• Five distinguished speakers spoke about the path to Viksit Bharat-challenges and solutions.

An esamskriti author sent me a message of a talk at Dehradun titled, ‘Bharat: Visha Guru ki Rah Par’ on 28/3/2025 at Dehradun. The topic got me interested so I requested him for a U tube recording. I heard the recording and reproduce thoughts of learned speakers.

The panel discussion was organised by Doon Library and Research Centre, Chintan Research Foundation and Indian Institute of Public Administration, Uttarakhand Chapter. The speakers were –

1. Shri Anand Bardhan, Chief Secretary, Uttarakhand Government.

2. Shri Amitabh Kant, former CEO of the NITI Aayog and G20 Sherpa.

3. Rajeev Kher, former Commerce Secretary, Government of India, and Member, Competition.

4. Shri Shankar Agarwal, former Secretary Urban Development, Govt of India.

5. Moderator Shishir Priyadarshi Former Director WTO and President Chintan Research

I tried to capture the words of the respected speakers by listening to video. Any errors in reproducing thoughts are only mine. To hear video 1 hour

First was a book release of latest book co-authored by Shri Amitabh Kant. It is titled ‘Smarter Than The Storm: Championing the AI-Climate Nexus for a Truly Sustainable Future’ and can be bought online here

Shri Anand Bardhan’s thoughts

Uttarakhand is deeply rooted in India’s spiritual ethos. This spirituality existed for thousands of years. The world looked to India for guidance and wisdom.

We are looking to reviving the state by combining spirituality with modern economics.

In an evolving world order India is a dynamic nation- the fastest growing major economy, has a demographic advantage, voice in global affairs, becoming stronger and more respected. During Covid we saw power of India.

If India has to become a Vishwa Guru (VG), not as a dominant power but as a guide, our institutions of higher learning centres must become centres of global education. India’s cultural richness being its soft power needs to used. Thus, cultural diplomacy assumes importance. India is also the world’s biggest democracy. Democratic Institutions strengthen its credibility globally. India is a Union of States thus both Centre and States need to contribute.

In this context, Uttarakhand can contribute. It is the spiritual heartland of India. Has both spiritual and meditation sites.

The role of Knowledge Institutions are important. They can bridge the gap between policy, society and academia.

Modern knowledge with tradition will define India’s leadership in the world.

The role of Youth is important. They are both confident and innovative.

During Q&A Shri Bardhan said it is important for citizens to have civic sense too. Government is changing but citizens must be responsible too.

My short comment: India cannot have academic centres of educational excellence attracting students from across the world if Reservations plays such an important part in our education system.

Shri A Kant’s thoughts

It is not feasible to be a VG till we have lifted large segments of the population about the poverty line. Our per capita income very low. So, economy size has to grow to 30 trillion economy. This means 8.5% growth for three decades. Very few countries did this for e.g. Japan, South Korea and China. Most countries were caught in the middle income trap.

India requires the ability to govern well for which we require political will. India has moved from top 5 to top 4 economy in the world because of structural reforms like Insolvency Code, RERA and reduction in corporate taxes reduced. We gave Indians a Digital Identity – all digital in 30 seconds to 1 minute. 91% of Indian women today have a bank account. All based on Open Source architecture.

India has also built lot of infrastructure - 40 million houses, water connectivity to 253 million households and electricity connection to 30 million. We now attempt to go green. Decarbonization - 260 GWH of renewal energy.

India must use Technology to leapfrog-AI, Green Hydrogen etc. We must bring back manufacturing.

1. For manufacturing to increase from 16 to 25% exports has to be driver. AND

2. Atleast 12 states need to grow at 10%. While the west and south ok, the eastern part of India lags. We need Agriculture productivity to grow in a big way. For that need Human Development. Use AI-technology to leapfrog.

We can do so because India is very young unlike the West. The youth need to be chief drivers of growth.

During Q&A Shri Kant said – India has to grow in conflict i.e. the challenge. Earlier one could import, value add and export. That value chain is disrupted now so becoming another China is tough.

India needs another strategy for growth.

The world will see the biggest growth because of AI and Open Sourcing. It will transform lives of every global citizen. We must use technology to leapfrog. We missed the semiconductor bus earlier but are catching up. India has young demographics. No country does all things right. He ended by saying there is a huge opportunity for India.

Shri Rajiv Kher thoughts (trade expert)

Our dream must be to reach a point in the global community where people would take India more seriously than today. It means bigger share of golden trade.

Material prosperity is important if India is to be considered VG. We must have capacity to leverage or else the global community may not choose India as the arbitrator. Civilizational heft not enough. We have done a lot in the last few years.

But India has been walking in jerks-one fine morning India becomes protectionist and conservative. It suddenly changes tack without understanding impact

By way of background, international trade was driven by a rules based order. Initially GATT. In 1994 came WTO (World Trade Organization). Sadly, due to global political changes we moved from open door to closed, bipolar world- unipolar-multipolar world. Today, trade is perhaps the most complicated issue in world economics – subject to a variety of treatment by countries.

For a developing country like India, trade architecture is multi trade-rules based order. Sadly, right from 1994 WTO based on a consensus mechanism – political dynamics changing-created a situation where consensus rarely happens. To be a VG, India has to create an environment for consensus.

Sadly, the positions India takes has not helped in last ten years. Thus, India is a leader of global south today is less than what it was years ago.

Thus, WTO become dysfunctional. India promoted regionalization of trade but India is a reluctant liberaliser (1991 was compulsion). Between 2014 to 2021 it was important for India to have a FTA. India must export-become competitive-increase scale of production-more volumes means lower cost. Bangladesh took advantage in the textile sector while India did not.  

We need to change our reluctance to opening up. If productivity improves, a great future lies ahead. Imports essential part of exports.

Now suddenly seven FTA in last 3 years, esp. the one with EU. Remember that customs duty cut is not enough-there are a whole of non-tariff areas for e.g. quality of product. Manufacturers have to imbibe high quality and standard, that idea has to be absorbed- this is the second challenge.

Third challenge–Sustainability. Trade and Sustainability moving slowly by India. Now problems will start. EU wants sustainability dimensions to be adopted.

India needs investments to cater to its own market and export to the world. We need to be part of global value chain for e.g. how Apple transformed manufacturing eco system.

India needs to build on some areas for e.g. agriculture i.e. where reform process comes in.

Shri Kher brought out the complexity of global trade.

Shri Shankar Agarwal thoughts (expert on Urban Development)

We have created an example where people are stable.

Japan, South Korea, China developed because of technology. Harness technology – then only can be become developed. Young people to harness technology for benefit of all.

Challenges faced by India inspite of growth - Large number people poor, Lack of education, good quality health care, Water Supply not good for e.g. recent Indore deaths. Unless we are willing to change, we cannot be developed.

1. Education- without improvement there will be no demographic divided. AI can play important role in this change.

2. Health care- Better in the South than North. Technology can help.

3. People do not pay Income-Tax.

4. India has lots of Inequality

5. Find a way to deal with migration from rural to urban so improve cities infrastructure – water, homes, health.

6. Create Models and give to the world. One time we were good in Urban Planning.

My Comments in brief

None talked about why we were considered Vishwa Guru at some point. None talked about how India can regain that place again. None talked about export of Yoga, Ayurveda and Spirituality. The focus was on Viksit Bharat. I appreciate the importance of growth and material prosperity but that was not the program title.

India should aim to be VISHWA MITRA (world’s friend) not VISHWA GURU. What that means and how is the subject matter of another article.

Also read

1. How India can realize potential Hindustan Times and eSamskriti

2. Make in India and Make for the World