The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay is organising an Institute Colloquium on Thursday, February 27, 2025.
 
The details of the lecture are provided below:
 

Title: "Indian Cultural Values, Inclusive Development and Realizing the Vision of Viksit Bharat"
 
Speaker: Shri Sanjeev Sanyal, Author, Economist and Member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India
 

About the Speaker:
Shri Sanjeev Sanyal (born 27 August 1970) is an Indian economist and popular historian. A member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India, he has helped prepare six editions of the Economic Survey of India and has represented India at G7 and OECD meetings. He is also the Chancellor of Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, and has written several books on Indian history to mixed reviews.

Speaker's webpage:  http://www.sanjeevsanyal.com/

Abstract:
In this talk, the speaker will share about how Indian cultural values and rich history can inform about the vision of Viksit Bharat and ways of realizing the vision of Viksit Bharat.

Viksit Bharat: Lessons from History, Vision for the Future

India stands at the crossroads of its civilizational journey, poised to transition into a developed country, Viksit Bharat, by 2047, the independence centenary. This is not merely an economic vision but a larger civilizational renaissance that incorporates history lessons with a futuristic vision for the future. The talk, Viksit Bharat: Lessons from History, Vision for the Future, will trace India's historical trajectory, examining the pattern of rise, survival, and reinvention typical of the history of the subcontinent over two millennia. It will next identify a vision of the future, premised upon economic reform, cultural reassertion, geopolitics, and innovations in governance, that would make India an international leader. 

Lessons from History: A Civilizational Perspective 

In order to fashion the future, one must have a grasp on the past. India's history is not a tale of only colonial rule but a saga of survival, creativity, and accommodating administration. Dominant themes operate in India's experience that lie at the centre of understanding the country's course of development: 

Economic Dynamism of Ancient India: Contrary to colonial legend, India was an economic superpower of the world for all but a short period of human history. The city planning of the Indus Valley Civilization through the Mauryan and Gupta empires' economic systems, India contributed substantially to global commerce and trade. The Chola Sea Empire, the Vijayanagar economy system, and Bengal Presidency economy before British policy demolished them are economics lessons in sustained wealth creation. 

Decentralized Governance and Institutional Resilience: India's governance structures have historically been a combination of decentralized and centralized structures. The success of local self-governance in ancient republics like Vaishali and the effective management of temple economies demonstrate the efficacy of decentralized power structures. These historical lessons inform today's push towards cooperative federalism and grassroot development. 

Technological Innovation and Knowledge Traditions: From the invention of the decimal system to metallurgical, astronomical, and medical breakthroughs, India's knowledge system has propelled world development. Nalanda and Takshashila, the early universities, were multidisciplinary excellence centers that demonstrated that investment in education and knowledge pays long-term civilizational dividends. 

Resilience against Colonial Disruptions: India was deindustrialized systematically in the colonial period, but entrepreneurship did not get shattered. Swadeshi and indigenous industrialization movements formed the foundation for post-independence economic policies.  

Vision for the Future: Towards Viksit Bharat 2047 

Learnt from the past, the next question is how does India move towards Viksit Bharat? This vision rests on five pillars: 

Economic Reforms and Growth Trajectories: India's development has to be powered by productivity-driven growth, infrastructure spending, and the deepening of the financial markets. Atmanirbhar Bharat's (self-reliant India) contribution toward mitigation of external shocks and enabling international competitiveness. Manufacturing development policies (PLI schemes), digital economy, and green transitions towards sustainable growth. 

Strategic Geopolitical Positioning: India has to use its strategic location to emerge as a global supply chain hub, an Indo-Pacific power, and a Global South leader. Consolidating diplomacy with trade pacts, digital infrastructure partnerships, and international governance institution memberships. 

Cultural Reaffirmation and Soft Power: A progressive India is not only an economic power but a civilizational one too. Revitalizing indigenous systems of knowledge, revival of Sanskrit and Indian languages, and reassertion of India as the center of ideas on philosophy, ethics, and ecologically aware living. Sharpening India's cultural industries—yoga, Ayurveda, classical arts to be a global brand identity. 

Governance Reforms and Institutional Modernization: Reviving the productivity of the bureaucracy by redirecting governance in an online platform, AI-aided policymaking, and demedicalization of retrograde law. Judicious judicial effectiveness through legal renewal, alternative grievance redressal, and technology-enabled case management. Strength at the roots of democracy by effective urban planning, strong local governments, and people's participation in governance. 

Scientific and Technological Innovation: India needs to leverage its space, quantum computing, AI, and biotechnology strengths. Increasing R&D expenditure, promoting academia-industry interface, and investment in deep-tech start-ups. The need for India's Silicon Valley to drive global innovations, and an education transformation to create a 21st-century skilled workforce. 

The Road Ahead: Viksit Bharat 2047 

The path to Viksit Bharat is not so much about economic statistics or growth rates of GDP but about developing an environment where human potential can be unleashed. The change entails: 

A Growth Mindset: Shifting from a lack mentality to a self-confidence-driven nation that plays on the world stage. Public-Private Synergy: Government policies should facilitate, not stifle, entrepreneurial thinking. A People-Oriented Strategy: Development has to be inclusive and ensure that India's emergence lifts all segments of society.