[Music] today we bring you an inspiring commencement speech by shui Kumar a Harvard graduate known for her passionate views on civil rights and the power of not knowing at Harvard's 2024 commencement shuie shares her journey from the Great Plains of Nebraska to the esteemed University highlighting the importance of empathy humility and ethical Engagement her off-script remarks on civil rights and solidarity resonated deeply with the audience earning her a standing ovation today we are celebrated for what we know in fact for most of our Lives we've learned to feel a sense of accomplishment in the awards
accolades and honors that line our childhood homes how much we know and how we leveraged it got us Far it got us here but today I want to convince you of something counterintuitive that I've learned from the class of 2024 the power of not knowing I grew up in the Great Plains of of Nebraska alongside cattle ranches and corn fields as the eldest daughter of South Asian Immigrants I was the first in my family to attend college here in the US there was a lot I didn't know when it came time I asked my parents
how to apply to colleges and they too said I don't know the words I don't know used to make me feel powerless like there was no answer and therefore no way as if I was admitting defeat from Nebraska to Harvard I found Myself redefining this feeling of not knowing I discovered a newfound power in how much I didn't know I didn't know a field called The History of Science even existed and I now find myself a graduate of the department here for the first time in my life I had a professor of color a historian
of science who taught me history is just as much about the stories we don't know as the stories we Do in the history of science we often look for what is missing what documents are not in the archives and whose voices are not captured in history I've learned silence is rarely empty often loud I've learned this not only in the classroom but also from the class of 2024 in reflecting on our Collective Moments at Harvard I've realized it's the moments of uncertainty from which something greater than we could have ever imagined grows and our class
has experienced more than our fair share of the unknown in our first year during covid we didn't have anenberg to meet a hundred people in an hour and walk out remembering five names what did we do Hees came the new annenburg and we Learned to connect differently building quality over quantity in our friendships in our sophomore year roie Wade was overturned and there was and still is in many parts of the country an omnipresent uncertainty in accessing reproductive Healthcare [Music] in our junior year Harvard faced the Supreme Court and the decision to reverse affirmative action
whether we realize it or not We've been swimming in uncharted waters which brings me to our senior year a year on campus marked by enormous uncertainty in the fall my name and identity alongside other black and brown students at Harvard was publicly [Music] targeted for many of us students of color doxing left our jobs uncertain our safety uncertain this semester our freedom of Speech and our expressions of solidarity became punishable [Applause] leaving our graduations [Music] [Applause] uncertain as I stand before you today I must take a moment to recognize my peers the 13 undergraduates [Applause]
[Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] the 13 the 13 undergraduates in the class of 2024 who will not graduate [Music] today I am deeply disappointed by the intolerance for freedom of speech and the right to Civil Disobedience on campus [Applause] over 1,500 students had petitioned nearly 500 student staff and faculty had spoken up all overwhelmingly against the unprecedented sanctions as an American and as a Harvard graduate for me what is happening on campus is about Liberty this is about civil Rights and upholding Democratic [Applause] principles the students had spoken the faculty had [Applause] spoken Harvard do you
hear [Applause] us har do you hear us [Applause] [Music] [Applause] we are in a moment of intense Division and disagreement in our community over the events in Gaza I see pain anxiety and unrest across campus but it's now in a moment like this that the power of not knowing becomes critical maybe we don't know what it's like to be ethnically Targeted maybe we don't know what it's like to come face to face with violence and death but we don't have to know solidarity is not dependent on what we know because not knowing is an ethical
[Applause] stance it creates space for empathy humility and a willingness to learn I choose to say I don't know so I'm empowered to Ask to listen I believe an important type of learning takes place especially in moments of uncertainty when we lean into conversations without assuming we have all the [Applause] answers can we see the humanity in people we don't know can we feel the pain of people with whom we disagree as we Graduate what we know our material knowledge may not matter so much anymore the truth is it's what we don't know and how
we navigate it that will set us apart moving forward uncertainty is uncomfortable but I encourage you to dive into the deep end of discomfort engage with the [Applause] nuances and bring with you A beginner's mind an ethic of not knowing Emily Dickinson had said not knowing when the dawn will come I open every door thank you and congratulations [Applause] [Music] welcome to another insightful session at English speeches today we're diving into a powerful speech delivered by Subramanyam jaai Shankar India's Minister for external Affairs at the 77th session of the UN General Assembly discover how India
celebrates its 75 5 years of Independence the Visionary steps under prime minister Narendra modi's leadership and the country's future pledges learn how these points connect to broader Global issues like multilateralism environmental care and international diplomacy Madame President Excellencies distinguished members of The General assembly I bring to you the greetings of 1.3 billion plus people from the world's largest democracy they joined me in congratulating the president of the general assembly Ambassador Chaba kosi on his election to chair the 77th session of the UN General Assembly they follow closely developments at the United Nations Reflecting the increasingly
globalized nature of our existence we meet at a challenging time for the world order this session's theme a watershed moment transformative solutions to interlocking challenges seeks to capture its seriousness excellencies the year 2022 is an important milestone in India's Journey towards growth Development and prosperity India is celebrating 75 years of its independence what we call aadi Amit mahv the story of that period has been one of toil of determination Innovation and Enterprise of millions of ordinary Indians they are rejuvenating a society pillaged by centuries of foreign attacks and [Music] colonialism and they are doing so
