Written by Governor of Uttarakhand, Lt Gen Gurmit Singh (Retd) PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, VSM
The world today stands at an inflection point. Our universities must become places where ideas are transformed into innovation and where young Indians are encouraged to solve the problems of tomorrow. Humanity has achieved extraordinary scientific progress, yet it continues to struggle with some of its most fundamental questions. Global conflicts persist despite unprecedented diplomatic engagement. Climate change has become a shared global reality despite universal recognition of its dangers. Artificial Intelligence, quantum computing, cyber technologies and space exploration are redefining the boundaries of possibility, while societies everywhere grapple with questions of ethics, employment, security and human purpose. The Bharat of the future must be AI-enabled, research-driven, innovation-led and globally competitive, while remaining anchored in the civilisational wisdom that has guided this nation for thousands of years. Our knowledge traditions, languages, philosophy, Yoga and Ayurveda are not simply inheritances from the past. They can become important assets for the future. Research must similarly move beyond publications and laboratories into patents, products, enterprises and solutions that improve lives. The Anusandhan National Research Foundation offers an important opportunity to deepen collaboration between universities, researchers, industry and society. A developed India cannot be built by economic growth alone. It requires integrity in public life, transparency in governance and equal opportunity for every citizen. It also requires the full participation of India’s women. Across the country, women are leading transformation through Self Help Groups, entrepreneurship, higher education, scientific research, administration, sports and the Armed Forces. Initiatives such as Lakhpati Didi demonstrate what becomes possible when women are connected with skills, finance, technology and markets. When a woman becomes economically empowered, the impact travels far beyond one household. India’s progress over the last decade demonstrates what becomes possible when aspiration is matched with execution. Young innovators are building globally relevant enterprises. Universities are expanding the frontiers of research. The startup ecosystem is creating new pathways for employment and enterprise. These are signs of a confident nation increasingly prepared to shape the future. Uttarakhand reflects this larger national transformation in a uniquely inspiring way. Our young people remain Uttarakhand’s greatest strength. If opportunities for technology, entrepreneurship, research and enterprise can reach our hills, migration can increasingly become a matter of choice rather than compulsion.
As we move towards Viksit Bharat 2047, our task is to bring these strengths together.
