Editor's Synopsis
- Dr Priti Adani, Chairperson, Adani Foundation, called for India's civilisational knowledge to be preserved
and applied to contemporary challenges, including human suffering, inequality and sustainability.
- Dr Nirupam Bajpai, Senior Research Scholar at Columbia University's Center for Sustainable Development,
highlighted Varanasi's historic role as a meeting place of ideas and spiritual traditions. Shri Vivek
Aggarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Government of India, spoke about the enduring relevance of India's
civilisational heritage and the potential of artificial intelligence to unlock ancient knowledge.
- Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs, renowned economist and President of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions
Network, highlighted India's growing role in the global economy and acknowledged the Adani Group's
contribution to the country's infrastructure-led growth. He also reflected on the responsibility that comes
with carrying a family name in business.
- The acclaimed academic traced India's rising share of global output from 5.2% in 2000 to 8.5% in 2026, with
projections of 15.1% by 2100, in the context of an emerging multipolar world.
Varanasi, 02 November 2026: Ancient wisdom must engage with the problems of the present and help
improve lives, Dr Priti Adani, Chairperson, Adani Foundation, said in her keynote address at the inaugural session
of The World Symposium on "Ancient Wisdom for Modern Challenges" in Varanasi on Monday.
"Ancient wisdom does not become valuable simply because it is ancient. It becomes valuable when we
discover its relevance to contemporary problems," she said, calling for civilisational knowledge to be
preserved and applied to address suffering, inequality and conflict. "Knowledge gives us the power to
change the world. Wisdom assures us that we change it for the better."
Dr Adani referred to Greek philosopher Aristotle and his ideas on human flourishing; Lord Buddha, whose
teachings addressed suffering; and Confucius, the ancient Chinese philosopher, whose teachings
emphasised ethical conduct, moral responsibility and social harmony. She connected these traditions with
India's Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, or the world is one family, and called for civilisational
knowledge to be applied to improve lives and advance sustainable development.
Reflecting on three decades of community development work, Dr Adani said progress must be measured by its impact on
people. She described seva, or selfless service, as listening to communities and enabling them to shape
their futures. Established in 1996, the Adani Foundation, the Adani Group's social development arm, works across
7,000 villages in 22 states, impacting 13 million lives.
She also highlighted the Bharat Knowledge Graph, backed by an Adani Group commitment of $10 million. It
makes India's civilisational knowledge accessible to interdisciplinary research and supports 14 doctoral
scholars.
In his address, "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 growing role in
it. He traced India's share of global output from 5.2% in 2000 to 8.5% in 2026, projecting it to reach
13.1% by 2050 and 15.1% by 2100. He also outlined the changing economic balance towards Asia and Africa,
with the combined share of the United States, Canada and Europe projected to decline to 13.7% by 2100.
Professor Sachs acknowledged the scale of the work being undertaken by the Adani Group and the Adani
Foundation in sustainable development in India and globally. During the subsequent interaction, he
described the Adani Group as one of the major drivers of change and progress in India, noting the
significant role it plays in the country's infrastructure expansion and economic growth.
He also reflected on the responsibility associated with carrying a family name in business. Contrasting family-led
enterprises with corporations driven primarily by shareholder returns, he said businesses carrying a family name
also carried its heritage and an obligation to consider what they gave back to society. His observations brought the
discussion on India's economic transformation into the wider context of business responsibility and social
contribution.
Shri Vivek Aggarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Government of India, spoke about the enduring strength of
India's civilisation and the opportunities offered by technology to make its knowledge more accessible.
"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," said Shri
Aggarwal.
Earlier, the inaugural session opened with an address by Dr Nirupam Bajpai, Senior Research Scholar at
Columbia University's Center for Sustainable Development. He conveyed Prime Minister Shri Narendra
Modi's best wishes for the symposium and spoke about Varanasi's historic role as a meeting place 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.
About Adani Group:
Headquartered in Ahmedabad, India, Adani Group is one of India's largest integrated infrastructure conglomerates with
interests in Resources, Logistics, Energy, Agro, Real Estate, Public Transport Infrastructure, Consumer Finance, and
Defence. Driven by its core philosophy of ‘Nation Building’ and ‘Growth with Goodness’, the Group is committed to
sustainable development and regional transformation.
Media Contact: Roy Paul roy.paul@adani.com
