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In just two years, Wharton India Economic Forum comes a full circle

Modi, whose invite had been revoked in 2013 after the protests by a group of 'leftist' professors, is now the central theme of the forum

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It was in February, 2013, that Wharton India Economic Forum (WIEF), an annual India-centric conference hosted by the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, announced the last-minute revoking of the invitation to Narendra Modi, a move which was widely debated across the world.

Modi, the then Gujarat Chief Minister, was supposed to deliver his speech via videoconferencing, which was opposed by several Indian-American professors, who gathered more than 200 signatures to stop the event.

Following this, Suresh Prabhu, the then Shiv Sena leader and Gujarat-based billionaire entrepreneur Gautam Adani also cancelled their scheduled visit to the Wharton School. Arvind Kejriwal, the AAP leader, had addressed the conference then.

It was the time when Modi was spoken of as the likely flag-bearer of the BJP campaign in 2014 general elections. By May 2014, that means within 14 months, Modi became the Prime Minister of the world's largest democracy. His popularity grew exponentially at global stage in the next few months with Barack Obama now even terming him his pal.

Time is the best healer, as they say. Or Friedrich Nietzsche puts it together in the best way, "All things are subject to interpretation. Whichever interpretation prevails at a given time is a function of power and not truth." So, it's not surprising when the same Wharton India Economic Forum decides its 2015 theme as "India: Delivering the dream." The forum would be held on February 21 in Philadelphia.

"With general elections behind us and new leadership and policies in place, India is poised to deliver some much needed change. This year's conference aims to evaluate the opportunities for success and the key factors that will be critical for India moving forward," the organisers said in an email to dna.

What is WIEF?
19-year-old WIEF is one of the largest India-focused business conferences which provide a platform for thought leaders to discuss the opportunities present to India and the challenges that need to be addressed. The forum, a two-day event, includes a competition of start-ups, panel discussion and keynote speeches. It is attended by over 500 people across the world. February 21 is declared as the India day by the mayor of Philadelphia. Unlike two-day's event, this time it's just one-day event.

What had happened in 2013?
The organisers had then said that while they stood by the decision to invite Modi, adverse reactions from among the stakeholders involved had prompted the decision. "Our team felt that the potential polarising reactions from sub-segments of the alumni base, student body and our supporters might put Mr Modi in a compromising position, which we would like to avoid at all costs," the statement said.

"We do not endorse any political views and do not support any specific ideology. Our goal as a team is only to stimulate valuable dialogue on India's growth story," the statement said.

The move was followed by a petition of a group of Wharton's professors and students who wrote a strongly-worded letter saying they were outraged to learn that Modi had been invited as a speaker. "This is the same politician who was refused a diplomatic visa by the United States State Department on March 18, 2005 on the ground that he, as Chief Minister, did nothing to prevent a series of orchestrated riots that targeted Muslims in Gujarat," their letter said.

What does BJP say now?
Madhav Bhandari, Maharashtra BJP spokesperson, said, "That phoney campaign against Narendra Modi was launched by some leftist professors who had vested interest. Modi's magnanimous win at home turf and his recent popularity at global stage has defeated the purpose of those who were behind it."

What do organisers say?
Anna Ahmad, student and one of the organisers, says, "The Wharton India Economic Forum is not a political forum. Instead, the goal of the conference is to provide a place for students and professionals to discuss opportunities in india across industries and more recently to promote entrepreneurship in India via our startup competition."

Who are this year's speakers?
Puneet Goenka, MD and CEO of the ZEE entertainment, Hital Meswani, ED of RIL are among the keynote speakers. The panellists for the 'India: delivering the dream' include Sanket Akerkar, GM, Microsoft; Shardul Shroff, managing partner, Amarchand & Mangaldas; Ramnath Balasubrmanian, partner Mckinsey. Lyricist Javed Akhtar is supposed to be a guest.

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