The Untouchables : Three Generation of Triumph over Torment

When the Unthinkable and Impossible Become Inevitable

Some things seem impossible, but are not only possible – they are inevitable. This is the story of three Untouchables – my grandmother, my father, and myself – doing many things that should have been impossible. However, sometimes doing the impossible is part of your destiny.

I was born an Untouchable in a village in India...

Best known for his brilliant work, Professor Solomon Darwin is the Director of the Garwood Center for Corporate Innovation at the Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley. He is an international speaker recognized by peers, executives and students with numerous awards for his innovative leadership and passion for teaching. He inspires students across disciplines teaching courses in Open Innovation, Business Models, Building Smart Cities, Scalable Smart Villages and Business Models for Emerging Economies.

Before joining Berkeley-Haas in 2005, he was an Associate Professor for nine years at the Marshall School of Business, University of Southern California, Los Angeles.

His progressive corporate leadership experience covers a span of 14 years as a Senior Executive Officer at Bank of America, First Interstate Bank and Glendale Federal Bank and Motorola.

Professor Darwin is a frequent visiting lecturer in Executive Programs at prominent international universities and institutions. To date, he has conducted workshops and programs in over 18 countries. He also serves as an honorary professor at several universities in Europe, China, and India. Known as the “Father of the Smart Village Movement,” he has developed scalable business models that support rural village markets by aligning global brands, startups, and local cottage industries to form a better future. He has worked with the Government of India in Andhra Pradesh and with many Silicon Valley startups and global corporations including Google, IBM, Ericsson, PayPal, and Cisco to make the Smart Village Movement a reality.

The story of his birth and the amazing rise of his family has, until now, never been revealed. It is a story of hope and faith, persistence, and perseverance against all the odds. And like all the best stories, it has a happy ending and an important lesson for everyone.

"I was born an Untouchable in a village in India..."