in a Democratic framework who steady progress is reflected in more authentic voices and grounded leadership this new India under the Visionary and dynamic leadership of prime minister Narendra Modi is a confident and resurgent Society its agenda for our centinary will be achieved through the five pledges that we committed to on our independence day one we are resolved to make India a Developed country in the next 25 years for the world that creates more capacities for Global good two we will liberate ourselves from a colonial mindset externally this means reformed multilateralism and more contemporary Global governance
three our Rich civilizational Heritage will be a source of Pride and of strength this includes care and concern for the environment so ingrained in our Traditional ethos four we will promote greater unity and solidarity this expresses a coming together on global issues such as terrorism pandemics or the environment and five we will instill Consciousness and of duties and responsibilities this applies to Nations as much as it does to Citizens these five pledges affirm our age-old Outlook that sees the world as one family we believe that National good And Global good can be entirely in harmony
it is this conviction that that led us to supply vaccines to over a 100 Nations similarly our evacuation operations in HR situations always had room for other Nationals in distress even as we meet our own development targets India offers Partnerships to our brothers and sisters in Asia in Africa and Latin America and We do so based on their needs and their priorities today the focus is on green growth better connectivity digital delivery and accessible Health our solidarity is not just in words you can see them in 700 projects across the world Madame President even while
India contributes to global betterment we recognize the sharp deterioration in the international landscape the world is already Struggling with challenges of post pandemic economic recovery the death situation of the developing is precarious to this is now added the rising cost and the shrinking availability of fuel of food and of fertilizers these along with trade disruptions and diversions are among the many consequences of the Ukraine conflict the indopacific too Witnesses fresh concerns about its stability and Its security and climate events have added an overlay on these Moun anxieties as we saw in the case of the
covid pandemic the South will be the most impacted even if the immediate causes are well beyond it is imperative that Global conversations recognize this deep unfairness the inequity of vaccine distribution should not be replicated in other domains Madame President as the Ukraine conflict continues to rage we are often asked whose side are we on and our answer each time is straight and honest India is on the side of peace and will remain firmly there we are on the side that respects the UN Charter and its founding principles we are on the side that calls for
dialogue and diplomacy as the only way Out we are on the side of those struggling to make ends meet even as they stare at the escalating cost of food of fuel and fertilizers it is therefore in our Collective interest to work constructively both within the United Nations and outside in finding an early resolution to this conflict excellencies while the global attention has been on Ukraine India has also had To contend with other challenges especially in its own neighborhood some of them may be aggravated by the covid pandemic and ongoing conflicts but they speak too of
for deeper malays the accumulation of debt in fragile economies is a particular concern we believe that in such times the International Community must rise above narrow National agendas India for its part is taking Exceptional measures in exceptional times we do so when we send 50,000 metric tons of Wheat and multiple tranches of of medicines and vaccines to Afghanistan when we extend credits of $3.8 billion to Sri Lanka for fuel essential Commodities and trade settlement when we Supply 10,000 metric tons of food Aid and vaccine shipments to Myanmar when we fill the Gap in humanitarian needs
left an addressed by Political complexity whether it is disaster response or humanitarian assistance India has stood strong contributing particularly to those nearest to us excellencies the World As We Knew It is poised for transformational changes it has been impacted in recent Times by a succession of shocks each of them significant by itself the covid pandemic called in into question the over Centralized nature of globalization and has led all of us to seek greater resilience and reliability of Supply chains the repercussions of the ongoing Ukraine conflict have further heightened economic stresses especially on food and energy
climate events have added to disruption that the world is already facing as for the promise of tech technology it has certainly multiplied our Capabilities but also added to our vulnerabilities trust and transparency are legitimate expectations of a more digitized world the quest to create a better Global Order would necessarily have to address all these issues among them some are clearly more existential in nature and necessitate intense coordination by the International Community climate action and climate Justice are particularly noteworthy in this respect in their Pursuit India has Worked with Partners on the international solar Alliance the
one Sun one world one grid initiative and the Coalition for disaster resilient infrastructure We Stand ready to support any Collective and Equitable Endeavor to protect protect our environment and to further Global Wellness lifestyle for environment or life as declared by prime minister Narendra Modi in Glasgow on the sidelines of cop 26 is our homage to Mother Nature India remains deeply committed to fighting climate change under the UNF C and the Paris agreement we do so on the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities in the light of different National circumstances we have announced
our updated nationally determined contributions after cop 26 Excellencies India's steadfast commitment to South South cooperation is by now well established and well recognized our approach is based on principles of mutual respect and National ownership with a commitment to sustainable development for all as we begin the G20 presidency this December we are sensitive to the challenges faced by developing countries India will work with other G20 members to address serious issues of debt of economic Growth food and energy security and particularly of environment the reform of govern governance of multilateral financial institutions will continue to be one
