India balancing on twin pillars of technology, tradition: Jaishankar

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas begins in Bhubaneswar

| Video Credit:
The Hindu

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and Odisha Chief Minster Mohan Charan Majhi during the inauguration of the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, in Bhubaneswar, on January 8, 2025.
| Photo Credit:
PTI

India is progressing within a democratic framework, building on the twin pillars of technology and tradition, said External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar at the Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday (January 8, 2025).

“We are today well on the way to address long-standing challenges to build a modern, inclusive and progressive society. Our quest is unique because the largest nation in the world is developing in that manner in a democratic framework. The mantra of that journey is to advance, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, on the two legs of technology and tradition,” Mr. Jaishankar remarked. The youth of the country can be the defining factor in the pace of that endeavour and the realisation of the goals, he added.

Mr. Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the PBD on Thursday (January 9, 2025).

Stating that the thought behind holding a Youth PBD was to recognise the special contribution that young minds make, at home and abroad, Mr. Jaishankar said, “At a time when so many key developments in the world are being shaped by this younger generation — whether we talk of AI and EV, innovation or start-ups, space or drones, sports, chess, cricket — there is all the more reason to do so.”

“The very country that was predicted to go under ended up supplying vaccines and medicines to the entire world. A different but equally telling example is what we see in the realm of space, where there is a growing competition internationally. Our Chandrayaan-3 landing, the Aditya L1 observatory and the proposed Gaganyaan mission are powerful inspirations,” said the Minister.

“In a digital era, the scale of UPI transactions speaks volumes, both of our infrastructure and of our mindsets. The new India, with 90,000 start-ups and 100-plus unicorns, has calling cards like Drone Didi, Atal Tinkering Labs, hackathons, green hydrogen mission and nano-fertilizers,” he stated.

Guest of honour Dev Pragad, a person of Indian origin and chief executive officer of Newsweek, narrated how diligent effort had enabled a turnaround of the American media organisation that he helms.

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi took the opportunity to showcase the State’s strength in mineral resources, tourism and human resources. He presented the State’s roadmap of Samriddha Odisha 2036, leading to Viksit Bharat 2047.

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“While Odisha’s past is steeped in history, its present is defined by transformation and progress. Today, Odisha stands as a leader in mining and industries such as steel and aluminium, while also emerging as a hub for sports, IT and skill development,” said Mr. Majhi.

At a business session on the sidelines of PBD 2025, Mr. Jaishankar focused on the 3Ts — Trade, Technology, and Tourism — as critical drivers of Odisha’s growth.

He lauded the State’s rich natural and cultural advantages, which position it as a hub for global trade, a fertile ground for technological innovation, and a premier tourism destination.