- Held in Mumbai, the two-day summit set the stage for groundbreaking discussions, featuring over 50 distinguished speakers
- In the much-anticipated opening session, ‘The Earth Flame Searching for Inner Peace’, celebrated Indian author, journalist, and travel writer, Pico Iyer, recounted his life in a catholic hermitage after a fire incident burned down his family home in California
- India is not a poor country anymore, and we must take bold steps in developing our foundational AI models: Dr. Manish Gupta, Senior Director at Google DeepMind
- Actors have more social responsibility because people look up to them: Veteran theatre artist and actor Amol Palekar
- When sports become a mass movement in our country, that’s when true transformation will happen: Vishwanathan Anand
NE NEWS SERVICE
MUMBAI, FEB 26
ABP Network’s Ideas of India 2025 unfolded as a spectacle of thought leadership and innovation, uniting visionaries, policymakers, and changemakers under the powerful theme, ‘Humanity’s Next Frontier’. Held in Mumbai, the two-day summit set the stage for groundbreaking discussions, featuring over 50 distinguished speakers engaging in 30 deeply relevant sessions that explored India’s transformative journey on the global stage. From tackling climate imperatives and geopolitical shifts to unlocking the potential of emerging technologies like AI, the event served as a catalyst for bold ideas and meaningful action. As India stands at the crossroads of heritage and progress, this dynamic platform reaffirmed the nation’s role as a driving force in shaping the future of the world.
In the much-anticipated opening session, ‘The Earth Flame Searching for Inner Peace’, celebrated Indian author, journalist, and travel writer, Pico Iyer, recounted his life in a catholic hermitage after a fire incident burned down his family home in California. “The very night I lost everything when my house burned down, I realized I still had the most important things. I also realized I don’t need 90% of things I accumulated; I can live more minimally. Humanity’s last frontier is really humanity’s first frontier which is what kind of invisible clarity and calm can we find to make our peace with AI and the other accelerating technologies.”
“India is not a poor country anymore, and we must take bold steps in developing our foundational AI models.”, said Dr. Manish Gupta, Senior Director at Google DeepMind, who leads AI research teams across India and Japan. Speaking on the topic ‘Transforming India with AI: Why We Need More Data’, he said, “Some assume that building foundational AI models requires hundreds of millions of dollars, but we must have the courage to take on challenges that have never been attempted before. AI is an old discipline, almost as old as computing itself. The reason ChatGPT and similar models took off is the innovation of transformer architecture, which has been key to foundational AI models.”
In the session, “The Frontiers of Science: Knowing the Unknown”, Dr. Pratima Murthy, Director, NIMHANS, said, “One in ten people suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder.” Dr. Shubha Tole, Neuroscientist and Professor at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, talked about the importance of research, saying, “Research opens minds. It’s the art of asking questions, and through this process, we uncover profound insights. Who better to solve a problem than a mind trained in research?” Dr. Jahnavi Phalkey, Founding Director of Science Gallery, Bangalore, talked about the state of research funding in our country. “Our funding system is skewed and laced with bureaucratic hurdles. The funding landscape is poorly developed and needs to be strengthened. We also need to rethink the direction of research.”
In the session titled ‘The Next Generation: Making Business Better’, Shashwat Goenka expressed how his organization identified the potential of makhana early, stating, “We discovered the market value of makhana before people even adopted it. Healthy snacking was an untapped space, and we saw the opportunity before it became mainstream.”
Speaking in the session, ‘Wah Ustads: Magic at Their Fingertips’, Taufiq Qureshi said, “During our childhood, we were given honest feedback and guidance from gurus at home. “In my house, we had already covered A to Z of percussions, A for Alla Rakha and Z for Zakir Hussain. I didn’t feel any pressure growing up. I feel fortunate that I was born in a family which has such rich musical legacy. So, very early in my career, I tried to create my own identity and music and succeeded.”
“With legacy comes responsibility, which can be overwhelming but you gradually find your voice”, said Bickram Ghosh. “I performed my first concert at the age of 9, and I was immensely praised. But when I returned home, I was debarred from performing for next 10 years so that I don’t get used to attention. In one of my early performances, I was told by someone in live audience that I didn’t perform as well as my father. My father advised that I have to create my own sound instead of following him.”