of our core priorities Madam president India would be completing its tenure as a member of the security Council this year in our term we have acted as a bridge on some serious but divisive issues confronting the council we have also focused on concerns such as Maritime security Peacekeeping and counter terrorism our contributions range from providing technology with a human touch to ensuring Safety and Security of un peacekeepers as the chair of the counterterrorism committee this year India would be hosting its special meeting in Mumbai and New Delhi I invite all member states to participate in
it we need to create a global architecture that responds to the new tech tools deployed against open diverse and Pluralistic societies having borne the brunt of crossb terrorism for decades India firmly Advocates a zero tolerance approach in our view there is no justification for any Act of terrorism regardless of motivation and no rhetoric however sanctimonious can ever cover up blood stains the United Nation responds to terrorism by sanctioning its perpetrators those who politicize the UNC 1267 sanctions regime sometimes even to the extent of Defending proclaimed terrorists they do so at their own pedal believe me
they Advance neither their own interest nor indeed their reputation India has has always espoused a Cooperative inclusive and consultative approach to international relations we believe that multipolarity rebalancing Fair globalization and reformed Multilateralism cannot be kept in abeyance the call for reformed multilateralism with reforms of the security Council at its core enjoys considerable support among UN members it does so because of the widespread recognition that the current architecture is anachronistic and ineffective it is also perceived as deeply unfair denying entire continents and regions AO in a forum that Deliberates their future India is prepared to take
up greater responsibilities but it seeks at the same time to ensure that the Injustice faced by the global South is decisively addressed our call is to allow serious negotiations on such a critical matter to proceed sincerely they must not be blocked by procedural tactics naysayers cannot hold the IGN process hostage in Perpetuity in these turbulent times it is essential that the world listens to more voices of reason and experiences more acts of Goodwill India is willing and able on both counts we believe and Advocate that this is not an era of war or of conflict
on the contrary it is a time for development and for cooperation Madame President in the past this August assembly has served as a meeting point of views and as a catalyst For Action it is vital that we continue to believe in the promise of diplomacy and the need for international cooperation therefore Madame President let us strive to return to the course of seeking peace progress and prosperity I thank you [Music] it's not often that I'm downright intimidated by the person I'm about to interview crystalina Gava easy for lunch but srk is a legend aren't you
you're being very sweet uh Richard like I told you I'm not a legend I'm Bond James Bond I told you that at the backstage say that again go on what's what's your name Bond James [Music] Bond would you like to play Bond I I'd really wanted to but I think I'm too short what about Bon baddy baddy yes of course I'm Brown enough if we look at your career how many years now I think actively including television uh 33 years now I've been actively working as an act actor but to have reached the level of
stardom that you have reached and for the length of time is quite an achievement it's more than that it's a huge achievement but it just it Speaks to more than just obviously the raw talent but it also speaks the perseverance the ability to keep going which is something that's so crucial um I yeah I think it's uh you know perseverance is uh I think it happens to some people uh you don't have any option but to persevere so maybe when I was young I lost my parents very early and then you realize that okay there's
no rewinding this there's no coming back from death and you have to Continue make the most of what you have so I was kind of a youngish orphan and I had to work my way through do it or it could be just part of nature you know it's the nature of the Beast that you uh are just with dogged determination you keep on working uh where does that come from I don't know I I've always tried to analyze it that you know why do I do what I do why do I wake up in the
morning and just start doing it all over again even when it's uh um I I think it Taught me you know the work that I do uh making films um you know the result happens very suddenly you think you've made the best of films you think it's the nice of stories to tell you think the world is going to love it and you wake up on a Friday e morning and realize it's the biggest flop of your career and you're which happened which happens yeah which happens more often than not or sometimes you don't like
a film and that becomes the biggest hit of Your career and you say like how did this happen but what I realized and I want to say this to everyone actually and I say this to everyone who's working with me or people who know me that on Thursday evening because our films release on Fridays mostly or Thursday evenings here in Dubai so Thursday evening at home in by I rinse myself with a 2-hour bath and rinse myself of the work that I've done because what happens hang on yeah let's let's talk About that bath it's
it's a ritual yeah is it a ritual I mean do you put special oils and scents do you have bath salts do you prepare with candles I'm not I'm not telling you my secret you come and take a bath with me easy I I show I'm an actor I'll show you how to do it should I take him up on his offer you carry on Sir okay no but honestly I I do because you know I realize when you do a big hit film it's Done well and you're very happy and everybody's jumping around Friday
happens Saturday happens Sunday happens and you realize this is a big Blockbuster but Monday I have to get back to work to make a better film you made a flop film Friday you're sad Saturday you're crying Sunday You're moping and you're not waking up from bed Monday you have to get back to work and start making a better film so Mondays are for trying to make better films Always so you have to persevere okay but let me be crude you don't need the money no I need the money oh you do the bath oils are
