- Priti Adani calls for India’s civilisational heritage to be translated into practical solutions for suffering, inequality, conflict and sustainability
- “Knowledge gives us the power to change the world. Wisdom assures us that we change it for the better,” she says
- Jeffrey D. Sachs traces India’s rising share of global output and examines the emergence of a multipolar world
- Vivek Aggarwal highlights how artificial intelligence can help decipher ancient scriptures and make traditional knowledge accessible
- Bharat Knowledge Graph, backed by a $10-million Adani Group commitment, aims to support interdisciplinary research and 14 doctoral scholars
NE SPIRITUAL BUREAU
VARANASI, NOV 2
Can the wisdom of ancient civilisations offer answers to the crises confronting the modern world? A global symposium in Varanasi has placed that question at the centre of an important intellectual conversation, calling for the country’s rich heritage of knowledge to move beyond preservation and become a living resource for addressing human suffering, inequality, conflict and sustainability.
Making a compelling case for connecting India’s civilisational inheritance with contemporary challenges, Priti Adani, Chairperson of the Adani Foundation, said ancient knowledge acquired its true value when its relevance could be translated into meaningful improvements in people’s lives.
“Ancient wisdom does not become valuable simply because it is ancient. It becomes valuable when we discover its relevance to contemporary problems,” she said in her keynote address at the inaugural session of The World Symposium on “Ancient Wisdom for Modern Challenges” in Varanasi on Monday.
“Knowledge gives us the power to change the world. Wisdom assures us that we change it for the better,” she added.
From preservation to practical application
Drawing upon the philosophical traditions of different civilisations, Adani referred to Greek philosopher Aristotle and his ideas on human flourishing; Lord Buddha and his teachings on suffering; and ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius, whose principles emphasised ethical conduct, moral responsibility and social harmony.
She connected these traditions with India’s Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam — the world is one family — arguing for a broader application of civilisational knowledge to improve lives and advance sustainable development.
Reflecting on three decades of community development work, Adani emphasised that progress must ultimately be measured by its impact on people. She described seva, or selfless service, as listening to communities and enabling them to shape their own futures.
Established in 1996, the Adani Foundation, the Adani Group’s social development arm, works across 7,000 villages in 22 states and has impacted 13 million lives, according to the organisation.
Technology as a bridge to the past
Adani also highlighted the Bharat Knowledge Graph, backed by a $10-million commitment from the Adani Group. The initiative seeks to make India’s civilisational knowledge accessible for interdisciplinary research and supports 14 doctoral scholars.
The emphasis on technology as an enabler of knowledge preservation and discovery also emerged in the address by Vivek Aggarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
Highlighting the enduring strength of India’s civilisation, Aggarwal underlined the potential of artificial intelligence to help unlock the country’s vast intellectual heritage.
“Artificial intelligence can help decipher ancient scriptures, deepen our understanding of their wisdom and make India’s civilisational knowledge more accessible and relevant to future generations,” he said.
India’s changing place in a multipolar world
In his address, titled “The Return of a Multipolar World”, Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs, President of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network and Director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University, examined the shifting balance of global economic power and India’s expanding role.
Tracing India’s share of global output, Sachs cited its rise from 5.2% in 2000 to 8.5% in 2026. He projected that the country’s share could reach 13.1% by 2050 and 15.1% by 2100.
He also outlined the changing economic balance towards Asia and Africa, projecting that the combined share of the United States, Canada and Europe could decline to 13.7% by 2100.
Sachs acknowledged the scale of the work undertaken by the Adani Group and the Adani Foundation in sustainable development in India and internationally. During a subsequent interaction, he described the Adani Group as one of the major drivers of change and progress in India, referring to its role in the country’s infrastructure expansion and economic growth.
Business legacy carries social responsibility
Sachs also reflected on the responsibilities associated with carrying a family name in business. Contrasting family-led enterprises with corporations driven primarily by shareholder returns, he observed that businesses carrying a family name also carried its heritage and an obligation to consider what they contributed to society.
His observations widened the discussion beyond India’s economic transformation to the larger question of corporate responsibility and social contribution.
Earlier, Dr Nirupam Bajpai, Senior Research Scholar at Columbia University’s Center for Sustainable Development, opened the inaugural session. He conveyed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s best wishes for the symposium and highlighted Varanasi’s historic role as a meeting ground of ideas and spiritual traditions.
The Varanasi symposium is part of an international series that began in Greece, with meetings in Athens in 2022 and Stagira in 2023, followed by gatherings in Qufu and Beijing, China, in 2024. Its central theme brings together civilisational heritage, contemporary research, technology and the search for solutions to present-day global challenges.
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Caption 2: Priti Adani receives a memento from Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs (left) and Dr Nirupam Bajpai during the World Symposium on “Ancient Wisdom for Modern Challenges” in Varanasi on Monday. — NE Photo