IIM Bodh Gaya, in collaboration with Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS) and Ministry of External Affairs, hosted the “G20 University Connect – Engaging Young Minds” event, featuring a lecture Series with prominent speakers on 27th August 2023. This event was significant in sensitizing the country’s young minds through varied valuable discussions on Innovations and Entrepreneurship, Issues and Challenges in Healthcare, and other aspects of the G20 Indian presidency.
The event commenced with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp by Dr Vinita S. Sahay, Director, IIM Bodh Gaya, Mr J.S. Mukul, Former Ambassador and Former Dean of the Foreign Service Institute, and Mr Samit Ghosh, Founder of Ujjivan Financial Services Ltd. and other honorable dignitaries. Later, Dr. Vinita S. Sahay, spoke about the significance of resilience and teamwork, rightly quoting, “Cooperation and collaboration should be prioritised, with competition taking a backseat,” which resonates with the sanguine views of the G20 summit. Dr Sahay further mentioned that most learning happens outside the classroom while travelling and learning new cultures. India is a land of learning and opportunities, a microcosm of cultures.
Mr. J.S. Mukul explored the history and evolution of the G20, with a particular focus on its origins and growth. His address probed into the evolution of the G20 summit using the perspectives of the developed countries stressing the importance of foreign relations in bilateral ties. He explained how India stands for reformed multilateralism and informed multilateralism, which reinforced his enlightening quote “India is inclusive, ambitious, decisive, and action-oriented in its G20 Presidency.”
The second speaker, Mr. Samit Ghosh, shed light on India’s growing influence and potential on the global stage by saying, “Our entire strategy is based on the resurgence of India.” He acknowledged India’s multifaceted role, not just as a critical economic player but also as a key contributor to political stability, technological advancement, and cultural diversity.
“If it is one thing that is certain in the world today, it’s uncertainty”, as rightly said by Mr. Ramanan Ramanathan, First Mission Director Atal Innovation Mission and Former Additional Secretary, NITI Aayog as he underscored the prominence of challenges as they become the opportunities for the transformation of the world. This mindset aids in dynamic problem-solving and motivates individuals and organisations to encapsulate adversity as a way to drive meaningful transformation. He highlighted India’s ambitious goal of nurturing entrepreneurship and job creation. He concluded with a powerful statement, “Dare to dream and dream to dare”.
Mr Ramanathan’s session was followed by an interactive panel discussion with Mr. Prabhakar Lingareddy, the EVP and head of Social Investment at ITC Limited, and Mr. Debojyoti Bhattacharjee, the Head of HR Strategy at Motherson. The discussion was on the Skills Required for the New Age Business.
Mr. Vikram Bector, President and Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) of Piramal Group, shared his insights and enlightened the audience on issues and challenges in the healthcare sector. He said, “A country can’t progress when we only talk about economic values and not the well-being of the citizens.” He advised the students to dig into the spirit of being first movers and said, “It is always important to do well and do good.”
Students of IIM BG also actively organized several pre-events of G20, such as an Essay writing competition, a Quiz, and an engaging discussion on “Climate Change,” which was a Model G20 Presidency Summit competition..
After the culmination of the engaging G20 lecture series, the outcomes of the G20 Pre-event Student Activities were unveiled, and the winners were awarded prizes. Subsequently, Prof Sreelekha Mishra proposed a vote of thanks, and the event ended with a captivating cultural evening.
