Prior to the founding of Gateway House, Kripalani was India Bureau chief of Businessweek magazine from 1996 to 2009. During her extensive career in journalism (Businessweek, Worth and Forbes magazines, New York), she has won several awards, including the Gerald Loeb Award, the George Polk Award, Overseas Press Club and Daniel Pearl Awards.
Kripalani was the 2006-07 Edward R. Murrow Press Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, New York, which inspired her to found Gateway House.
Her political career spans being the deputy press secretary to Steve Forbes during his first run in 1995-96 as Republican candidate for U.S. President in New Jersey, to being press secretary for the Lok Sabha campaign for independent candidate Meera Sanyal in 2008 and 2014 in Mumbai.
Kripalani holds two bachelor’s degrees from Bombay University (Bachelor of Law, Bachelor of Arts in English and History) and a master's degree in International Affairs from Columbia University, New York.
She sits on the executive board of Gateway House and is a member of the Rotary Club of Bombay.
She tweets at @ManjeetKrip
Image credits: Sunhil Sippy
Foreign policy in the 21st century is underpinned by economic issues, in contrast to the 20th century when global politics and security aspects dominated diplomacy. Dammu Ravi, Secretary (Economic Relations), Government of India, discusses Indian diplomacy and how it navigates the G7 and BRICS, the opportunities and challenges for strengthening the Neighbourhood First policy in South Asia, and the country’s evolving economic diplomacy.
The events of August 5 turned Bangladesh from a development model to unstable entity. A variety of players have been stirring trouble in the country, from within and without. Great powers and neighbours, NGOs and the diaspora, Islamist groups and armed forces. All these are entangled in the U.S.-China geopolitical rivalry that Bangladesh seems to be caught in.
India’s new government has to navigate the nation through a world in turmoil. Will its successful foreign policy continue? Or will there have to be shifts and changes to accommodate new realities?
The result of India’s national elections will be out June 4. An eight-day, four-state road trip revealed hotly contested elections where the central issue is competitive and elaborate welfare schemes versus further development and a future for youth. There’s lots of money sloshing around, making elections as lucrative as wedding parties, and plenty of political and family splits for a soap opera.
The Golden Visa, an investment-for-residence offered by 100 countries, is a status symbol for the wealthy and their investments. Now governments are discovering it is also a safe hideout for tax evaders and money launderers, and several countries that offer it are no longer as attractive to live in. High net worth Indians who have enjoyed the status, may be better off investing at home in GIFT City.
Sikkim is India’s second smallest state, yet one of its best, with twice the nation’s GDP. It is surrounded by three of India’s neighbours – China, Bhutan and Nepal – making it one of the country’s most strategic regions. Yet its geopolitical positioning and ongoing border aggression by China have not affected Sikkim's calm or confidence: it is still defined by its beauty and its good governance.
Emerging middle powers like India, Brazil and South Africa are articulating their interests on the global stage with growing assertiveness. Manjeet Kripalani, Executive Director, Gateway House, joins Abhijit Chavda on his eponymous podcast to discuss changing dynamics between the West and the Global South, and how western and emerging middle powers can collaborate on shared priorities like multilateral reform, technology transfer and international trade.
Artificial Intelligence is a transformative technology offering developmental opportunities for marginalised communities across developing and emerging countries. However, the costs of AI access through private platforms are becoming exclusionary, negating these opportunities. It is critical to make the advantages of AI available to all. The G20 nations can invest in open source technology and create an AI Stack similar to the India Stack, for public benefit.
Ameen Sayani was India’s most favourite and recognised voice on the radio. He upturned post-Partition Indian bureaucratic orthodoxy with his shows on Hindi film songs, delighting his listeners for decades. His was also a mission in nation-building. To Gateway House, he was a fellow traveller, friend and loved neighbour.
On December 1, 2023, India will hand over the G20 Presidency to Brazil. The G20 troika will now comprise the three IBSA countries – India, Brazil, South Africa – till November 2025. This trio has an agenda in common and with the G20, such as multilateral reform, energy transitions and digitalisation. IBSA should use its mechanisms and natural solidarity to advance the interests of the Global South.
