[00:03] Grandfather. Grandfather.
[00:16] You all are very unlucky.  Because you are not born in a middle class family. What is taught in families that is not taught in middle class families not taught in middle class families ?
[00:29] college, get a job, don't take risks.  But from a young age I have always been allowed to from a young age I have always been allowed to dream to fly.
[00:41] How to Build React Capability? So, so it's something like you have a desire or an opportunity.  It presents itself and then you face a dilemma.  Should I take the opportunity?  Should I speak?  [Music] Should I ask?  Should I do?  And you keep thinking
[00:55] and the opportunities are gone?  So now I have conditioned myself to which failure tormented you the most? I was a bad kid that one two year period I vented through a lot of emotional term. While that failure in that moment was
[01:09] While that failure in that moment was horrible and painful and frustrating.  It was that failure mistake that made me who I am. So the problem with democracy is that people want to come into power [music] to do
[01:22] good.  To come into power you need to satisfy people.  To satisfy people you have to kill them. And it is easy to promise easy things.  What is that?  I will give you this much money per month.  I will give you a free bus ride.  I will give you a free this.  And If I Don't
[01:35] Promise You, The Opposition Will Promise.  So freebies are becoming necessary evil.   It is very much in the news recently. What are your views about Cockroach Janata Party?  A new party was launched on social media and the name of this party is
[01:48] Party. I think there is some latent frustration that is there in the youth. If you don't listen to your stakeholders, don't feel their pain, don't answer their pain, then you cannot remain in power.
[02:03] This podcast is about the person who gave me a lot of money and power since childhood. who gave me a lot of money and power since childhood.
[02:16] Parliament.  His family has many businesses.  It is a leading university. Despite having wealth and power, in their family, instead of spoiling the next generation, specific values ​​are taught to them.  A mental training is given.  It explains
[02:29] how one can become an independently powerful leader. How to become financially successful.  So this episode is not about the lifestyle of any rich family. Rather, it is to
[02:47] is Mathukamilli Sri Bharat, Member of Parliament from Visakhapatnam and President of Gitam University.  From them we learned what different things are taught in rich families. what different things are taught in rich families.
[03:03] despite being shy and less confident in childhood, he made himself a powerful leader. We also learned some political insights from him which many ministers of the country are afraid to reveal.  And not only this, Bharat told us how he deals with failure even at this stage of life.
[03:17] told us how he deals with failure even at this stage of life. How he trains his mind to avoid negative comments and personal attacks.  So
[03:29] is not just a podcast but a capsule of the life of rich and influential families which will make you mentally tough and financially stable.
[03:42] ? What is maternal grandfather called Grandfather. Grandfather.   I was very close to him.  He passed away two months ago.
[03:55] father. at grandchildren.  All of you are very unlucky because you were not born
[04:07] in a middle class family because I had this fire in my belly. I worked very hard, I did
[04:19] not have much money and earned money, came into public life, became an MP, did a lot of service for the society, but till the time you are born, you are but till the time you are born, you are
[04:35] so you do not have this fire in your belly.  That's why I feel bad for you.  You're unlucky [nasal sound] so my desire for you in your life is you should try to do something where so my desire for you in your life is you should try to do something where
[04:50] Particularly like Nana ji, he was very active. And when Parliament was not in session, it would be in Hyderabad, let us say for four days a week.  In that two dinners only, I would
[05:02] call someone and influential people, home food dinner, either an officer, businessman, or other dinner, either an officer, businessman, or other politician
[05:15] and we all used to be called and I would go and sit in those dinners with 15-20 people and I would listen that those dinners with 15-20 people and I would listen that exposure gives you calibration where am I, what is my capability, what is the limit, till where can I dream, a lot
[05:29] of people are told not to dream that, not first finish college, get a job, don't take first finish college, get a job, don't take risk, but from a young age, I have always been allowed to dream to fly, that I think it's another huge perk of having privilege, you are not limited in a young age,
[05:45] of having privilege, you are not limited in a young age, time, in our power mein hai sab bahut log aate hain makr jab aap haar jate ho na, right,
[06:02] So you see power and you see no power.  Then you recognize that nothing is permanent. Nothing is going to be with you forever.  So then you become less attached.  You are more free than you don't have this baggage, ego less of it.  I mean there are some who behave
[06:19] painful side to this position that people don't understand.  Most people don't like it when you tell the truth.  To understand.  Most people don't like it when you tell the truth.  To them with a sweet light truth.
[06:31] So how do you balance?  But at the same time when you are playing some game time when you are playing some game and going in a new way will you change the game. But when this clarity is there that nothing
[06:47] is permanent.  I have seen it with power and also with no power.  Then after realizing this, what drives towards power?  I know that this is something which is not permanent.  If we have to do something, change the society,
[07:05] power is different, we have to make a new law. Hmm, we have to inspire the society.  Like You You Have a Podcast When You Speak Millions Listen.  That is power.