very expensive fine what's if you had to define the quintessential srk film what would it be I've said this before I was telling you uh behind I don't know when it happened Richard to be honest I didn't realize it I never wanted to be someone who's like I say uh pedling love or or Seller of dreams I wanted to be an action guy with eight packs and beat up people being a white uh vest girl on my side with a Glock in my hand and uh speak in badone and things like that but I never
got the opportunity I don't know when I started off suddenly everybody started started think of me as someone who's uh uh you know promising hope giving hope and spreading love uh like I spread my arms again and again so I think my Regular film would be a film that gives you hope gives you goodness gives you happiness and at the end of it all lots of good songs yes but you've also if there's there's a great YouTube video for minutes of of your best entrances yeah and there's a lot of action in them yeah only
entries no exits I just keep entering again and again my kids get very you know when I I have three kids and uh whenever that video plays and I have to tell you a secret uh We've Compiled it from the office I think it looks just very cool it's not made by others we've made it so whenever a show like this happens and if you allow me to show a video here we'll show you me just entering some places and very dramatically and romantically but my kids make a lot of fun of it you know
whenever I get a little serious with them they'll just look at me and say oh my God he's doing those entries from his video Sr K so it it does become a you want to give us oh yeah I can do that I can do that yeah with your permission sir we'll if it's okay yeah yeah go go on is there something you would not do m I on screen on on screen I I don't know I wouldn't be uh I'd like to give hope in my films the stories that I tell I hope they
end with hope I know I've done some really sad films also I've done films where which are tragedies but Somewhere down the line I just hope that I can give hope in films so I don't like to give hopeless Cinema or hopeless stories because I think uh in life and in businesses and in jobs and world there's enough sadness So you you're extremely well known here obviously because of the Indian population that is here and elsewhere but you like it here you have you have a home you you are you are not a hair today
gone tomorrow person for Dubai no no no no I spent a Lot of time here I have a beautiful house which has been given to me by nil and uh it's one of the nicest places in the world because nobody troubles me and his Excellency the Prime Minister also just told me that he stays next to it um so the next New Year party is with him uh he's a good neighbor but it's it's really nice I really really enjoy being in Dubai I really love being here and you find the jux the position with
going back to to to Mumbai no this is very Easy it's just 2 and a half hours away so I keep dropping in um we we come with the kids and there's so much to do here I'm sounding like the uh uh tourist ambassador of Dubai suddenly right everybody asks about crossover and I'm no different um because the more I researched you the more I wondered I mean all right supposedly 2011 DiCaprio never happened supposedly allegedly Slum Dog Millionaire you turned down allegedly Why hasn't the crossover taken place I don't see why it should you're
a big enough name in your own uh genre but why has crossover not taken place I've said this honestly but nobody believes it so I'm going to say it to you very very honestly nobody's ever offered me any work uh crossover of uh substance I may have had conversations with people I know lots of lovely people from the west from the English film industry from the American film industry But nobody's offered me uh any good work you know I hear actors talk about oh yes I want to crossover I want to take Indian Cinema I
think I'm uh I still have to learn how to be able to deliver to the audience that likes me and you know instead of spreading myself too thin and then yeah of course if you've not been offered a job how do you take it so really I've never been offered a film in uh Hollywood or in uh England uh yes Slum Dog was there um now that you Mention it and uh I spent a lot of time with Mr Bo he's very sweet uh but I was doing uh Who Wants to Be a Millionaire on
television successfully successfully at that time and I just felt uh in the story that was being told the guy who was hosting was very mean uh in the story that was being told and I'm like you know I'm here doing uh Slum Dog Millionaire and the guys who were producing the show wanted me to do the film I just found it you know this guys I was cheating and being dishonest as the host so I just found that it's very strange that I'm being a host and I'm cheating in the film so I explained to
Mr Bo that I wouldn't like to do it please and they are way better actors than me and I think Mr Anil kapor did it and he was fantastic as the host when the person's getting close to a million well the the top in uh Who Wants To Be A Millionaire that moment what do you Feel genuinely when I was hosting it I would uh hope they win it I really really hope but I've done a quiz show myself and there comes a point when you think how close can I get to getting them to
win it without yeah did you know what I mean I I always did that you know and I was uh because there's so many people from different parts of the country and I really want them to win and you yes you do try to be a little helpful but you can't you can't You can't because the producer keeps shouting in your ears don't you've said enough you can't talk about it and unfortunately the last four questions or the last two questions are extremely difficult you know suddenly they're thrown upon you and you're like oh my
God this person is not going to get the answer and I feel really bad and I try to think I wish I had some hint and I can't mislead the person by trying to give that hint because I also Al mostly Didn't know the answer so in what is left that you have not done that you would like to do and and by that I I I I that's not a Hollywood question that is a general you know even within your own with within Indian films within production within what what what Still Remains on your
list so Richard when I started off I just wanted to survive uh you know be able to get a week's work or a month's work or a Year's work and say okay my Films should do well but as years have gone past I think um uh this whole U my whole job has become more and more motivated towards bringing a new one technology into Indian film industry uh I want to end my career Which is far from ending right now I have another good 35 years to go I really really want to make that film
