India could end up missing the online, digital revolution just like it missed other transformative economic movements in the last century if the government did not actively push for better and cheaper broadband access across the country, CEO and founder of Rediff.com, Ajit Balakrishnan, said on Saturday.

He was speaking at the annual business event of the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IIT-B), Avenues 2009, where this year’s theme is ‘People, Planet and Partnership’. The event is in its ninth edition this year and is organised by the Shailesh J Mehta School of Managament, IIT-B. The Indian Express is an associate partner of the event in which students from over 60 B-schools will participate over two days and listen to eminent business leaders.

“India missed out on the industrial revolution of the late 18th century which helped European nations surge ahead. Then again in the late nineteenth century when Germany brought about a revolution in dyes and synthetics, India still missed it. This will be the third time that India will be making a mistake,” said Balakrishnan. Highlighting the need for entrepreneurship to take the economy on a higher growth trajectory, chairman of Praj Group, Pramod Chaudhari said that innovation should be the backbone of entrepreneurship. “It is not that every businessman should be thinking of having a start-up, even people who are employed can think innovatively and add value. This is what I call ‘intrapreneurship’ which is intrinsic to the growth of an organisation,” said Chaudhari.