[07:18] Hmm. So power can come in different forms like fame, So power can come in different forms like fame, wealth, political power but power is necessary to make change. And so even when you have seen failure,
[07:34] you realize the value of power and you work towards it. But if you are too attached to power and you are scared of losing it.  Then you start making mistakes.  And you start cheating.  Because you are so scared of losing power.  Hum so that I
[07:49] try to reduce myself.  I try to say that yes, power is very important and one has to work hard for power. But if there is no power then it is still
[08:01] okay.  You can still live a happy life. So I always believe that you should put in 100% effort and hard work.  Whatever happens, God will decide. In between you mention one thing which was you built your reaction capability.  Right?  So if someone in their
[08:17] 20s and 30s is watching this and this problem everyone has that they get a reaction, you know at times.  So the How to Build React Capability?  No, Yes, yes.   I would be passive.
[08:31] So, my that not passive means you used to get number paused and Or, I mean going to a state of shock, surprise when you're attacked, but even when I'm not attacked, even if I'm in a social setting.  I used to have this
[08:46] anxiety about talking to someone, doing something. Largely because of fear of judgment, fear of rejection, if I go talk to someone if they don't talk
[08:58] to me back and if they are not nice to me so it is something like you have a desire and an opportunity hmm hmm it presents itself an opportunity hmm hmm it presents itself
[09:11] a dilemma.   Should I take the opportunity, should I speak, should I ask, should I do hmm and you keep thinking and the opportunity is gone?  Right, right, and I'm sure many can relate to this, and then I come back home and I'm sitting there thinking,
[09:25] oh, I had the three opportunities at this event and the two people I wanted to talk to, but I didn't, opportunities at this event and the two people I wanted to talk to, but I didn't, and I feel bad about that, why did n't I? From a young age, I started telling myself what I want to
[09:39] change in myself, that you have to do it, you have to do it, so I would say that may be when I was 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 10. If I used to take two or three,
[09:55] now I take eight or nine, so it's a a process of change.  So even when it comes to reacting earlier if someone hits me
[10:07] I would go off into shock hmm moment is past now I am not aggressive I don't get into a fight but if someone
[10:19] aggressive I don't get into a fight but if someone attacks me I instantly react so that is again the condition is true when you face enough instances where you you face enough instances where you realize that I am not reacting and I am
[10:32] going off into shell hmm because I have child I was always in a comfort zone in a comfort zone so now I have conditioned myself to have that
[10:45] ability to switch on whenever so if someone is being rude aggressive trying to get physical I have the confidence now that I can switch it on but it is in my power I am not someone who loses control I am a control free
[11:02] freak so  I don't like to lose control you hold your keys in your hands or no one else can get there I don't want some I don't want someone to be able to get so most of the time I am like it's not worth my time I walk away but how much
[11:17] impact does it have emotionally being a member of parliament and being a person in public life leading an institution really a big institution and when someone is trolling institution and when someone is trolling or someone off course you will get read good
[11:30] how much impact does it have emotionally?  How Much It Effects and How You Take It?  How do you know it's helpful?  How it's how you know it's very complicated.  There are so many different kinds of trolls.
[11:42] different kinds of trolls. Like let's talk about a few.  One kind of troll is my opposition party sympathizers and their spokespersons. Whatever I do, they will not like it.  Hum even if
[11:59] I build a 100 floor building for the city for free they will still find a problem with it so those kinds of trolls I ignore totally because I know that it is a propaganda it is agenda based that does not
[12:14] propaganda it is agenda based that does not impact me.  The second is that general audience who are impact me.  The second is that general audience who are not sympathizers of the opposition party.  I say something and do something which they don't like.
[12:29] common man also picks up that agenda and they start trolling me saying that he is so agent and he is so elite then I think ok did I say something wrong and was it the way I said it so then I think
[12:41] elite then I think ok did I say something wrong and was it the way I said it so then I think being perceived as agent and can I change my tone I learn from that so it is a time
[12:55] for me to introspect so even if I am saying it confidently good thing it is not about how you feel it is about how us so that I take it as a learning as a
[13:08] feedback to improve there are some others who don't read too much of the truth and get carried away I feel sad both for them and for the society taking the time to educate themselves to understand the issue they come
[13:25] to conclusion so quickly can ethical people survive in politics in ethical people survive in politics in front end what is difficult
[13:38] in the back end if you are advising a leader advising a party it is more advising a party it is more public you don't have to face elections you don't have to lie in the front end so it is
[13:54] easier to be ethical. If you have to contest, win, If you have to contest, win, win over people, be ethical and it becomes more and more difficult. Because when you tell the truth, most people do
[14:09] We give them a sweet lie. Hmm. So how do you balance?  But at the same time when
[14:21] you are playing some game then you are going in a new path, will you let the game change you and will you change the game, so if you see you change the game, so if you see
[14:36] my colleagues, because they think that they also want the same, when some people come for transfer, they
[14:52] come to ask to pass or fail.   All these sorts 90% of the time they are eligible.  95% late in eligible. in eligible.
[15:06] I will go out and scold him.  What MP Why did we make them win?
[15:18] take their number first and call them. Mine is very special. Do something for them.  People will go out and say that he is a very good MP.   Whether it happened good MP.   Whether it happened or not, I tried it for myself.
[15:31] Then is it ethical?  Because that is all acting. right? But the other person is happy.  So that is one kind of ethics which is how do you do grievances, redressal, request all of that.