which is uh loved by the whole world and then nobody on a big stage like this asks me why haven't you crossed over That film should cross me over that's my dream I I I'd want you to learn Hindi and Udu and Arabic to be able to understand that film did you f did you go on a massive Retreat of personal introspection between 2018 and 2023 you just had two or three films that were not not as successful suddenly he disappears and everybody thinks oh he's licking his wounds he's feeling sorry for himself he's what
and Then he comes back in 23 with three Blockbusters what was going on in that inrim period so you very kind yes I had uh uh massive flops and they did very very badly and I was doing all of that I was licking my wounds I was uh not you know what I did yeah for 4 years come on I've never said this to any even though I've mentioned it but today here I'll tell everyone I learned how to make the best pizza in the world that's what I did honest to God I stopped listening
to Stories I stopped wanting to tell stories I found myself and made myself a small kitchen and I started learning how to make pizzas and I learned what you asked me right to begin with perseverance because to get the perfect Pizza it takes millions of square pizzas before you able to make it completely round so I learned perseverance and I'll make the best best pizza in the world can you No I'm working on it next four years when you don't see me but was it a difficult moment when your wife and your family and everybody
said will you stop making pizza go back to work was it difficult to know now is the time to go back yeah yeah actually you know there was always a tossup um I was very glad my family didn't tell me listen your pizzas are better than your films stop making films so so I was glad they turned around and Said no as good as your pizza is I think your films are better they were very encouraging especially my children my team uh some of them are sitting here and they said okay what you're going to
do is uh tell stories and you know I had become indulgent I had started becoming too Innovative I was looking for perfection and I started failing I needed to look for excellent I needed to be unique but I needed to look at the audience what they want and i' stopped Hearing the crowds I used to go where there are thousands and lacks of people waving at me but I wouldn't hear or feel what they wanted to see of me you know I was going there and waving and I'm saying whatever I make I'll be Innovative
so I did a film about a vertically challenged guy I did a film about a manic Psychopathic fan and I'm like no people just like to see me giving hope and happiness and love so let's get back to that and As a result the movies that you came back to make and there were three of them last year were huge successes therefore that introspection clearly worked that clearly did the trick yes Mah I think uh um I think it just helped me uh realize that whatever you do you have to do for the people or
your consumers or your audiences and yeah it also made me realize uh one very main thing that don't forget to pray you have to pray and you have to get back to Sir I'm going to leave you with one I'm sorry I've forgotten what was your name again your name is B Bond James Bond he's available for the authors thank you sir thank you so much everyone for [Applause] [Music] the today we present a powerful speech by py sh an esteemed journalist and thought leader as she explores India's trajectory under prime minister Narendra modi's leadership
with a focus on Economic growth digital advancement and international diplomacy Sharma provides a nuanced analysis of India's achievements and challenges join us to gain insights into the factors shaping India's future on the global stage thank you Mr President namaskar and good evening to all of you we're debating India's path tonight and I could wrap my argument in one sentence borrowed from the White House Go to New Delhi and see for yourself but I've been given more time than that so I will tell you what I see earlier this week I was on my way to
the Delhi airport there was a lot of traffic at one point the car stopped on the roadside I saw two vendors one was selling fruit the other was selling coconut water what caught my attention was not what they were selling but how they were selling it both had a QR code Prominently displayed and every single customer walked up to them scanned this QR code and paid for their purchase every single one of them to me this is a picture of today's India it shows three developments three of the many developments I shall list out tonight
number one one is financial inclusion both the vendors had a bank account linked to their mobile Phone number two is internet or mobile penetration what we call digital India it was 15% 9 years back it's 48% today and number three is the airport traffic it just keeps swelling even though we are at the receiving end we see what it shows from 67 million 9 years back to almost double now to me these things signify the path that India is on the previous speakers have defined The motion well but in case the evening drinks have kicked
in let me repeat this house believes modi's India is on the right path and how do you determine if the path is right or wrong you look at numbers data surveys reports I shall refer to all of these as I make my arguments but I also want to dwell on something that's more more personal more important I think yet Unquantifiable I'm talking about the experience of living in today's India I have lived in many indias the we India where exciting policies and positions were abandoned the self-doubting India where decisions were taken based on global opinion
and today a more confident India where the world comes for leadership and inspiration you cannot put a premium on that Indians are more prosperous at home and hence more confident Abroad let me also tell you what I saw at the airport here in London at the immigration counter I saw Indians proudly flaunting their passport none of the fidgeting or self-doubt of the last century and if I may add the immigration officer almost looked impressed she was either a fan of India or just worried that she was holding up one of Rishi Sak's relatives we proud
of what we share with the world Bollywood Masala chai yoga Cricket India Today is a soft power giant at the same time India is not a timid democracy that tolerates terrorism or betrayals when Pakistani terrorists attacked kashmir's pulama India carried out surgical strikes on balakot today's India is not a pushover country it's a world power denied today invasions and colonialism are part of our history not our Identity we are shaped by our years of subjugation not defined by them we are excited about our Global responsibilities not wary of them this change and confidence comes from