Geetanjali Vikram Kirloskar, Chairperson & MD, Kirloskar Systems Pvt. Ltd. shared a powerful narrative of resilience, leadership and legacy. Speaking in the session titled ‘Transformative Leadership — Adapting to Change,’ she reflected on her journey of steering Kirloskar Systems through adversity while upholding its vision and values. Geetanjali said, “Success comes with an enabling environment. When we brought Toyota to India, I joined my husband in that journey, supporting him in two joint ventures. After his passing, I remained committed to Kirloskar, doing everything I could for the company.”
In a session, ‘Conscious Development – Making Governance Ecologically Sensitive,’ Chief Minister of Goa Dr. Pramod Sawant, said, “There should be no VIP culture at the Kumbh Mela. Safety and amenities should be available for everyone, and they are already in place at the Kumbh.” Speaking about rumours that tourism in Goa has declined, he said, “This is not accurate. Certain influencers are attempting to shift perceptions away from Goa as a premier tourism destination. This is not the appropriate platform to discuss which influencer is responsible, but we are conducting an investigation. Goa remains a safe and clean destination, attracting visitors who come to enjoy the sun, sand, and sea. Additionally, people now visit Goa to see its temples, although previously, the main attractions were its beaches and churches. We are expanding and developing our airports and ports to accommodate both domestic and international tourists. Regarding sustainable development goals, we currently hold the fourth position and aim to reach the top by 2030.”
In the session ‘Adventures in Space – Our Place in the Universe,’ Dr. Goutam Chattopadhyay, Senior Scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Visiting Professor at Caltech, said, “There is no conspiracy theory here. NASA is not keeping Sunita Williams in space. Sunita Williams’ return was delayed due to a technical glitch, but on March 19, they will be safely back home. In fact, we are using this opportunity to explore space further.”
In the session ‘50 years on – Art, Activism, and Acting,’ acclaimed veteran theatre artist and actor Amol Palekar remarked, “Actors have more social responsibility because people look up to them. There was a trend that movie only meant for entertainment. But art or movies cannot be mindless entertainment. If you see on any channel, 90% of topics covered by media is political news, as if there’s nothing else in our lives. We are stuck in a maze of who said what. Media should take responsibility to cover other aspects of our lives which can help us to become better human beings.”
Spotlighting the need for sustainable urbanization and development, Mayank Agrawal, CEO of Gallant Group of Industries, highlighted the role of technology in reshaping infrastructure. Sharing his insights in the session “Building Sustainably – Cities of the Future,” Mayank Agrawal stated, “India’s growing population and rising demand for housing require smarter solutions. AI is already playing a significant role in construction by predicting future equipment needs based on past data. Given that construction is labour-intensive, technology can drive cost-effectiveness and improve efficiency.”
Celebrated Bollywood actress Taapsee Pannu inspired the audience with her views in the session ‘Fearless and Feisty – Telling Powerful Stories’. Taapsee remarked on the popularity of social media, stating “Don’t judge talent by their social media following. Cast actors in films because of their craft, talent, and ideology; not just because they have a huge follower count. I spend more time nurturing my talent than staying on social media. Trolling doesn’t affect me much.”
In the session titled ‘Diving into the Deep – A Decade in the Spotlight’ celebrated actress and climate change warrior Bhumi Pednekar opened up on several facets to her life. Bhumi said, “The way I look at the characters I have played is that they are women in their entirety. They are different shades of women a modern day Indian girl is. The common thing of all my characters is that they have agency. Something I really miss growing up was seeing women who didn’t fit into the bracket of conventional beauty standards are. I am genuinely fortunate and proud that my first movie was Dum Laga Ke Haisha. Usually women are defined by the rules that society expects them to be. But you don’t really have to. Women should make their own rules. I gained about 40 kilos for Dum Laga Ke Haisha but people around never judged me. So, I played the character with that confidence. Dum Laga Ke Haisha changed my life. I won’t ever want any other movie to debut.”