[15:45] The other is that like for me elections are very expensive right elections in South India are very expensive. Most of the money that I spend is my money and my family's money.  Right?  I get some
[16:01] donations. Now I'm Scared to Take Donations From Anybody Who I Feel Will Ask Me to Do Something Wrong Tomorrow. Something Wrong Tomorrow. That I have given so much money, hence I want this
[16:14] favour.  Otherwise it should be me. So I I won't even go I won't even like talk to those people won't take anything from them. it.  Because they don't have enough wealth of their own.  They need support from someone.  But the minute
[16:30] You call it. Blood money. Once you take blood money. Then you have to pay with your blood.  [laughter] So, I'm privileged, but I don't have to take it.  Hmm I can say no.
[16:44] but lot of youngsters who enter politics don't know this. Hmm so unfortunately start following the wrong role models are suppressed by the wrong people. And yes when because of that the vast
[17:02] majority of our government political system is unethical.   It is What are your views about Cockroach Janata Party? It's crazy right I think in I don't know three or four days they
[17:15] think in I don't know three or four days they reach 20 million followers see I think there is some latent frustration that is there in the youth youth in general are more agitated more aspirational more idealistic they don't want
[17:32] more aspirational more idealistic they don't want trees to be cut they want the world to run in a certain vegetation anger the frustration is not enough.  It's a Hmm but after that you need to start peeling off
[17:46] the layers of an onion. And then you get to the bulb and then you realize that oh solving this problem is not that simple. Wishing a problem away is not going to make the problem go away.  So I think the
[17:58] Cockroach Janata Party is an example for parties like us who are in power today. We are ruling the state of Andhra Pradesh where there is an alliance with the BJP in the national government. It should recognize that nothing is permanent
[18:15] and you should listen if you don't listen to your stakeholders, don't feel their pain, don't answer their pain, then you cannot remain in power, but at the same time I don't think India is in a place where many stable, sorry, many fragile democracies are right, like if you see
[18:32] Nepal, you see Bangladesh, our countries are neighbors.  You see the Arab nations which had the Arab Spring where dictatorships of decades are overthrown by citizens. In those places after the overthrowing happened
[18:47] In those places after the overthrowing happened Not a Single Country That I Can Think Of. Bangladesh, Nepal, Egypt.  You name it.
[19:00] Bangladesh, Nepal, Egypt.  You name it. No Country Is Better.  So the desire for any No Country Is Better.  So the desire for any good democracy is that maintain stability increase aspiration trust government hmm so if
[19:12] you are true incident when they happen it is an opportunity to reflect hmm so we are 140 crore people 145 crore people 20 million followers bole to 2 crore which is 1/2% of India's population very
[19:29] significant but not everybody you should not get carried away listen to them onef% is valuable but you need 35-40% to form a government don't so that
[19:43] balance is always necessary I think a good leader will listen and and they will think a good leader will listen and and they will calibrate kya lag raha hai what are the meaning genji led yeh wala hai but what are the problems what are the issues which need to be heard what needs to be
[19:57] reflected what are the pain areas many many pain areas c the problem is we  We are in a fast changing world world and we are in a very large democracy The
[20:10] problem with democracy is that you can only do things by consensus You need to get majority of the people to agree to do something Otherwise you can't do it
[20:24] Singapore China They don't need 51% of the people to agree to something 51% of the people to agree to something through their shores Will power tenacity
[20:37] tenacity authoritarian capacity They do it And then if once it starts showing results then citizens have no need to protest They will protest in the beginning but results will come fast enough You take
[20:51] Singapore when you look over small fishing village They didn't have their own over small fishing village They didn't have their own water They didn't have their own sand
[21:03] Prime Minister what  Has happened to Singapore now than China China was slightly behind us in the 90s, early 90s but in three and three and a half decades how have they been able to grow so
[21:19] first you recognize that there are different models of governance this is the problem in democracy. democracy is that people want to come into power, to do good, to come into power, you need to satisfy people.  To Satisfied People You Have to Promise Them.  And it is easy to
[21:34] promise easy things. What is that?  I will give you this much money per month.  I'll give you a free bus ride, I'll give you a free this.  And if I don't promise you, the opposition will promise. So freebies are becoming a necessary evil.
[21:52] Hmm but what is the limit to that?  The more you give but what is the limit to that?  The more you give the more lazy people become.  And if they become lazy they are not willing to work hard.  Somebody share a statistic on x in the
[22:06] uneducated and undered people basically who didn't complete 10th class and 12th class.   The complete 10th class and 12th class.   The unemployment rate is 3%, but in the graduating class who finished college and finished their master's, the unemployment rate is
[22:19] finished their master's, the unemployment rate is over 40%. is the problem. What is the solution?  What according to is the
[22:31] solution because right now I think the number one pain area we were discussing is pain areas.  The number one pain area is unemployment among the youth. This is what generally comes out.  In fact, behind CJP, unemployment was one major trigger.  So, what is the solution to this?  So we
[22:47] need to redefine what is employment and unemployment. Employment world has changed. Right, if I am a Swiggy driver, it is Zomato driver, it is employment. But people don't perceive it as employment. I will tell you why I go to
[23:05] campaigning. When I go home, I ask what the children are doing. ask what the children are doing. Only if it is a government job and only if it is a job that is over 1 lakh in a private company, they deem it as a good
[23:19] job. When someone is working in a company for 15, 2000, they don't deem it as a When someone is working in a company for 15, 2000, they don't deem it as a job because you feel that this is not permanent. This is not security. This will not lead to marriage.