growth at home which brings me to the numbers I'll start with India's welfare state system and how it has fared in the past decade 110 million new gas connections 470 million bank accounts 220 million Insurance beneficiaries and to be fair the welfare concept is not new to India it's been there for a while what's new is the approach it's not just about putting more money in the pocket it's about empowering people and the result once again the evidence shows in the numbers India's per capita income has gone from 86,000 rupees in 2014 to 172,000 rupees
now it has doubled and a big reason for that is the falling inflation from more than 8% 9 years back To less than 6% today and this ladies and gentlemen is in the middle of a global cost of living crisis foreign direct investment is at its highest level foreign trade is at its highest level the growth Mantra is connectivity and I don't have to tell the British that first thing you did in your colonies was build roads and Railways our growth story has been about two indias the urban India the bustling Urban India and a
sluggish Rural India today we are trying to connect the two we're building more than 38 km of Highway every day which is 50% more than what it was 7 years ago the number of airports has doubled since 2014 the total capacity at C ports has doubled this connectivity is what what is driving India forward you mentioned GST our constitution calls India a union of states which is a great tribute to our diversity but it also meant 28 different State economies different taxes different Trade Practices this Government tried to unify it to create a single Indian
market it took time but the result is this today tax collection is at its highest ever the number of taxpayers has doubled since 2017 I have a lot of data I could go on but you get the drift so now I'm going to talk about India's Global position because your path is also about your Role in the world are you a troublemaker or a consensus Builder I think there is no doubt as to where India stands India is a member of the quad and the SEO India is invited to the G7 but is also a
member of the bricks India rubs shoulders with the west but also leads the global South which other country can claim to juggle these Roles and how does India do it because we not trying to play an outsides role in the world we're trying to play the right role in the Russia Ukraine war India has not taken sides and I Know It confuses a lot of people here but back home the thinking is very clear it is not in our national interest to pick sides and make things worse India has excellent relations with Russia and the
west and we want to preserve that it's like when Your two good friends fight do you pick sides and make things worse us or do you try to talk sense to them and Bridge The Divide I know what a good friend would do I see what India is doing India has always been or always tried to be a part of the solution not the problem look at our neighborhood policy when Sri Lanka was sinking India provided assistance worth $4 billion no strings attached no grudges held for Columbo's proximity with China a lot of people say
that India is losing control of of South Asia I say south Asia was never India's to control New Delhi is building relations based on mutual respect and equality and the results show Beyond government interactions countries like Nepal and Bhutan are using India's online payment systems students from the neighborhood come to India for training grants and scholarships this government has aced what we call Buddhist diplomacy it is Leveraging India's position as a cradle of Buddhism all these initiatives have made India popular the world stands with us against Chinese expansionism the global South looks up to us
for leadership the global North looks up to us for partnership I think that's the Hallmark of great diplomacy and statecraft when you're loved and respected in all quarters more importantly when you're Trusted in all quarters India repaid that trust during the covid-19 pandemic when the world forgot about about morals and globalization India sent 24 CR vaccines to 100 countries and you saw the result of that in Papua New Guinea when Prime Minister Modi landed there their prime minister touched his feet this was not a personal gesture to a leader this was a vote of thanks
to the entire Country let's talk about domestic affairs Kashmir was brought up this government abrogated article 370 today kashmir's economy is doing much better 1.8 CR tourists visited the valley in the last year that's the highest ever in Indian history 1.8 CR Kashmir is getting its first ever foreign direct investment and that too from a company in the UAE but since this is Kashmir let's not limit ourselves to finances let's talk about security Terror attacks in the valley have almost halved in the last few years the numbers are staring in your face secur it is
better economy is better Kashmir is better plus we have corrected a historical wrong imposed on India let me also address something else that was raised by the opposite side and that is religious intolerance it's easy to quote anecdotal evidence and paint an an entire country as Intolerant but random elements and sporadic incidents do not speak for India or its leadership or government only policies do and I'll tell you about those policies more Muslim Students got Scholarships in modi's first term than the previous government I'm talking about 2 million more Muslim Students if the idea was
to marginalize them why give them more scholarships look at the government's Hjj policy Prime Minister Modi held personal talks with the Saudi regime to increase India's Hajj qua in 2014 it was 136,000 by 2019 it was more than 200,000 again if the idea was to marginalize Muslims why increase the Hajj quota this government abolish triple talak would you call it reform or repression let me also tell you what a Pew study found in 2021 it runs counter to every argument that will be made here Tonight it found that 89% of all Muslims and Christians in
India say they're free to practice their religion I'll repeat 89% of all surveyed Muslim Muslims and Christians but no let's build on perceptions and anecdotes not on facts I would also point you to all the social schemes the bank accounts the gas connections the insurance policies they're available to all citizens of all religions does that mean India cannot do better absolutely not even one incident Of marginalization is one too many but how would you judge an entire country's path in fact it struck me that when I was invited for this event why would Oxford University
