The 1^st Abdul Kalam Conference will start a biennial tradition to generate practical and exemplary solutions to large societal challenges. India must rise in human development index (HDI) from today’s 0.6, to the 0.9 of a developed nation, while avoiding the terrible cost in ecological footprint (10 hectares of resources per person for developed nations versus India’s 0.8, and the sustainable limit of 2.5). A look back at 1989 shows India’s amazing rise towards the dream of a “developed” India by 2020. Six Working Groups will come together at this first conference, inspired by this record, to sharpen the plans to tackle the massive challenges ahead. The 6th group titled Human Indicators versus Ecological Footprint, (no report is being prepared before the conference) will integrate the efforts of the other five groups:

Rural Self-Reliance, Renewing Mother Earth, Reaching New Resources, Bridging Implementation and Research and Global Alliance For Wellness and Healthcare.

We are seeking thought and action leaders in all these groups. The first conference will be hosted by the National Center for Combustion Research and Development at Indian Institute of Technology in Chennai, with the Takshashila Foundation, Global Indian Business Council and India Awareness Foundation as the US partner. The groups will synergize researchers, practitioners, educators, planners, business leaders and administrators, from India, the United States, and other nations.