[23:33] So, it is a perception problem. But the new form of employment is this. But this is a perception problem. What does it really mean if someone is working in this kind of blue collar job?  If he is in a job then he is looked at with that viewpoint and problems arise in his marriage.
[23:48] So it's the reality also. It is the reality but that is the world we live in.   I am saying that you cannot be stuck on the principle of prestige forever. Like civil engineering from The Country Needs Lettuce.
[24:03] The country needs 5 lakh civil engineers. But nobody wants to study civil engineering.  Why? Because you don't go to work in the work site. You don't have to wear a hard hat.  You Don't Have to Be Out in the Sun and Dust.  But Everybody
[24:18] No Computer Science Jobs Because of AI Now Earlier If 100 People Are Getting Employed Now 30 40 People Are Getting Employed and Doing the Same Kind of Work. So this one needs to realize that everything will get
[24:33] me in my comfort zone.  I need AC.  I will work at the office desk only.  No. need AC.  I will work at the office desk only.  No. You see in Sea China. You will have life only if you go to where there is opportunity and work.
[24:52] start promoting skills. Start communicating to people the value of skills.  If you go to Australia now, an electrician and a plumber get an
[25:04] an electrician and a plumber get an annual salary of $30,000. Lot More Than Software Engineers. Entry Level Software Engineers.
[25:16] And they are having a great life. That time will come in India also.  It's a matter of time.  C. Perception also shifts. Hmm we people wouldn't take you seriously.  But today our
[25:33] world is also changing.  Right? More acceptance is coming.   The only thing is that those who are able to be courageous, take the early steps and see more success, as you said that global exposure you had,
[25:47] so you spent a lot of time in the US, what did you learn from there which India did not teach, for me particularly there is opportunity, because I have lived a sheltered life in India, I had nothing to do, taxes,
[26:00] payments, laundry, of myself. So when I went to college at Purdue University, I had to live by So when I went to college at Purdue University, I had to live by myself.  I had to do my own
[26:14] laundry and pay some of my own bills. And Responsibility: If you park your vehicle at the wrong place, you will be fined for parking. get a speeding fine.  If there is a high speeding fine, the license will be suspended.
[26:29] We so Consequences Are Real.  And here the rupee is less but there it is expensive in dollars. So if you convert it, it is different and more money is being spent.  I didn't have access to so much money in India.
[26:42] money. So when you waste money over there because of So when you waste money over there because of a speeding fine and something then you become more conscious and more something like this happen? Yes, I got three or four speeding fines and
[26:55] Yes, I got three or four speeding fines and many parking tickets.  And then even your electricity bill, when you go outside the campus you take an you have to take care of your bills and if
[27:08] you forget to pay, there are late fees and penalties, all this 20 years ago I got used to, it brings discipline, it brings responsibility and it also brings dignity of labour, so when I went to US, there is no work
[27:25] below, it is all your work.  Should be done.  It's not that the all your work.  Should be done.  It's not that the eldrí is bad.  It is a small job.  Housekeeping is a small job of cleaning the house. We used to do everything.  So I've come to know Dignity
[27:38] of Labour a lot.  Today Anywhere I Go Even If I Go To A Party And Anything I Go To The Toilet And Go Somewhere.  The person who is cleaning over their body language is very shy and reserved and like people don't talk to them.
[27:52] But I always try to make it a point to say thank you.  And appreciate the work that they are doing and also make them feel that they have dignity of their labour everyone does right so that I think was a great experience for two-four years but there is one
[28:09] experience for two-four years but there is one difference in US the human cost human labour cost is very expensive so they have their systems their yourself it is easy to file taxes in US it is easy
[28:23] to do your laundry in US it is easy to pay your bills in US.  Without this, human labour cost in India is not that high.  So our processes are most horrible, slow, inefficient.  Taxes are very difficult to do. Because we sell it to a clerk.
[28:40] You go and stay in the bank the whole day. Time is very valuable there.  I am a working professional.  I can't go sit in the bank for 4 hours.  So if you go to the bank there, the work will be done in 20 minutes.  But it will take two to three hours here.  So, Indian society has to
[28:55] change because our human cost is also going up.  Our processes have to be made simple.  Simple thing you go to a washing machine in US.  There Will Be Only Four and Five Features.  One two three four five.  This will be five sick.  Here the washing machine will have 20
[29:11] sick.  Here the washing machine will have 20 features.  It will take a day to learn. features.  It will take a day to learn. So we assume that somebody will be paid to do it. true. So at gitam, at wiseek.  The What I Try
[29:26] To Do Is Simplify Everything.  I always say Citizen First. Design Everything Citizen Centric. Every citizen from a small child to an old person should be able to do their own things end to end.  We should design our
[29:42] city.  Our University Like That.  These songs. I am able to do much faster.  Because I am the president.  I am like a benevolent dictator.  So I can do things much faster.   It is more difficult in Visakhapatnam and will take time but I will do it.
