Ancient wisdom must go beyond preservation and engage with contemporary challenges to improve people’s lives, Adani Foundation Chairperson Dr Priti Adani said at the inaugural session of the World Symposium on ‘Ancient Wisdom for Modern Challenges’ in Varanasi on Monday.
Emphasising the need to connect civilisational knowledge with present-day problems such as suffering, inequality and conflict, she said the relevance of ancient wisdom lay in its ability to offer solutions to contemporary challenges.
“Ancient wisdom does not become valuable simply because it is ancient. It becomes valuable when we discover its relevance to contemporary problems,” Dr Adani said.
“Knowledge gives us the power to change the world. Wisdom assures us that we change it for the better,” she added.
Connecting civilisations through shared wisdom
Dr Adani drew upon the philosophies of Greek philosopher Aristotle, Lord Buddha and ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius to underline the universal relevance of ethical conduct, human flourishing, compassion and social harmony.
She linked these traditions with India’s civilisational philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, or the world is one family, arguing that knowledge from different civilisations should be applied to improve lives and advance sustainable development.
Reflecting on three decades of community development work, she said progress should ultimately be measured by its impact on people.
Describing seva, or selfless service, as the foundation of meaningful social development, she said it involved listening to communities and enabling them to shape their own futures.
Established in 1996, the Adani Foundation, the Adani Group’s social development arm, works across 7,000 villages in 22 states and has impacted 13 million lives.
$10 million commitment to Bharat Knowledge Graph
Dr Adani also highlighted the Bharat Knowledge Graph, backed by a $10 million commitment from the Adani Group.
The initiative seeks to make India’s civilisational knowledge accessible for interdisciplinary research and currently supports 14 doctoral scholars.
The project reflects an effort to connect India’s traditional knowledge systems with contemporary research and academic inquiry.
Jeffrey Sachs highlights India’s growing economic influence
In his address titled ‘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 changing balance of global economic power and India’s expanding role.
He traced India’s share of global output from 5.2% in 2000 to an estimated 8.5% in 2026, projecting it to increase to 13.1% by 2050 and 15.1% by 2100.
Professor Sachs also highlighted the gradual shift in global economic influence towards Asia and Africa. The combined share of the United States, Canada and Europe in global output is projected to decline to 13.7% by 2100, reflecting the changing geography of economic power.
Acknowledging the scale of the Adani Group’s and Adani Foundation’s work in sustainable development, he described the Adani Group as one of the major drivers of change and progress in India.
During a subsequent interaction, Sachs highlighted the group’s contribution to India’s infrastructure expansion and economic growth.
Business heritage carries social responsibility
Sachs also reflected on the responsibilities associated with family-owned businesses and enterprises carrying a family name.
He contrasted such businesses with corporations driven primarily by shareholder returns, arguing that family-led enterprises also carried the weight of their heritage and an obligation to consider their contribution to society.
His observations brought the discussion on India’s economic transformation into the wider context of corporate responsibility and social contribution.
AI can make ancient knowledge more accessible
Vivek Aggarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Government of India, highlighted the enduring strength of Indian civilisation and the opportunities offered by technology to preserve and disseminate its knowledge.
He pointed to the potential of artificial intelligence in deciphering ancient scriptures, deepening the understanding of traditional knowledge systems and making India’s civilisational heritage more accessible to future generations.
“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,” Aggarwal said.
The symposium brought together perspectives on civilisational heritage, technology, economic transformation and sustainable development, highlighting the importance of connecting traditional knowledge with the challenges of a rapidly changing world.