我在印度找到了灵感 | 盖茨笔记
大约在去年的这个时候，我写了一篇《盖茨笔记》，开头写道：“我刚从印度访问回来，也迫不及待地想再去一次。”
上周，我的愿望实现了，我又重返了印度——现在我回到了家，却又迫不及待地还想再去一次。
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我的目标是了解那些来自印度的、可以改变世界的想法和发明的最新情况，这也正是我这次印度之行的收获。我在那里待了四天，会见了政治领袖、政府官员、科学家、慈善家、帮助社区摆脱贫困的妇女等人。盖茨基金会资助的印度项目多于其它任何国家（美国除外），亲身到那里去看看我们所支持的工作所产生的影响总是令人振奋，也很有教育意义。以下是我访问时拍摄的一些照片。
总理时间：在行程的最后阶段，我有幸与莫迪总理和他的几位内阁部长共度了一个小时。我们就盖茨基金会如何继续支持印度在数字技术、女性主导的发展，以及农业、健康和气候变化方面的创新进行了深入交谈。
一杯茶：我的行程周二在海得拉巴开了个好头，社交媒体明星多利·查瓦拉（Dolly Chaiwala）为我做了一杯美味的茶。这是克服时差的完美解药！照片中除了多利外，还有播客《扶手椅专家》的主持人戴克斯·谢泼德（Dax Shepard）和莫妮卡·帕德曼（Monica Padman）。他们和我一起参加了部分行程。
数字进步：在海得拉巴，我还会见了Infosys公司的联合创始人南丹·尼勒卡尼（Nandan Nilekani），我与他相识多年，还有其他专家向我介绍了数字公共基础设施（DPI）的最新进展。这个系统可以利用数字技术提供各种服务，包括数字支付、为农民提供建议、教育等等。印度在数字公共基础设施方面取得的进步是其它国家学习的榜样。
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令人惊叹的转变：周三我在布巴内斯瓦尔，了解到一个政府项目正在为奥里萨邦低收入社区提供电力、铺设道路和建设操场等设施。我有机会听到几位当地妇女的故事，她们在接受了工程和其它技能培训后，正在领导建设项目，将这些服务带给她们的社区。我很喜欢听她们讲述自己克服困难的励志故事——一个令人惊叹的前后对比明显的故事。
智能农业：当我在布巴内斯瓦尔参观一个农业监测中心时，我亲眼见证了印度数字公共基础设施（DPI）的实际应用。在这个设施中，政府农业专家通过电话向650万农民发送建议和实时更新信息。自该中心启用以来，当地农民因虫害损失的农作物比过去减少了90%。
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外出散步：我听卡蒂基亚·潘迪安（Karthikeya Pandian，照片右侧与我同行的人）介绍了他在奥里萨邦负责的两个政府项目。一个旨在改善治理和公共服务，另一个则为村庄提供互联网设施、运动场、自助团体培训、银行服务和数字连接。
发展现状：在担任奥里萨邦首席部长的24年里，纳温·帕特奈克（Naveen Patnaik，照片中与我同桌的人）带领该邦实现了令人瞩目的转变：经济不断增长，贫困率急剧下降。他和我讨论了奥里萨邦在农业、卫生和其它领域取得的成就。
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畜牧业盘点：盖茨基金会在印度支持了大量农业方面的工作，因此我很高兴能参加周四在新德里举行的学习会，与畜牧业和农作物方面的专家一起学习。我了解了人工授精、水牛育种、气候智能种子等方面的创新。
营养对话：我与印度妇女与儿童发展部长斯姆里提·伊兰尼（Smriti Irani）一起参加了一个聚焦营养不良问题的活动。部长还邀请我参加了一个名为Poshan Ustav（“营养节”）的活动，以发布一本关于印度营养实践的新书。我们还就盖茨基金会如何支持她的办公室以改善全国妇女和儿童生活的工作进行了深入讨论。
印度理工学院因素：我喜欢与大学生交流，这次访问印度理工学院新德里校区也不例外。对于有助于解决世界上那些最大的挑战的创新，师生们满脑子想法，且充满了乐观情绪。
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世界上最高的雕像：周五，在莫迪总理的建议下，我参观了古吉拉特邦的“团结雕像”。这是对印度独立运动中关键人物之一的萨达尔·帕特尔（Sardar Patel）的致敬。这座雕像给人留下了深刻的印象——它有597英尺高，是世界上最高的雕像——但同样给我留下深刻印象的是政府围绕它建立的一个以旅游为主导的、惠及当地人口的经济体系的努力。在旅游旺季，每天有超过6万名游客参观这座雕像。
喜庆的时刻：我的行程安排在阿南特·安巴尼（Anant Ambani）和拉迪卡·麦昌特（Radhika Merchant）的婚前庆典前后。这是我与宝拉·赫德（Paula Hurd）、南丹（Nandan）和罗希妮·尼勒卡尼（Rohini Nilekani）的合影。
回到家后，我对印度充满活力的创新生态系统，以及它如何在健康、城市贫困、数字服务等领域取得重大进展有了更深入的了解。印度的创新理念值得全世界学习。
Around this time last year, I wrote a Gates Notes post that began: “I just returned from my visit to India, and I can’t wait to go back again.”
