Back to Bharat – In search of a sustainable future received the prestigious GLF-WWF Honours 2024 award at the 4th Green Literature Festival held in Bangalore under the category of Green Business books.
It was an honour to receive the award from Suresh Heblikar Veteran Actor, Director and Environmentalist of ECO WATCH
Thanks to 1000s of entrepreneurs from whom I’ve learnt a lot, all the 70+ entrepreneurs captured/mentioned in the book including 18 (out of 32) of my Angel Investing, 28 of NSRCEL startups and Nativelead story.
GLF-WWF Honour Book Award 2024 goes to Back to Bharat: In search of a sustainable future by Nagaraja Prakasam
By the GLF-WWF jury
“Back to Bharat: In Search of a Sustainable Future” by Nagaraja Prakasam is a thought-provoking exploration of India’s socio-economic challenges and opportunities, particularly emphasizing the divide between ‘India’ (urban, privileged) and ‘Bharat’ (the rural, underserved majority). Prakasam highlights the ‘ignored billion’ in rural areas who are often overlooked by venture capitalists and businesses focused on urban markets.
Drawing from his experiences as an impact investor and mentor, the book showcases real-life examples of entrepreneurship and innovation in rural India. Through stories like a coconut-climbing machine innovator in Kerala or startups bridging language barriers with technology, Prakasam demonstrates how addressing the needs of rural communities can create sustainable solutions to pressing global issues like inequality and climate change.
The book advocates for leveraging India’s unique strengths—its people, problems, and technology—to foster inclusive development, urging entrepreneurs and investors to focus on rural empowerment for long-term growth
People/Ventures mentioned in the book.
Angel investing – 18 (out of 33)
Umesh Sachdev – Uniphore
Ravi Saraogi
Srikrishna Sridhar Murthy – Sattva
Siva Devireddy – GoCoop
Wilma Rodrigues – SaahasZW
Sameer Sawarkar – Neurosynaptic
Rajeev Kumar
Rajiv Rao – FreshWorld.
Pradeep P S – FFZ
Vikas Brahmavar – Boson Whitewater
Som Narayan – Carbon Masters
Sai Damodaran – Gramalaya
Manjunath – Lumiere Organics
Vijay Sai Pratap Gramvani
Druva
Orangescape – Suresh Sambandam
Unbxd Inc., A Netcore Company
Vipul Arora – SolarOn
NATIVELEAD
Ashok Kannan – Happy hens
Baskar – Nativespecial
Murali Soaptreez
Sivarajah Ramanathan
Latha Pandiarajan
K. Pandiarajan
Sriram Sankaran
Rajesh
Sugumar – Anil Foods
Nsrcel – 28 ventures
Lloyd – Econut
Santhosh – Mantra4Change
Pooja Rai – Anthill Creations
Alina Alam – Mitti Cafe
Naga Karthik – Sauramandala
Elija – Hill Garden
Ishaksham
Anirudh – Lets be the change
Zeeshan – My captain
Anil nadig – Jiva bhumi
Gayatri – Reseda
Manas – Bubble but wash
Shruti – goodbye services
Deepa – Ayurvastra
Premjeet – Tech Tailor
Tarkeybein
Meraki
TAP
Blink
Inquilab foundation
Taxshe
Nelson – spif
Anamika – Recharge
Anusha Shetty – Penbound
Rohit – Rural Caravan
Amshu – Tapasu foods
NPK soli test – Neoperk
Vomit Analysis
Profs. Sabarinathan, Suresh Bhagavatula,Dalhia, Trilochan Sastry
IIMA Ventures
Craft Catapult
Karomi Crafts
Mura Collective
Cotton Rack
Siddhi parvatha foods
kaushal Bav
people
Prof. Anil gupta
NIT Kozhikode
Samil – coconut climbing machine
IITM Incubation Cell
Prof. Ashok Jhunjhunwala
Kannan Microspin
Kris Gopalakrishnan co founder Infosys
Saurab Srivastava – IAN
NKC Jaipur Rugs
Shashi Kumar Akshayakalpa
Acumen
Jacqueline Novogratz
Tulsi – Aravind eye hospital
AyurVaid
Ziqitza Healthcare
Water Health International
Drishtee
Husk power
Avani bio energy
Mizone
PK Gopalakrishnan
Shilen
Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India
Change alliance
Asif Jan Saahas
Muthu velayutham CCD
kamalesh Desert Greens
Ganshayam Samvad
Wilson Safai karmachari andolan
BRAC
Yunus Social Business
Monica – cipri
Harish hande – Selco
Vasimalai – DHAN Foundation
Michael & Susan Dell Foundation
TDU
ARAKU Coffee
Association for India’s Development
Swades Foundation
Ravi Kuchimanchi
Anandvan Foundation
NEDFi
Vijaya Krishnappa – kosha.ai
Vilas Shinde – Sahyadri Farms
Timbaktu
RangDe
Benedict Paramanand
Executive MBA Program at Kennesaw State University