Ideas Of India 2025 Day 1 Sees Amalgam Of Science, Music, AI, Powerful Stories & Geopolitics
The event began in Mumbai with a Saraswati Vandana by Sanjeevani Bhelande, Singer and Composer and followed by a welcome address by Atideb Sarkar, Chief Editor, ABP Network.
The first day of the fourth edition of ABP Network's Ideas of India saw a stellar list of speakers talking on a range of issues, including Bollywood, music, Artificial Intelligence, Science, Space and a mix of personal, yet inspiring stories.
The event began in Mumbai with a Saraswati Vandana by Sanjeevani Bhelande, Singer and Composer and followed by a welcome address by Atideb Sarkar, Chief Editor, ABP Network.
Atideb Sarkar began his speech by saying that Artificial Intelligence (AI) has brought expertise within the grasp of billions and called for regulation of AI. "A second Space Race is underway and India is in it. And scientists are exploring the possibility of eternal life," he said. Read his full speech here.
In the session 'The Earth Flame: Searching For Inner Peace', author and journalist Pico Iyer explored the question- What is it that makes us "more human" and different from Artificial Intelligence? In a conversation with Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, shared the story of how he was left with just a toothbrush after his home burned down in what was then one of California's worst blazes in June 1990.
Dr Manish Gupta, Senior Director at Google DeepMind, urged the country to shed its inhibitions and embrace bold innovation in AI. In a thought-provoking discussion titled- 'Transforming India with AI' moderated by celebrated author Chetan Bhagat, Dr Gupta emphasised the need for India to lead in AI research rather than merely adopt foreign technologies.
Meanwhile, NIMHANS Director Dr Pratima Murthy, Neuroscientist Dr Shubha Tole, and Science Gallery Bengaluru Founding Director Dr Jahnavi Phalkey came together for a panel discussion to dwell upon different frontiers of science.
Meanwhile, Dr Goutam Chattopadhyay, Senior Scientist at NASA-JPL, talked about life beyond Earth and also spoke about speculations around astronaut Sunita Williams’ delayed return from the International Space Station, Dr Chattopadhyay dismissed any conspiracy theories.
The fourth edition of 'Ideas of India' was not limited to areas like AI and science, renowned classical musicians Taufiq Qureshi and Bickram Ghosh presented interesting jugalbandis using their hands, mouth, rhythm using breath and hands-on-heart.
Famous singer Papon reflected on his musical journey, shared how his love for Hindi songs began, recalled his early days in Delhi and Mumbai, and talked about his experiences that shaped his career. With passion and nostalgia, he sang some of the most popular tracks, leaving the audience spellbound.
ALSO READ | Ideas Of India 2025: Papon Says, 'Singing In Bollywood Was Never My Dream'
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant touched on key issues concerning the state, including tourism and redevelopment. He advocated for freedom to choose what to eat or what to wear and addressed the recent concerns over the reports of altercations between tourists and locals. Here's what the Goa CM said
Mayank Agrawal, CEO of Gallant Group of Industries, stressed that India must effectively harness technology and consider environmental factors while planning new construction.
Speaking on Bollywood and reflecting on his life, veteran actor and filmmaker Amol Palekar discussed how cinematic excellence should not be solely determined by box office earnings. Palekar highlighted the importance of genuine storytelling in filmmaking and also spoke about the disproportionate hype around commercial juggernauts such as 'Baahubali' and 'RRR'.
ALSO READ | Ideas of India 2025: Amol Palekar Says Hindi Cinema Should Look Beyond Box Office, Praises The Mehta Boys
Bollywood actor Taapsee Pannu reflected on her journey, the battle between theatrical and OTT releases, and the changes she hopes to bring to the industry at the engaging session "Fearless and Feisty" moderated by Chitra Tripathi. The actress shared bold insights on "Telling Powerful Stories" and shared her thoughts on the debate between theatrical and OTT releases and the factors that influence the decision.
Bhumi Pednekar, while sharing her insights about her journey in the film industry, recalled the time when her male co-star got 80 per cent more than her pay despite giving the same number of hits and the same amount of success.
However, the day-long summit was not just limited to sectors like business, Bollywood or politics. Food definitely had a presence at the Summit with Chef Ranveer Brar sharing his profound love for food and its deeper purpose. Brar also revealed lesser-known facets of his artistic journey, including acting and poetry.
The session concluded with an engaging session on Donald Trump's presidency and its implications for the global order, where former US diplomat Kurt Volker interacted with Shashi Tharoor. Volker touched upon several pressing issues, including the Gaza War, the China factor and Trump's tarrifs.
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