Comat Technologies was founded to create a one-stop shop where rural Indians can access the Internet, receive employability training and avail themselves of government services. Since launching in 1996,  Comat Technologies has established a presence in nearly 50,000 villages across five states, according to their Web site. In December 2008, Comat won the first-ever Legatum FORTUNE Technology Prize, an award that recognizes the work of for-profit enterprises, whose application of technology solutions foster social and economic growth, and dramatically improve the lives of poor people.

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Lakshmi's Lounge: What does TED mean to you?

Sriram Raghavan: TED is a confluence of breakthrough ideas where every participant seems to challenge the status quo for betterment of knowledge and humanity.

LL: What was the first TEDTalk that you heard?

SR: Hans Rosling – his incredible ability to simplify extremely complicated subjects, immediately attracted me to his way of thinking.

LL: What is your favorite TEDTalk?

SR: Simply impossible to pick a favourite. Almost every idea that is presented at TED opens up a new perspective, a new connection or a pattern that previously never existed. Besides, there is always something new every year that will top the past.

LL: What is the most influential Indian Idea?

RS: [N]on-violence. It seems to have deep roots in the country and its people.  While almost every new nation relied on war or violent revolution to establish its nationality, India’s non-violence seems to have been an extremely mature approach, and an idea certainly ahead of its time. It is powerful because it gave us a collective identity and nurtured the democracy that followed.

LL: What is the biggest idea impacting India today?

SR: It is the concept of ‘youth power’. India behaves like a young nation, reflected in its embrace of new age technology, its enthusiastic foray into business and entrepreneurship and in its  thirst for freedom of expression. Slowly, but surely, the country’s youth are also making their presence felt in politics. Their openness and flexibility to experiment new ideas are crucial for social reform and equitable growth.

LL: What is something that has taken your breath away lately?

RS: Realization of deep rooted corruption in India and its ability to innovate and grow across the board. Corruption has taken multiple forms, with the capacity to challenge and adapt to any framework or process that threatens its survival.

LL: What is your vision for India in 10 years?

RS: Moving towards Information symmetry. We have too many islands of influence and too few bridges to connect them. We need to bring people together across rural-urban, poor-rich and across languages to allow for ideas to flow.