Celebrity Chef Ranveer Brar, said, “Coming from a small city like Lucknow has been a significant advantage for me. In such an environment, the need to prove oneself becomes second nature. Additionally, hailing from a city renowned for its rich culinary heritage has had a positive impact on me.” He was speaking in the session themed ‘What We Eat Is Who We Are: The Palate on a Plate’.
Celebrated singer and composer Papon captivated audiences during the session “Rhythm Divine: Growing Up with Music for the Soul.” He reflected on his musical journey, stating, “I was fortunate to be born into a family where music was a way of life. It was always like a mehfil at home. Delhi taught me a lot – the language, the nuances and the depth of music.”
Leading expert in foreign and national security policy, Ambassador Kurt Volker, Former U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations, and President & Founder of Alliance Strategic Advisors, LLC, shed light on ‘The New World Order – View from America’.
Discussing the developments in United States since Donald Trump assumed office, he said, “There’s a feeling of disenfranchisement that Donald Trump has capitalized on to try and bring order back to people who are feeling dislocated.” He further commented on the developing geopolitics in Asia, stating, “China is a rising power which comes across as a direct adversary for United States; but India is a rising power that comes across a friendly state with shared values. President Trump personally likes Prime Minister Narendra Modi but that doesn’t stop his transnationalism.”
Towards the end of the eventful day, Ricky Kej shares his incredible journey of winning the Grammy three times, reflecting on the emotions, and his memorable meeting with PM Modi. He went on to win hearts of the audience with a captivating performance with his team.
After a grand inaugural day, the second day of the ABP Network’s Ideas of India 2025 was marked by a confluence of even more stimulating ideas and engaging discourses, voyaging the mind, heart, and spirit towards ‘Humanity’s Next Frontier.’
The day 2 of the summit began with monk and motivational speaker Gaur Gopal Das elaborating upon the “4 N’s” of ‘Mastering the Mind – Living Our Best Lives’. Elaborating on the four ways, Gaur Gopal Das said, “The first step is to learn to neglect. Your mind is constantly asking for your attention like a child. The next important thing to understand the maturity on what to attend to and what to neglect. Some aspects need attention, others need to be ignored. Mental health will come when you learn to neglect things that don’t need to be prioritized. The second thing is to negotiate. You need to learn to negotiate with your mind like you negotiate with your child. The third N is Note it down. Journaling is powerful. Start journaling before going to sleep because otherwise you are taking your thoughts to sleep. The last one is non-judgemental observation. When you feel overwhelmed with thoughts, start classifying the chatter in your mind into thoughts and feelings.”
The next session “The Humanitarian Touch – Creating a Kinder Universe” saw social activists Bezwada Wilson, Ramon Magsaysay Awardee, and National Convener, Safai Karmachari Andolan; Satyajit Bhatkal, CEO, Paani Foundation, and Ramveer Tanwar, PondMan, Environmentalist & Brand Ambassador, GNN discuss various social issues persisting in the country.
“Women in villages still manually clean fecal matter from toilets and septic tanks. 12 people have already died since the beginning of 2025 because of this”, Bezwada Wilson, Ramon Magsaysay Awardee, and National Convener, Safai Karmachari Andolan said.
Satyajit Bhatkal, CEO, Paani Foundation said, “We created Satyamev Jayate to drive change, not for views. Over 24 episodes, we made an impact, which led us to focus on water conservation. When the show ended, we dedicated ourselves to tackling water pollution and uniting villages.”
Ramveer Tanwar, PondMan, Environmentalist & Brand Ambassador, GNN said, “Village ponds, once clean and essential, are now polluted beyond use. We used to swim in them—today, they’re dumping grounds. If this continues, future generations will only see them as garbage pits.”
Khan Sir, renowned educator and founder of Khan Global Studies & Khan GS Research Centre, spoke in the session ‘The 21st Century Indian – Learning to Survive’ on the growing issue of paper leaks and called for a transparent and streamlined examination system. “Paper leaks could be a bigger scam than Commonwealth Games”, he said and then added “One person alone cannot change a nation of 140 crore. Change must begin within us.”