[29:56] So What Do You Think Should Be?  I mean what changes are required in the education system?  You have studied abroad.  You have closely seen education system out of India right and you are part of education system in India.  So what do you
[30:09] think needs change. We have problems at every level.  Yes, yes, there is a problem in primary school, there is a problem in secondary high school, there is a problem in college. But none of these people get tested as much as colleges.
[30:24] Because after school, after primary, we go to secondary, after secondary we go to high school.  There is no test here. job after college.  If you don't get a job then you are a failure.
[30:40] But when is this test taking place? True Taste is nothing when I'm 212. Because even if I am a bad student, I get a seat in some college.
[30:52] But the college is being measured but if my college is not that good.  The students who are coming to me are also weak students. We're all halfway through the mistake.  It's mine.
[31:06] Whose is the other half?  The earlier system was primary schooling, secondary schooling, parents but who is holding them accountable. So one thing that the government can do and I have been educating this both in our state
[31:20] of Andhra Pradesh and Central Government. Earlier when technology was not so advanced. Tracking was very difficult.  But right now in India we have Aadhar, Unique
[31:32] ID, we have UPI, tracking has become much easier. Tracking Age in I Will Explain. Now when a student graduates, you link the degree of that student
[31:49] Apar APAR with their Aadhar with their Aadhar with their Income Tax. With their UPI, if you link these four, when you
[32:05] graduate from a college, after one year, after three years, if the college sends you some survey, tell me how you are doing, I don't reply to the survey because I am busy, I am lazy, I am tired, whatever I see, if we
[32:21] send a survey to 10,000 students, 3,400 people respond.  So that is not a true representation of the audience.  But when you automate this and all these authorities speak to each other.  The Technology Speaks to Each Other.   Let
[32:35] us understand that 8000 people graduate from Geetam every year. understand that 8000 people graduate from Geetam every year. You do one thing, after one year You do one thing, after one year
[32:48] you call on their Apaar ID.  Not Individual Names Group.  8000 IDs you call check.  Check Aadhaar PAN and see how many out of 8000 people are filing income tax. And how many people are paying income tax out of that Rs 8000
[33:05] ?  How much are you paying? Based on that you know what they are making.  Hum Hum What is their UPI transaction volume ? If we see this, we will easily know in which college their life
[33:22] know in which college their life outcomes are better. outcomes are better. So this self-reporting, lie manipulation, So this self-reporting, lie manipulation, all this goes away.  Inaccurate data, unavailable
[33:34] all this goes away.  Inaccurate data, unavailable data, we have been facing all these problems for the last 80 years.  It won't happen anymore. data, we have been facing all these problems for the last 80 years.  It won't happen anymore. Practically you see this happening in future it will happen 100% it will happen
[33:47] the US had implemented this even in a non technology era I think 20-30 years ago and they had significant outcomes because it we are not doing it we are not measuring we are measuring inputs as a government as an education system we are
[34:01] measuring how many buildings are there how many teachers are there how much major outcomes so then what happens is the good colleges will be
[34:15] recognised that information will be published in the market parents will have access to this information now it is no longer necessary to talk about the college like now I can't take a front page ad in The Hindu and Times of India and get 100% placement
[34:31] Times of India and get 100% placement so many jobs in it mostly there are so many jobs in it mostly there are hardly 20-30% ethical institutions remaining 60-30% are long  To some degree we
[34:43] but when the true data is linked but again then the question of privacy will come is my private data is accessible to the government and employees of the government then what we should do should anonymize this data I don't need the name of their student
[34:56] be encrypted or all I need to know is this is the overall career outcomes of 5000 people in a graduating batch, average mean median how is
[35:08] this outcome measurement if we are able to do and this is now today not a problem of technology and infrastructure it is a matter of intent and decision government of we make this process then education will quickly
[35:24] transform then what happens is the guys who are doing bad education and unnecessary doing bad education and unnecessary education all of them will shut down and suddenly new institutes will start coming up which are offering skill based education and the  Good
[35:38] institution start doing a good job will grow. One thing you had mentioned in this which was that there was an interesting reflection that there are two angles to it one is the primary school and secondary school also right college comes at one level for
[35:52] which you gave a very impressive solution but the primary level which I also agree that if a student has spent 18-20 years of his life, he has spent 18 to 20 years only and he has spent that time, he does not have confidence, he does not have grooming, he does not have career guidance
[36:06] right.  They don't realize they want civil, they can go in civil engineering but they choose computer science because career counselling was never given. root.  There is a trickle down effect. The session I am telling you will have a
[36:21] huge trickle down effect on the entire education system.  How is that going to work? So what is happening right now?  A. Every year 2025 lakh people are writing NEET in the country. We,
[36:34] We, 15 lakh people, are writing IIT JEE. 15 lakh people, are writing IIT JEE. Consider the overlap as 5 lakh people.  So uniquely 30-35 lakh people are
[36:46] writing entrance tests for free medical seats or engineering seats or for some programs. But how many IITs, NITs and these free medical
[36:58] seats are there in the country?  1 lakh in all.   Where are the going?   They are going to private universities and
[37:12] government universities and smaller colleges and where the results are varying. and where the results are varying. Because of why a brand is built
[37:24] that if you become a doctor for free then your career is set. Otherwise, if you get a seat in IIT, your career is set.  Because of that aspiration people don't want to try anything else.  They only want to do this
[37:40] you call it any parent in most parts of India child in 11th and 12th in intermediate we call it intermediate 11th and 12th they want them to do entrance test prep just
[37:55] entrance test prep just these test prep institute quota right we have Sri Chaitanya Narayana so in these test prep institutes people go for 2 years, 3 years, four years just to crack that entrance test.  And in those two or four years,
[38:12] everything else is forgotten.  No sports, no extracurricular activities, no holistic development, no independent thinking, just test taking, test painful side to this position that people don't
[38:26] understand. Yes.  So one problem is that things are Our government is slow. There is corruption, there is inefficiency,
[38:39] this is what everyone has to work on.  So it's frustrating.  So you have to keep fighting and keep pushing things.  If you relax, nothing will happen. in a private organization if someone does not work, then you can remove them from the job.
