New Delhi: Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar emphasised that leadership must be deeply connected to nationalism, stating that the nation must always remain at the centre to serve the greater good. He further proposed the need for initiatives such as "Research in India, Innovate in India, and Design in India," adding that economic nationalism is essential for India’s growth. Expressing concern over the large-scale export of Indian raw materials, he urged stakeholders to develop economic ethics, ensuring that raw materials are not exported without value addition.
Addressing the Indian School of Business Leadership Summit 2024 in Mohali, the Vice-President underscored that India’s rise on the global stage would lead to global peace, stability, and harmony. He highlighted that India’s century is not driven by a desire for hegemony or domination but is instead focused on global public good. Stating that India needs the next generation of leaders to drive innovation and change, he emphasised the importance of creating leaders who can find Indian solutions to both Indian and global challenges and build partnerships to address everyday problems faced by the nation.
The Vice-President also expressed concern about the dangers of indoctrination, likening it to "giving hard sugar to a diabetic patient." He warned that such indoctrination is creating enemies of the nation from outside by making their lives more affordable. He cautioned against the growing trend of young leaders being manipulated through fellowships, visiting programmes, and university affiliations, noting that many are being brainwashed and indoctrinated.
Dhankhar stressed the importance of integrating nationalism into leadership training programmes, urging institutions to make it a core component of their curricula. He said that nationalism should be the foremost part of any leadership curriculum, as it equips individuals to stand firm against external influences and neutralise negative forces.
The Vice-President also highlighted India’s unique position as the only country with a constitutionally structured democracy that extends to the village and municipal levels. He remarked, "India is the only nation that has a constitutionally structured democracy at the village and municipal levels, while most nations have legislatures only at the state and central levels."
He went on to highlight the global relevance of Indian talent, stating that Indian human resources are dominating the global discourse, with Indian corporate leaders driving significant interest worldwide. Dhankhar also pointed to India's transformation over the past decade, noting its growth into a $4 trillion economy with 8% growth potential, the expansion of infrastructure including four new airports, the construction of one metro system each year, the opening of 500 million bank accounts in record time, and the facilitation of 6.5 billion digital transactions every month.
He emphasised that governance in India is now guided by transparency and accountability, creating an ecosystem in which the youth can fully harness their talents, as power corridors have been cleansed of corrupt elements. Addressing the youth as future leaders, he urged them to serve the nation with full dedication and to be ambassadors of economic nationalism.
Gulab Chand Kataria, Governor of Punjab, Rakesh Bharti Mittal, Vice-Chairman of Bharti Enterprises, Madan Pillutla, Dean of the Indian School of Business, and other dignitaries were also present at the event.
BI Bureau
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