Sachin Pilot, former Deputy Chief Minister of the Rajasthan Government and National General Secretary of the Indian National Congress (INC), spoke in the session titled ‘A Place in the Sun – The Next Generation Politician’. “BJP took birth after I was born. The Idea of India is greater than one statesman, one statement and one party. It is beyond one election. Voting rights doesn’t make a democracy. Strengthening democratic institutions makes a democracy. The selection process for Election Commissioner of India included the roles of Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition and Chief Justice of India. Why has the Government removed the role of Chief Justice of India from the selection process and replaced with another Union Minister?”
Speaking in the session, ‘Building Viksit Bharat – Brics, Mortar, and Much More,’ Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, said, The U.S. and India complement each other, working together as strategic partners rather than rivals. The industry is not afraid of any tariffs. India and the U.S. are democratic, interdependent nations—not competitors but complementing forces. We are force multipliers, strengthening each other. Whether it’s the American people or Indians, we are optimistic about our ties.”
Social media sensation Orhan Awatramani, popularly known as Orry, setting the tone for an unfiltered candid conversation about wealth, fame and luxury said, “Orry does it all! I attended 78 weddings till last night. It’s all fun and fancy, but after a while, how many watches, how many tours? The satisfaction fades, and boredom creeps in any pleasurable activity done without effort eventually becomes dull.”
Celebrated musicians Mehtab Ali Niazi, Mahesh Raghavan, and Nirali Kartik discussed the healing power of music during their session titled ‘Healing Power of Music, Touching the Divine Within’.
Mahesh Raghavan, Music composer spoke of his introduction to music, saying, “I grew up learning Carnatic music and the keyboard. I started when I was three and was always drawn to music. I bought an iPad just to play games, but soon realized its potential for music. Traditionally, Indian classical music had no use for synthesizers, but with an iPad, I could shift between notes seamlessly. It opened up a whole new way to explore music”.
Mehtab Niazi, Sitarist and vocalist from the Bhendi Bazar Gharana remarked, “As I grew older, I realized that music was the only thing I was truly good at, even though I tried sports and academics. Indian classical music has now moved to larger auditoriums and stadiums. With advancements in technology, we can capture even the subtlest resonances of instruments, preserving the richness of sound like never before.”
Nirali Kartik, Classical vocalist said, “My mother, a music lover, encouraged me to learn music, and thankfully, our dreams aligned. Today, many Gujaratis are taking up music and we are witnessing a cultural shift.”
Arun Kumar, Sah Sarkaryawah of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), emphasized India’s cultural values and nation-building in the session understanding RSS. He described India as an ancient, eternal, and Hindu nation, adding that understanding it requires viewing it from RSS’s perspective. Elaborating about RSS, Arun Kumar said, “We have no adversaries. In 100 years, three things have remained constant in RSS- discipline, decentralization, and cultural purity. Everything else has evolved with time. The Sangh is still young. A new generation is stepping forward, and society continues to accept our ideology. We work for the people but do not emphasize self-promotion. More work and less propaganda – that has always been our approach.”
In the session, ‘Mining the Future: Start-ups, Demographic Dividend, and Sustainability’, Ishpreet Singh Gandhi, Founder of Stride Ventures and StrideOne, shared insights into the investor-startup ecosystem in India, stating, “The founder and the team around is what makes an idea unique. It is about understanding the founder and his journey. We tried understanding the use cases of the businesses. Sometimes investors community also has some herd mentality. Post pandemic, everyone thought technology was the answer to all challenges and would revolutionize all sectors including agriculture, edtech, etc. This was a global trend. Then came the aspect of profitability and business model. Profitability-first business model approach returned.”
Sharing about his entrepreneurial journey, co-panellist Sneh R Vaswani, Co-Founder and CEO of Miko, said, “For the first two and half years, we had zero revenue, 23 product pilots with 50,000 children. Incrementally, our product became better. Beyond a point only execution matters. I have observed a common pattern in all investors who have invested in us, which showed they had entrepreneurial experience and could relate to our business journey.”
Co-panellist Anurag Kedia, Co-Founder, Pilgrim, added to the conversation, saying, “I believe execution is more important than idea. There should be the willingness to learn all the time for a founder. We are in the golden age of start-ups. This is probably the best time to build business in India. Honesty is very important when you pitch to investors. We should be transparent in disclosing our business details to investors and updating them regularly.”
