Experiences of Globalization have created some side effects. Though the world poised for an economic recovery, the subterranean pressures and turbulences continue to rock the society. Challenges from Naxalites to Terrorists to Cyber ‘Leaks’ have confronted our policy makers. Business firms cannot remain immune to it. Further in the era of the shrinking State, corporate hegemony marches forward and has implications for emerging economies. The TRIPS agreement, ever increasing sweat shops among others, stand as examples to this. The counter reactions from the society have resulted in violent manifestations like in Nandigram and Kalinga Nagar etc. At the same time, the rise of click and mortar models seem to replace traditional business models. Capillary action models, Peer production like Wikipedia, open business models all unheard few years before now present new opportunities.

A further fundamental change on the horizon is the rise of India’s soft power. Though economic warfare has replaced conventional wars, India’s unique contribution to Global society in general and US in particular, from Swami Vivekananda (Spiritual tradition) to Mahatma Gandhi (Social action) the Emergence of Knowledge Professionals in the current era, is of a soft power trickling up to the upper echelons of the society. While once neglected, Indian Management thoughts are now attracting serious attention even among the Western thinkers.

While we remain uncertain over the turn of the events in future, it would be interesting to explore the future directions of the interfaces of the global society; economy and polity. The conference attempts to provide a common platform for scholars, students, corporate practitioners and activists in seeking the answers for the emergent challenges posed before India's upward thrust in the knowledge era