be interested in debating the path of Mod's India because India has defied Western predictions it's the world's largest democracy charting its own course India today has shed the burden of trying to comply with Western constructs no amount of lecturing or Virtue signaling is shaking India's confidence and that is what unsettles critics there are hitandrun experts with no accountability who make PR announcements based on their political leanings to create an anti-india narrative GDP growth won't touch 5% there was corruption in the Rafal deal the government was snooping in opposition parties using Pegasus all of these make
for juicy headlines and they make it look like Everything is wrong in India but when a Supreme Court investigation finds no wrongdoing when India's growth crosses 7% who is questioning these experts when an 85% Hindu majority Karnataka votes out the BJP is the West than lording India secular credentials you see to judge a country's path you have to be able to separate agenda-driven narrative from Facts in conclusion let me say this for any country in the world there Is always a wrong path enough dictators and autocrats have shown us but there is no single right
path Britain has its own right path India has its own right path as long as democracy is respected as long as the Constitution is respected I would say to each their own it is wrong to judge one country on the parameters of another and that has been the beauty of India since 2014 we've uplifted 140 million people out of poverty we did so While conducting free and fair elections dozens of them we did so while protesting debating and dissenting and finally I think the Hallmark of of a right direction is also public approval do the
people think you're on the right path the people of India answered that question in 2019 thank [Applause] [Music] you today we feature Mrs suda myty an Inspiring author and philanthropist addressing a young audience at the jamnabai nari campus in 2017 17 she shares personal stories and insights on the importance of discipline hard work and the value of Education Mrs mury emphasizes the power of choices in Youth and debunks myths about generational differences join us for a session full of wisdom and guidance for students and Educators alike trusties teachers and my parents and my dear students
it gives me Enormous joy for me to come to school than any other place for various reason a I'm a granddaughter of a school teacher b i a daughter of a professor c i the daughter-in-law of a school teacher D I myself am a teacher I used to teach computer science in Christ University and later I became so irregular than my own students then I said I will come on a management than a teacher because my of my hectic schedules children give me enormous Joy Because uh because they are innocent and this the first time
I'm addressing any school in Bombay I not address any school in Bombay I come only for the I only come to Bombay for meetings never to a school so when there was an urgent meeting came down today evening I have a 7:00 meeting then I thought why can't I come little early anyway I I waste half a day day in Bangalore traffic reaching airport I rather leave At 5: in the morning reach bang Bombay at 8:30 so that I can have a session with the students and that then I opted for [Applause] this I'll tell
you a small story I am a grandmother of two grandkids like today is how grandkids are there they are like that normal okay that means more talking and less listening and my granddaughter's name is Krishna And she told me they live in London one day I told her to eat uh banana fruit you know we India consider a good fruit eat and then she said me a give me she calls me a like any Canada grandmother is called or maharashtrian grandmother is called she said a give me a set of reasons why one should eat
banana a five years kid okay I said okay I will tell you a story and then you feel like eating you eat I said there was a Rishi by the name dwasa I'm sure most of you Know whenever he used to go to anybody's place they used to get scared of him why this fellow has come let him go as early as possible I'm sure when you are not a nice person nobody welcomes you one day his wife told him look people when they you go people run away where stayed with you for such a
long time don't you think I deserve a boon or a special gift first he was very upset then he said okay fine I'll give you a special gift what do you want she said I want a fruit which is Not grown in Deca or up above heaven which is grown on the earth yet it should be used to worship God B it should it should flower once a year and it should not have any seeds see all parts of that tree should be used in cooking B it should give fruits only once in a year
and the fruit should be not messy kind you know like not like a mango or apple and such fruit without giving that to God the Puja will be incomplete he Said okay he made a banana he made a tree and gave the flower fruit to the God and then he called that her name was kadali so he called that fruit the Gali in Sanskrit became banana in English later so whatever banana tree you see that is the intelligence of a woman who told her husband the kind of fruit which is easy to eat who leaves
are used for eating whose bark is in the stem is used in cooking whose flower is used in the cooking which flowers once a Year and there are no seeds so I told it's such a great fruit on the the Earth if you don't want to eat Krishna you don't have to eat but only learned people eat this one what I'm telling you is know every generation it's really wrong to tell that our generation has lot more stress that is a totally wrong parents please remove it from your head in case you have such things
I was in Egypt about 15 years back then I took one egyptology That is a very a person who knows how to read hierography who knows more about Egyptian history and went to one place which is 7,000 years old and there I saw the pyramid inside the pyramid there was hierography so I asked that fellow what it is written here you tell me this fellows told me the Builder of Egypt pyramid have written about next Generation next generation is it doesn't respect time doesn't respect money doesn't Respect Elders they have less common sense they are
less hardw workking I really do not know how they will survive suddenly I felt like you know my parents talking to me like that every generation feels next generation is less than ours we very hardworking we talk no that is really not true every generation had their own plus and minus some totally same any mathematics teacher or any students who love mathematics will appreciate this what is 1 by two half 1 By 2 is 2x 4 it is also equal to 3x 6 it's also equal to 4 by 8 it's also equal to 16 by