Rochita Dey, Director, Sreeleathers Ltd., participated in the session ‘Understanding the Indian Consumer – Diversity and Inclusion, sharing her journey as a business woman. “When I was younger, there was a stereotype about women in business. While times have changed, the bias still exists. A male counterpart in the boardroom might confidently claim credit for 20% of the work while a woman might hesitate to acknowledge even 80% of her contribution.”
In the session, Fitness First – All the Right Moves, Krishna Shroff, Founder, Matrix Fight Night and Nikita Dutta, actor, shared their secrets to good health, nutrition and fitness.
“You are never going to look as good as you feel and you are never going to feel as good as you look. I eat everything but practice portion control. You can enjoy a Gulab Jamun, just keep it to one. Balance is key. I have tried all kinds of diets, but what has worked for me is portion control.” said Krishna Shroff, Founder, Matrix Fight Night
Nikita Dutta, actor, said, “At this point, everybody has mental health issues in the world we live in. Nobody is completely sane, but we are trying. It will take some time for the taboo around mental health to dissipate. Aesthetics and fitness are distinct; don’t mix the two.”
Shashi Tharoor, Author, Politician, and Former International Diplomat spoke on the subject of “The Great Indian Migration – What Now in the World of Walls?” Talking about the current state of migrations, Dr. Tharoor further said, “India’s growth story remains a paradox—while the economy expands, rising unemployment and crises like drug addiction in Punjab are eroding hope. When people in India are desperate to leave, it signals a deeper crisis. The lure of foreign shores is due to rising unemployment. They see no future in a land they once called home. We should not stay silent about how our people are treated abroad. Migrants work endless hours in exploitative conditions. To break the cycle, we need real change in investment, employment, and entrepreneurship. People should feel confident about their future here. Migration should be a choice, not a necessity, where success is celebrated, not just an aspirational dream.”
Prof. Ashwani Mahajan, Author, Columnist, and National Co-convenor of Swadeshi Jagran Manch and Dr. Ashima Goyal, Economist, Professor at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research, Mumbai, and Member of India’s Monetary Policy Committee, spoke on the subject “The Growth Accelerator Club: Making the Right Choices.” Prof. Ashwani Mahajan said, “In last 10 years, we have done well in reducing multidimensional poverty, which is recognized by UNDP. Some global reports are part of deep state and there’s a conspiracy to make India appear as poor.”
Dismissing perception about poverty in India, Dr. Ashima Goyal, added, “We were struggling to reduce poverty since independence; now poverty is down from 30% to 5%. There is a transformation in the Indian Jobs market and we are not recognizing it. Before pandemic, our growth rate was very volatile. In the past 4 years, policy was counter cyclical. For past three years, our growth rate averaged 8.3%. In the period of high growth, job creation multiplied and we recorded 10% growth in jobs. When we have policies that keep growth high and counters shock, businesses feel that growth will sustain and they will employ more people.”
Celebrated actor Aamir Khan spoke about his dream to make Mahabharat in a session titled “60 and Not Done- The Screen and Spotlight”. He added, “Cinema and storytelling transcend language and territorial barriers. Ironically, piracy made me a star in China! ‘3 Idiots’ went viral there because of piracy. The credit goes to the Chinese audience for accepting a film from a different culture and giving it love and respect. It was all organic and I had no role to play in it.”
Kriti Kharbanda, actress, and Cyrus Broacha, comedian, actor, host, and columnist, discussed the ‘The Power of Social Media – Navigating Celebritydom’ exploring the fine line between freedom of expression and online scrutiny, the evolving nature of digital interactions, and the impact of social media on personal and professional lives.
On regulating YouTube content, Kriti questioned the practicality of policing online platforms. “You can’t regulate every camera. What about what is happening behind the camera, on the internet, or in people’s minds? People shouldn’t bring filth back home – that’s what should be regulated. But how far can we go?”
Cyrus added, “Why is ‘India’s Got Lalent’ getting so much hype? People watch it, so how many can we police? That’s the real question.” And, on the recent Ranveer Allahbadia controversy, Cyrus said, “They are not confirmed criminals.”
