This is the speech that was delivered by Sunil Bharti Mittal, CEO of Bharti Airtel, last year at Nirma University, Ahmedabad. This is like a crash course in entrepreneurship. Must read! I hope this inspires you, as much as it inspired me.

Here goes:

“I would like to receive this invitation of Dr. Patel. As I have grown up as a young entrepreneur, watching his deft entrepreneurial moves in creating an exceptional business entity which has taken major big battles with established business houses in the country, I can tell you in all honesty during my journey as an entrepreneur, his battles, his heroic fights were very clearly inspiring the entire management team in Bharti because he did it. It was difficult and trying circumstances especially since India was not open to reform since 1992. Let me say how extraordinarily lucky you are as students passing out at a time when a brave new world beckons you, invites you to participate in a glorious future of this country.

I personally believe, this country has never seen a time like this before and it should be now shaped by your hands, minds, brains as to how to make India’s future.

Let me say I have seen parts and shades of India yesterday and I am now clearly enjoying what India is today and I have some idea of where India is going to be in the future and let me take a few brief moments in sharing my own experiences oh having built Bharti into one of India’s leading enterprise.

I was born into free India in 1957. An India which was just coming out of its freedom , struggling with poverty and massive social issues. A nation which was just staring to wake itself. 1976 was the time when I graduated out of college and entered into the world of business at a very young age of 18.

I come from a state called Punjab which has very similar aspirations like this very state Gujarat. Very entrepreneurial, very focussed, very hardworking and therefore there was no doubt that I was touched upon the spirit of enterprise in the state. Our early days were difficult, there is no question what the entrepreneur has to go through. Very tiring and difficult times. That is a given. The issue is, how many of us will stand and brave the difficulties and move forward. That to my mind is the difference between those who created something out of the ordinary and those who will go with the tide or with the flow.

Popularity: 17%