India Today magazine recently ranked the ten most powerful people of Indian origin living overseas. Eight of them are residents of the United States from the CEO of Pepsico to the heir-apparent of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway. Also on the list are two Nobel-prize winning economists from Harvard and Columbia, a hotelier, CNN’s television doctor, and journalist Fareed Zakaria. Incidentally two of the eight (Jain and Rajan) are graduates of the Indian Institutes of Technology, of whose alumni association, I am currently President.
AJIT JAIN
60, Business Executive (2)
Because he is tipped to inherit the legacy of the world’s third richest person and legendary reinsurance giant, Warren Buffett, who says he has “added billions of dollars to the value of Berkshire”. Because Buffett, named one of the most influential global thinkers in Foreign Policy’s 2010 report, believes that even kryptonite bounces of the “irreplaceable” Jain and says he gets smarter by merely speaking with him every day.
Because he takes risks that others avoid-he insured the Sears Tower in Chicago, America’s tallest building, after 9/11. Because he has just spent $14.65 million on an amazing new home at One Beacon Court in midtown Manhattan.
Power quote “Jain has created an insurance business with a float of $30 billion and significant underwriting profits, a feat that no CEO of any other insurer has come close to matching,” says Buffet.
Did you know That Jain often does his travel reservations himself?
AMARTYA SEN
78, Economist and Philosopher (3)
Conscience Keeper
Because though he has Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s undivided loyalty, he doesn’t shy away from voicing his dissent over his policies. Because an embattled prime minister treasures a character certificate from him. Because at a time when India swears by the maximal mantra, he ridicules India’s fixation with China’s growth rate and calls for “justice” alongside growth.
Did you know That he is a self-proclaimed atheist?
INDRA KRISHNAMURTHY NOOYI
56, Entrepreneur (4)
Cereal Queen
Because she is one of America’s highest paid CEOs with a pay package of $13.97 million. Because she is one of the names tipped to succeed Tata Group’s chairman Ratan Tata. Because she invented a new language when she said, “We see the emerging opportunity to ‘snackify’ beverages and ‘drinkify’ snacks as the next frontier in food and beverage convenience.”
Because, in 2010, Fortune magazine listed her as one among the eight visionaries who are being seen to lead their industries in the years ahead.
Did you know That as a “poor Indian student”, she did summer jobs in saris. Once she went for an interview in a $50 business suit and orange snowboots like “the ultimate country bumpkin”?
FAREED ZAKARIA
47, Journalist (8)
The Newsmaker
Because he is the man America trusts to explain the post-9/11 Islamic world to them. Because despite having supported Barack Obama during his campaign for presidency, he has criticised the “fear-based” policies employed not only in combating terrorism, but also in framing immigration laws and pursuing trade, and has argued instead for an open and confident US.
Because his show Fareed Zakaria GPS on CNN is the stomping ground of world leaders and international statesmen.
Did you know At 28, he became the managing editor of Foreign Affairs?
SANT SINGH CHATWAL
59, Hotelier (7)
The American Friend
Because though he is “close friends”� with Bill and Hillary Clinton and several other Democrat leaders in America, even the all-powerful Barack Obama cannot ignore Sant Singh Chatwal’s massive influence as he helped raise over $10 million for his bid for presidency.
Because he is the owner of the $750-million Hampshire Hotel chain and Resorts Bombay Palace, with hotels or private destinations in most major capitals of the world.
Did you know That Chatwal, who currently owns and manages 14 hotels in four countries, savours simple food such as khichdi and jeera aloo?
SANJAY GUPTA
41, Neurosurgeon and TV Personality (11)
Sweet Medicine
Because the chief medical correspondent of CNN and former adviser to Hillary Clinton is the most charismatic neurosurgeon on television, chasing medical emergencies whether in Iraq or Japan.
Because men like Bill Gates use his show, Colorful Conversations, as a launch pad as in February 2011, when the founder of Microsoft announced on the show that he would donate $10 billion towards polio vaccinations for children around the world within a decade. Because his coverage of the Haiti earthquake with Anderson Cooper in 2010 was endorsed by television queen Oprah Winfrey, who referred to him as CNN’s hero.
Did you know That he was named one of the Sexiest Men of 2003 by People magazine?
JAGDISH BHAGWATI
77, Economist (15)
Fair Trade
Because he ignited a worldwide debate on growth vs equity, challenging Amartya Sen’s plea to end “our obsession with growth”.
Because he is a leading authority on trade and development and has served as a special policy adviser on globalistion to the United Nations.
Because he is a leading advocate of free trade and will present the case for multilateral free trade at the 2011 Adda B. Bozeman Lecture In International Affairs at the Sarah Lawrence College in New York.
Because together with Peter Sutherland he chaired the interim report on the Doha Round in 2011 sponsored by Germany, the UK, Indonesia and Turkey.
Because early last year, he was appointed to the advisory board of the Institute for Migrant Rights in Cianjur, Indonesia.
Did you know That after he advised Indira Gandhi to devalue the currency, he left India in 1966 for New York because he wanted to marry fellow economist Padma Desai?
RAGHURAM RAJAN
48, Economist (16)
The Forecaster
Because the former International Monetary Fund economist was named among the world’s seven most powerful analysts by Nouriel Roubini in a compilation for Forbes.
Because he was one of the first economists to recognize the flaws on Wall Street which led to the US and global financial crisis. Because his book, Fault Lines, won the 2010 Financial Times and Goldman Sachs Business Book of the Year Award and is considered a must-read for economic observers.
Because he heads a poll by The Economist of thinkers with the most important ideas for a post-crisis world.
Did you know He once famously remarked that “privatization by stealth has created many billionaires in India”?