Dr. (Prof.) Venki Ramakrishnan Nobel Prize-winning Biologist, and Former President, The Royal Society spoke on “The Science of Ageing- The Yearning for Immortality”, stating, “Death itself is a peculiar phenomenon, millions of our cells are dying even as we sit here. We have a natural limit to our lifespan, with the longest recorded being 122 years by Jeanne Calment. No one has lived beyond 120. While the number of centenarians, those over 100, has been increasing, the number of supercentenarians (above 110) has remained stagnant. Aging is essentially the accumulation of changes and damage that lead to increased dysfunction over time.”
The closing session of the 2-day long Ideas of India 2025 had four of India’s legendary sports person, Leander Paes, Indian Olympic Medalist, Grand Slam Winner, International Tennis Hall of Fame member, and Entrepreneur, Founder of Flying Man Ventures; Prakash Padukone, All England Open Badminton Champion, Padma Shri and Arjuna Awardee; Viswanathan Anand, 5-time World Chess Champion, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri and Arjuna Awardee; Geet Sethi, 6-Time World Champion of Billiards/Snooker and Founder of Olympic Gold Quest; Leander Paes, Indian Olympic Medalist, Grand Slam Winner, International Tennis Hall of Fame member, and Entrepreneur, Founder of Flying Man Ventures participated in the session, “The Pioneers – Breaking all Barriers”.
Sharing his concern on the state of Tennis, Leander Paes said, “I am concerned about tennis. Our association is currently facing the Supreme Court. We should learn from what the BCCI has done for cricket and follow its model of establishing hundreds of cricket clubs in every region of India. We should also commend Khelo India, as ₹1500 crores have been allocated for it. That’s not just a sports budget; that’s specifically a Khelo India budget.”
Talking about Olympics, Prakash Padukone, said, “We have abundant talent in the country, but many previously lacked opportunities. Over the last 15 years, this has changed significantly. The sports federations must be professionalized. Talent is not the issue, nor is funding a problem now. The government is doing its part, and people are receiving support, but it is crucial that sports federations become more involved. These federations need to operate like corporations. Federations control the sports. It is their responsibility to encourage and promote sports.”
Talking about Olympics, Viswanathan Anand, said, “In India, I work to identify talent and provide them with all the resources they need. Winning medals will inspire more people to take up sports as a career option. When sports become a mass movement in our country, that’s when true transformation will happen. Currently, we are competitive in sports but often miss out narrowly. We shouldn’t be satisfied with these close misses; that’s how we will grow as a sporting nation. In India, federations should be reformed to become more accommodating and spontaneous. Many chess players have started their own academies.”
Speaking about how India can do better at Olympics, 6 time world champion of billiards Geet Sethi said, “The reason why we are not producing Olympic level sportspersons is that sports in India don’t have the money for the talent to be nurtured. Socioeconomics, genetics, and subconscious self-belief are the three things which will drive India to sporting excellence. Today, each member of the Olympic contingent is more confident which was not the case before.”
ABP Network’s Ideas of India 2025 once again proved to be a powerful confluence of perspectives, bringing together visionaries, policymakers, industry leaders, and changemakers to engage in thought-provoking dialogues on India’s future. The two-day summit offered insightful discussions on geopolitics, economy, technology, science, sports, and culture, reaffirming India’s position as a global thought leader. With a focus on innovation, resilience, and progress, the event fostered collaborative ideas and actionable insights to shape India’s trajectory towards Viksit Bharat 2047. As diverse voices resonated across the forum, the summit underscored India’s potential to lead on the world stage, inspiring individuals, industries, and institutions to drive impactful change.
The ABP Network’s Ideas of India 2025, centred on the theme ‘Humanity’s Next Frontier’, convenes thought leaders and innovators to explore the challenges and opportunities in India’s ascendance in a rapidly changing world. In the face of climate change, geopolitical conflicts, and technological advancements like AI, the summit delved into India’s role as both an ancient civilisation and a demographic powerhouse in shaping the future. The two-day summit brings together a confluence of ideas from global thought leaders, intellectuals, and change-makers, covering transformative possibilities in science, medicine, social contracts, and global leadership, with experts from diverse fields offering bold visions of a better, more sustainable world for all.