32 the moment I say 1 by 2 and 16 by 32 16 is a huge number one is small but the ratio Remains the Same and that is the way every generation has their own plus minus Their Own Strength I have seen my great grandmother my grandmother my mother and me and my daughter you know seven generation have seen they are always worried about disease because there was no antibiotic In those days if the child get fever the mother would have been panicked today you go to a pediatrician in those days it was not there
next Generation I have seen there was no connectivity coming to Bombay is once in lifetime particularly from people from Karnataka every generation under Go a different stress but they do undergo stress now coming to this topic they told me that you have to address student parents I said I wanted to address Students actually but if parents are interested I can but students may get bored I want to tell something to students and then I address parents students you should understand one thing when you are in school when you are in school somebody looks after you
your teacher your parents look after you they will tell you some good words and you really get moved and they start ceremon your mind goes away somewhere because I Was also a student Once Upon a Time too many things someone tells you then you won't like it actually you won't like it and and too many things we should not tell also if we want to tell parents you should always tell in the form of a story never tell directly you should be hard workking as a child you may not like it but please remember people
who care for you only will tell third person will not tell please under don't underestimate your parents and your Teachers it's your duty to understand what they are telling for what reason they are telling and you have to you have to actually accept it and later it will pay its price later part of your life what you don't learn now will never be learned later it is always false ideas When I Grow Big you know I will do I don't know some how many of you read my book The Story of Port Port it's a
real life story Port was my classmate he was reasonably bright maybe very bright I suppose never he came to school never came to college I was in engineering College he used to stay he was from Goa he used to come he was in the hostel and he never us to come to college our College of 7 to 11 he will come around 10:00 or 9:00 earliest me 9:00 and he will sit here sit there attend two classes after that afternoon he will come for the lab Etc end of the year he will one month he
will get up early and he will study and you know there is a Method in college you take question papers April and October whatever comes in October will never come in April okay I'm sure the school also you have midterm will never come to final okay so eliminate these question answers and then make a approximate question paper and study that and he used to get a first class he did all four years like this once I asked P P why you you are such a bright person you don't come to class if you come regularly
he can get Distinction you can get a rank he said sud you do not know in life it is not the education it the connection it really works and we have to build lot of connections you know in when you are young it helps you I came from a middle class family my father was a doctor a gynecologist I never understood this connection all those things then he said my father was in military we were in Kolkata there was a club which were never seen in our real life so we Thought maybe he's a big
man years passed in 1972 I finished my engineering so was port and I didn't meet him for a long time after 30 35 years I think 2008 or 99 I had been to Dubai to deliver a lecture and when the lecture was over I saw somebody waiting for and then he said ma'am I was waiting for you I was surprised a place like Dubai who will wait for me then he said I P I could not recognize because in 30 40 years people put on weight your hair will be gray you Know all those physical
changes will happen I said P I would not have recognized I was very happy I told him oh let's have let us sit down and talk he said no I just wanted tell you one words one word to you so I was waiting I said what happened he said you know do you remember in college I used to Bunk class I said of course I remember you port means bunking class he said I used to Bunk class and I joined a job and because in those days The moment you have be is to get job
in my time and my bosses came to know that my subordinates came to know that I don't have knowledge getting a first class marks are different than knowledge please remember parents your children should be in the person Ute of knowledge than the marks though it's a competitive examination I agree it is a competitive world it is a competitive World competition is thousand times or 10,000 times more than what time I had but with All those things the knowledge which always helps you than your marks in real life so he said I got marks but I
did not have knowledge once the subordinates know that you don't have knowledge they don't respect you once the boss knows you don't have knowledge then he wants an uh he wants a a reason to kick you out I was kicked out from one job then I took a second job and I was so much used to getting up 9:00 in the morning I'll go late to the office I was kicked out There also over a period of time I couldn't get job anywhere and now I have a job as a manager job or a smaller
job in Dubai and my I have two I said what about your family said I have two daughters I left them in Chennai to study I said what he said yes I want they should study well they should not become like me I just waited for you to tell sud one thing when you we were young I used to make fun of you he used to tell me you Are like a you are like a uh running race horse because the horse will see neither left nor right it runs same way you always were academic
and used to make fun of you today when we called you nerd and I thought I was very smart you know today I feel you are successful and I wasted my life I just wanted to tell you if you don't if you don't discipline if you don't discipline when you are school or in college you pay a heavy price in later part of your life Discipline like coming up in a proper way writing properly okay talking properly communicating properly respecting people properly this really helps a long way in your life so I don't want you
should be like Port regretting in the your your old age you should remember that to be successful in life there is no shortcut the only method is hard work and straight way and that you have to do thank you very much for giving me an Opportunity to address both of you and in case you have any questions in my limited knowledge and my answers are highly subjective okay it is not you know from any group Theory I have taken I will try to answer thank you once again visit our site englishspeech channel.com for exclusive access
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