[38:53] Government you can't do that. So that part is very frustrating.   The second thing is that in general and we did touch upon this in general and we did touch upon this topic that most people don't want to change the system
[39:07] for better age in abhi ek system hai chal raha hai kyun change karna hai status ko to ab aapko system ko change karna hai you are fighting against so many people that becomes frustrated chal raha hai let it be and
[39:24] taught which I have not learnt anywhere else in the world see inspiration of everything that I have learnt like being independent of the age after the age of 18 in the US building your own life working hard being responsible for your own learning here kids come to college they do
[39:39] n't learn anything they bunk college but in US if you do that the loan is on your head the minute you finish college you don't have any safety net the people there are much more responsible they take their learning seriously all of that I value I loved my time there
[39:56] but I don't want to live there. I don't like the society there.  There is a very independent society there.  I don't like so much independence. like so much independence. And there is almost a disjointed and distant
[40:11] What is in an Independent Society? Big because in US if I want to meet we have to take an appointment. Oh, this is my calendar.  Check it out online.  When you get a slot, block it and you will get it.  I have to
[40:27] meet you today.  I will come home. Otherwise I will call you.  But that doesn't work there.   No matter Otherwise I will call you.  But that doesn't work there.   No matter appointment after three days and then you will meet them.  That is the first no no for me.
[40:41] If I Love Someone I Should See Them Whenever I Want to See Them.  The second thing is we take each other for granted over here which I like. Like for example I had Indian classmates Telugu classmates we live together 10 log ke pas paanch gaadi the chaabi
[40:57] entrance ke bol mein tha aapko man lag raha ho ek gaadi leke jaana hai haq hai woh yes we took it for granted magar American hai unka ek coffee peene se bhi hum pooja padta hai can I have your coffee can I share the meal it's a very
[41:17] with our parents.  We live with our grandparents.  I am who I am because of my grandparents.   They have taught me so much.  And Faces of Life May Be When We Become Parents We are so busy building our careers we don't have that much
[41:32] time to spend with our children to nurture them to mentor them.  But grandparents are retired and they spend time with them. So that emotional support intellectual support
[41:44] So that emotional support intellectual support we receive US society doesn't have. And that's why you see divorce rates are much higher in the US and the children are battling a lot more drug issues, mental health issues because of those kinds of societal
[41:59] problems.  It's less in India.  I am not saying India is perfect. Your Hardest Decision Ever. Maybe I guess one thing that can come is Maybe I guess one thing that can come is in 2018 when grandfather passed away I got the
[42:13] opportunity to become the President of Geetanjali. Geetanjali. And then I had a serious dilemma whether I can contest the elections or not, if I do then how will I do justice to both these responsibilities
[42:27] if I do then how will I do justice to both these responsibilities and try for elections later [nasal sound] but then ultimately I decided I was 29 years old that which 29 year old will get this
[42:42] years old that which 29 year old will get this opportunity, my intentions are clear. opportunity, my intentions are clear. I will not be able to give my full time. A well-intentioned hard-working person will still be better than
[42:56] an ill-intentioned corrupt person.  So I took the decision to try both. So you learn from your failure.  So I am a stronger better person now.  So while
[43:08] that failure in that moment was horrible and painful and frustrating.  It was that failure mistake that made me who I am today because I will not change that which failure taught me the most. I have many
[43:27] in 11th and 12th I remember it being a bad phase of my life where suddenly I became a being a bad phase of my life where suddenly I became a bad student I was bunking my junior college I was fighting with my mom and dad I was a bad kid like I don't have
[43:45] good memories and my confidence was at its rock bottom because now till 10th I was a good student [nasal voice] and that one [nasal voice] and that one two year period I vented through lot of
[43:57] two year period I vented through lot of emotional term oil and I think it was those two years that have made me who I am where from there I decided that no I am not going to be this person I am not going to make myself let down my family and
[44:11] I am going to build my confidence. So from when I went to Purdue I've seen a lot more ups in life.  I have had set backs, I damaged my back and other things, but nothing as bad as two years, period.  One and half year period.
