections was a big mistake I have learnt in life," said Nilekani in an interview to ET NOW business channel here.
Resigning as Chairman of the state-run Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) which gives Aadhar identity card to Indian citizens, Nilekani had joined the Congress in March 2014 and contested on its ticket from the high-profile Bangalore South Lok Sabha constituency. However, he had lost to BJP's Ananth Kumar by a margin of over 3.2 lakh votes.
Though Nilekani continues to be a Congress member, he has not been active in politics since then.
He was one of the richest candidates in the country then, having declared assets valued at a whopping Rs 7,700 crore in the affidavit along with his nomination to the Election Commission.
In a candid interview to the business news channel, Nilekani, 64, said he preferred reading and thinking than using apps in daily life.
"I am actually a technologically illiterate when it comes to consumption of technology. I am more appless now! Prefer reading and thinking over using an app!" he said.
On productivity hack which worked for him, Nilekani said he does not follow cricket, Bollywood and politics.
Asked which entrepreneur he admires, the technocrat plumped for Microsoft Chief Executive Satya Nadella.
"What he has done at Microsoft is astonishing. The company is a trillion-dollar market cap today. It did not do well in the mobile era but got back in the cloud. He is emphatic and a very thoughtful leader," said Nilekani.
The 51-year-old Indian-born Nadella succeeded the Seatlle-based global software product firm's founder CEO Steve Ballmer and worked for over two decades with its founder Bill Gates.
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Kolhapur’s Saee Jadhav becomes first woman Territorial Army officer to pass out of IMA
Pune (PTI): Saee Jadhav from Maharashtra’s Kolhapur has become the first woman Territorial Army officer to complete pre-commissioning training at the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun, breaking the institution’s 93-year-old tradition of male-only officer training.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis congratulated her and said her achievement is an inspiring milestone that gives direction to the dreams of countless young girls across the country.
Jadhav, 23, was commissioned as a Lieutenant during the Passing Out Parade of the 157th course held last week, marking a historic milestone for the IMA, which was established in 1932 and has since produced generations of Army officers.
She was commissioned into the services on December 13 during the commissioning ceremony at IMA, Dehradun.
Speaking to PTI, Saee’s father Sandip Jadhav, a serving major with the Territorial Army, said that Saee has been commissioned into the 130 Territorial Army (ecological ) battalion of Kumaon Regiment at Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand.
Saee is currently pursuing her MBA through distance learning, he said.
“While pursuing her MBA, she was also preparing for competitive exams and TA (Territorial Army). She appeared for the exam in December 2023. There was only one vacancy for a woman officer in TA and since her rank was at the top in merit, she was selected,” said Major Jadhav.
“She is now commissioned into 130 Infantry Battalion (TA) of Kumaon Regiment at Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand,” he said.
Jadhav said her daughter was inclined to join the armed forces, given the family’s armed forces background. “As parents, we feel proud that our daughter followed her dream and chose to serve the nation,” he added.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also congratulated “Marathi Mulgi” Saee.
“She has created history by becoming first woman officer cadet to pass out of IMA in 93 years… It is a matter of immense pride that this honour has gone to a Marathi Mulgi!,” he wrote in a post on X.
“This is not just an individual success story, but an inspiring milestone that gives direction to the dreams of countless young girls across the country. Educated and brought up in Belgaum and originally from Kolhapur, Sai represents the 4th generation of the Jadhav family to carry forward the legacy of service to the nation,” he added.