Last week, I got my wish and returned to India—and now that I’m home, I can’t wait to go back for another visit.
My goal was to get an update on some of the world-changing ideas and inventions that are coming out of India, and that’s exactly what I got. I spent four days there, meeting with political leaders, government officials, scientists, philanthropists, women who are lifting their communities out of poverty, and many others. The Gates Foundation funds more work in India than in any other country (other than the United States), and it’s always uplifting and educational to be there in person and see the impact of the efforts we’re supporting. Here are a few photos from my visit.
PM time: Late in my trip, I had the privilege of spending an hour with Prime Minister Modi and some of his cabinet ministers. We had a great conversation about how the Gates Foundation can continue to support India’s goals on digital technology, women-led development, and innovation in agriculture, health, and climate change.
A cup of chai: My trip got off to a great start on Tuesday in Hyderabad, where social media star Dolly Chaiwala made me a delicious cup of chai. It was the perfect cure for jet lag! With me in the photo, in addition to Dolly, are Dax Shepard and Monica Padman, hosts of the podcast Armchair Expert. They joined me for parts of the trip.
Digital advances: In Hyderabad I also met with Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani, whom I’ve known for years, and other experts who got me up to speed on the latest in digital public infrastructure, or DPI. That’s the system that is making it possible to use digital technology to provide all kinds of services, including digital payments, advice for farmers, education, and much more. India’s progress on DPI is a model that other countries are learning from.
An amazing transformation: On Wednesday I was in Bhubaneswar, where I learned about a government program that’s providing things like electricity, paved roads, and playgrounds in Odisha state’s low-income communities. I got to hear from several local women who—after being trained in engineering and other skills—are leading construction projects to bring these services to their community. I loved hearing their inspiring stories about the challenges they’ve overcome—it’s a stunning before-and-after story.
Smart farming: I got to see India’s DPI in action when I toured an agricultural monitoring center in Bhubaneswar. At this facility, government agriculture experts send advice and real-time updates to 6.5 million farmers via phone. Since this center opened, local farmers are losing 90 percent less of their crops to pests than they used to.
Out for a stroll: I heard from Karthikeya Pandian (pictured walking with me) about the two government initiatives he runs in Odisha. One is designed to improve governance and public services, and the other provides villages with internet facilities, sports fields, training for self-help groups, banking services, and digital connectivity.
State of growth: During his 24 years as Odisha’s Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik (pictured sitting at the table with me) has led a remarkable turnaround in the state. Its economy is growing and poverty is plummeting. He and I discussed Odisha’s accomplishments in agriculture, sanitation, and other areas.
Taking stock of livestock: The Gates Foundation supports a lot of work on agriculture in India, so I was excited to attend a learning session in New Delhi on Thursday with experts on livestock and crops. I learned about the latest innovations in artificial insemination, buffalo breeding, climate-smart seeds, and much more.
Talking nutrition: I joined India’s Minister of Women and Child Development, Smriti Irani, at an event to highlight the problem of malnutrition. The Minister invited me to a Poshan Ustav—“nutrition festival”—to release a new book on India’s nutritional practices. We also had a great discussion about how the Gates Foundation can support her office’s efforts to improve life for women and children throughout the country.
The IIT factor: I love talking with college students, and my visit to the New Delhi campus of the Indian Institutes of Technology was no exception. The students and faculty were brimming with ideas and optimism about the innovations that will help solve some of the world’s biggest challenges.
The tallest statue anywhere: On Friday, at Prime Minister Modi’s suggestion, I visited the Statue of Unity in Gujarat. It’s a tribute to Sardar Patel, one of the key figures in India’s independence movement. It’s an impressive site—at more than 597 feet, it’s the tallest statue in the world—but I was just as impressed by the government’s efforts to build a tourism-driven economy around it that benefits the local population. In the peak season, more than 60,000 tourists visit the statue every day.
A joyous occasion: My trip was scheduled around the pre-wedding celebration of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant. Here I am with Paula Hurd and Nandan and Rohini Nilekani.
I came home with a deeper understanding of India’s vibrant innovation ecosystem and how it’s generating major advances in health, urban poverty, digital services, and much more. The world has a lot to learn from the ideas coming out of this country.