[44:26] that time.   Yes.   At I don't it may be it was like puberty and emotions and ah rebellious nature all of those things probably to mitya. I don't like that again experience is
[44:43] what has made me who I am today which is that take responsibility for your life and don't responsibility for your life and don't blame others for your failures and don't hurt others and be a
[44:57] blame others for your failures and don't hurt others and be a consciously keep learning and I operate by certain mantras today there are certain
[45:10] life your association with the TDP how it has your association with the TDP how it has benefited positively and negatively geetham ko not just in telugu desh because my mother's father was
[45:27] in congress when you are in politics the perception is that you have all of the power all of the possibility of getting political favours.  To
[45:39] Benefit Your Organizations.  It is true that many politicians try to use power to benefit themselves and their family members and their friends. members and their friends. But at the same time in my lifetime all the
[45:55] direct politics themselves. 90% have failed.  95% have My own family is an example.  Both my grandfathers were very successful businessmen
[46:07] grandfathers were very successful businessmen for two decades in the 80's they came 90% of our net worth is gone 90% of the net worth is gone after they came into politics
[46:20] most important thing to our business was not political favors and money it was the entrepreneur being available to lead the organization. And once the entrepreneur at the top left hmm it becomes a leaderless organization.
[46:37] And if the successor was not able to fill that gap like the children and whoever you selected and it's not just my family.  So many businessmen I have seen who have become collapsed. So many.  So it is a mission non-starter.
[46:54] C Because if I am a If I am a no body.   I come from no business background.  Then it is okay, in politics I commit fraud and do something else.  I earn money from us, you can blame me but if I am a successful businessman, I am earning 100-200 crores of
[47:09] profit before coming into politics, I can obviously double, triple, quadruple that by myself, I don't need politics for that, I have already been doing it for two decades, so that I think is a wrong number that people don't
[47:22] understand, firstly, so in our case, we suffered in both because Congress and TDP were against each other, yes,
[47:34] to my father's side of the family because I would say he is in TDP and is in the Yes, when TDP was in power, TDP was thinking that if they do something to our MP, people will think that there is some favoritism.
[47:47] so both sides, you're targeting [laughs], so it's the worst thing.  So actually if you want to succeed in business the advice is stay away from politics. Because if you are a businessman and if you are an
[48:00] institution builder you should not be allied to anybody. If he asks for some money, give him the money, do the work and move on.
[48:13] your party doesn't want to help you because the opposition will attack you for favoritism.   The opposition doesn't want to help you because if they help you, you will become stronger and you will. help you, you will become stronger and you will. So this has hurt ass a lot.  As a family
[48:26] and Geeta included more recently like when as a university we say we are doing well we want to grow we want more land for growth this is becomes a huge issue in media because they are like oh land is being given away for free land is worth this much
[48:41] money see because historically like if you say that shares are being given and something a common man or a farmer may not understand the value of that share but land is something that everybody understands land is something that is
[48:56] emotional for a farmer it is their identity for someone who has a home it is their identity so when they feel that it is so difficult for me to buy land of my own but valuable land is being given to some
[49:09] valuable land is being given to some institution so they are likely to buy into that we and that political parties use it so when a party wants to  Develop it becomes a problem when a party doesn't want to
[49:22] develop it's okay if you are a communist or a socialist and you don't want to do any development then nothing will happen in the state. Take West Bengal as an example.  I heard certain political leaders saying that development will never happen in West Bengal.  There will never be any
[49:35] land acquisition.  I felt sad to hear that industry must come.  If employment must be created.  Land must be must be created.  Land must be aggregated and be given in our state, our
[49:48] people trust our party, trust our leader and so much land has been given. Hmm for Amravati they have given 35,000 ek in land pulling.  Now you take Uttara where I belong to North Andhra and there they have given
[50:03] Plant. 40 years ago they have given 50 years ago they have given 30,000 rupees for the Vizag Steel Plant.  How Why Are People Giving Land? Because they believe that if we give land and if development comes, if not me, my children
[50:19] will get a job and we will have a good future.  So as a people, as a Telugu people, as a leadership we have been able to convince our people.
[50:32] rewarded in some other way. in terms of money and employment and something of that sort.  So that trust is there. something of that sort.  So that trust is there.
[50:46] ultimately we will prevail in the sense that our government is giving land but because I am in politics there is extra scrutiny on me I don't like it it is unfortunate but this is how society is. Hmm so your university got land and
[51:01] query is not valid.  This is not justified. asking for it.  I hope we I hope we get it
[51:17] Our political party TDP started in 1983 1984 So [nasal sound] it is not like we dream that someday party will come after that we will start Geetam right So the desire to build an institution of
[51:31] excellence to teach to uplift people has started much before that and we have now started much before that and we have now campuses is in three locations in which the
[51:44] government did give us land.  I'm about 30 years ago they gave us 70 acres of land and it is on that land where that campus has grown it has done very well. And now we are asking more land to develop the campus.  But if you take Hyderabad and bore
[51:59] the campus.  But if you take Hyderabad and bore Hyderabad, we have about 250 acres.  In bore we have about 35 40 ex. This is again acquired from the local villagers and farmers where we set up the campus.   How are we
[52:15] able to do it?  We did it at a time where the land cost was affordable. We used to buy land at 20 lakhs, 25 lakhs, 30 lakhs per acre
[52:27] 15 years ago, 18 years ago but in those same locations now land value has gone up much more.  More it has become worth 4 crore, 5 crore, 6 crore even more based on speculation.  So that at that rate we can't buy the same land that we
[52:43] bot.  So what does that indicate? That when the land is affordable, institutions can buy it.  But if you look at the locations of these two, they are far away from the city.  The Hyderabad campus land will probably be 45 minutes to 1 hour, 15
[53:00] minutes away from the city.  We Bengaluru will be easily an hour away as the wiseg campus when it started it was stated as outskirts but now it is well and truly part of the city right it is 30-40 minutes from the airport
[53:15] 20 minutes from the center of the city so in that location if we expand that is where it makes sense it is not that Geetam wants to land some 200 kilometers away to do it we want to lose land where the university is to expand right so that is the valid thing
[53:30] the other thing is like you take tech don't take me as an example right an ISB when it was given land ISB was a new institution it did not have any track record or anything they did with good people good ah partnerships
[53:46] but it was a business school it was admitting only 100 students a year.  But then Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu ji gave them 250 acres.  An institution that is admitting 100 students a year.  Why should 250 acres be given?
[54:03] Lots of people question him then also.  But that 250 acres today if you see ISBI is admitting now may be 1000 full time students a year may be another 1000-2000 part time executive education students.  But it is probably the best ranked
[54:18] business school in the country and among the best in the world.  So it is that vision. Okay, fine, leave ISB, ISB you don't understand, don't accept.  In Andhra itself we have given land to SRM to VIT to Amrita to Centurion I can keep going right
[54:36] most recently we have given to BITS Pilani 50 100 150 200 acres no they are a private deemed university I am a private deemed university they are a private deemed university they are top 100 ranked we are top 100 ranked
[54:54] believe I am a good institution if you feel I am going in the right direction and I am asking because if I have to buy land it is not available because there is only government land around me
[55:07] and even if it was private land at the rate that the market wants to sell it is not viable to run an education institution so you see any global city any Indian city for education institutions for healthcare institutions they always give land at a
[55:23] Subsidized rate because you want that service to be available to citizens in an accessible question becomes where you give land to institutions that don't have credibility
[55:35] and institutions that will misuse that land for some other purpose then it becomes a problem but law doesn't allow if I am given land to run a university it is not that I will do a housing venture and sell the land now I can't the allotment is
[55:49] very clear you use it only for running a university so you come to our wiseg campus we have 100 acres we will have about 15 20 acres of grounds 25 30 acres of parks.   If you
[56:01] give two acres of land then all this will not happen. not just building tall buildings where everyone is cooked up like broiler chicken and you're just doing taste prep, right?  You are actually giving them an opportunity
[56:17] to blossom.  It's a campus.  Like you go to see that is the problem I have in India. Right?  Many states the land that we have given to universities many states don't even give that they only give universities many states don't even give that they only give land to large
[56:30] public institutions like central universities IITs why not good private institutions so I am glad at least our state has been more progressive since 25 30 years we have been giving land to good institutions and
[56:45] that has been the game changer in fact Hyderabad has succeeded so much it much this much knowledge economy has come it is because of institutions like Triple IT, ISB which have economy.   A lot is evolving in IT.  AI is
[57:01] coming fast.  So how is Wi-Fi infrastructure preparing itself ? So I think see the there is a first more advantage.  If you see the investment data of 2025-2026,
[57:20] to Andhra. What is the population of Andhra? 5 crore.
[57:32] How has Andhra received 25% investment? is the place to invest in because it is a good government, it is a fast government, it is
[57:46] an intelligent government. We are well meaning we will operate quickly and we will understand your problem. Data centers. When data centers are coming, they had two- three problems of taxation and data society.
[58:01] three problems of taxation and data society. to prevail upon the government. Dialogue with them on why we should do certain things between them. That
[58:14] ultimately some decisions were taken by Ashwini Vaishnav ji, Nirmala Sitharaman ji, ultimately Prime Minister Modi ji and  Those things were implemented and because of that now data centers in a big way are coming to Andhra.
[58:28] So one Google data center is worth 15 billion dollars, so right now at dollar rate it is 1.5 lakh crore, the single largest FDI in Indian history. The city of Vizag
[58:41] is not even a top 10 city in terms of population GDP, it is number 10 in the country that we are, that's our bagging right, so we have always been an getting some great data center investments. What was your top learning in this podcast, do
[58:56] investments. What was your top learning in this podcast, do want to see on this podcast [music], whose success, insights, secrets do you want to decode, tell us in the comments below, we will keep
[59:10] bringing similar people on the same subjects on this podcast accordingly.  I will continue to make the to help you move forward.  See you again in the next video.  Till then stay happy and in the next video.  Till then stay happy and keep sharing happiness.  I love you all.  [music]