New Delhi: ABP Network’s first Ideas Of India Summit, organised earlier this year, brought together some of the best Indian minds to celebrate ideas that drive India. The network is now coming back with the second edition of the two-day annual summit that will once again have thought leaders from various fields talk about the journey of India over the last 75 years and share their vision for the future. The summit will be held on February 24 and 25, 2023. 


The inaugural summit held in March this year had Nobel Peace laureate Kailash Satyarthi, innovator Sonam Wangchuk, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, Union minister Nitin Gadkari, actor Aamir Khan and many such impactful personalities among the keynote speakers.    


ABP Ideas Of India celebrates the strengths that make India the thriving nation that it is, and aims to deliberate on ideas that will take the country forward. 


Here is a look at some of the best sessions from ABP Ideas Of India 2022.


Best School Is Curiosity: Sonam Wangchuk  


Engineer-turned-education reformer and innovator Sonam Wangchuk was one of the first few guests on the first day of the ABP Ideas Of India event. Speaking to a packed hall, he spoke on "Managing Nature's Backlash: Recycle, Reuse and Renew", during a session on ‘sustainable society’, moderated by actor, entrepreneur, producer and pilot Gul Panag.     


“Live simply in the big cities so that we in the mountains can simply live,” Wangchuk said as he tried to send across a message on the importance of living simply for a sustainable world.


He also said why schooling systems in India needed to rethink their ways, and stressed that schooling doesn’t ensure learning because “the best school is curiosity”, which he called a “learning software” that every child is blessed with.


Watch the full interaction here:  



 


Kailash Satyarthi: Schemes And Laws Are There, Implement Them 


Nobel Peace Prize winning child rights activist Kailash Satyarthi was the guest at the inaugural session of ABP Network’s first Ideas Of India Summit. He said the roadmap for changing India in the next 25 years would begin by providing quality education to all children. He said education to them is what can become the beginning of changing the country.


“Children in a healthy, safe, and free atmosphere should be sent to school where they can get education at par with the children of politicians, and other influential people,” he said. “And it can simply be done by implementing schemes, laws meant for children.”  


Watch the full interaction here:  



In Conversation: Jagdeep Dhankhar And Shashi Tharoor


Among the first guests on Day Two of the inaugural ABP Ideas Of India Summit were Vice President and then West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, and senior Congress MP Shashi Tharoor. During a session on the topic, "Law, Liberty, and the Limits of Democracy: A functioning anarchy or a Non-negotiable Democracy?”, chaired by senior journalist Vir Sanghvi, both spoke about the "idea of freedom" and the independence of institutions.     


In his opening comment, Tharoor spoke about India's pluralism and diversities that served as its foundation. He said religion is personal and it has no place in the functioning of the State. In response, Dhankhar said there is no reason why religion should not be given importance, and that it's time one stopped being apologetic about his or her religion.


Watch the full interaction here:



Cost of EVs To Be At Par With Petrol, Diesel Vehicles In 2 Years: Nitin Gadkari


Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari was yet another eminent guest at the ABP Ideas Of India and he spoke about why India needed to become independent when it comes to fuel. He said the cost of electric automobiles would be at par with petrol-run vehicles in the next two years.


"Within two years, maybe one year as well, the cost of electric scooter, car will be same as petrol-driven scooter, car, autorickshaw. Prices of lithium-ion battery are coming down. The cost on electric vehicle will be one-tenth of what you spend now on petrol," Gadkari said.


Watch the full interaction here:



 


When Aamir Khan Said He Had Quit Film Industry For A While


Aamir Khan, known for his ‘Perfectionist’ tag and exceptional performances, had a candid exchange of words during the first ABP Ideas Of India Summit. During the session titled  "New Beginnings: Reorienting Entertainment", the actor also spoke about his relationship with his children during the pandemic.


"The label of Mr Perfectionist is inaccurate. But still, sometimes label stick with you no matter if you are actually that or not. I am not a Perfectionist. I am someone who is just trying hard and I love my work," he said.


"What I am really looking for is magic. As a creative person, I am always looking for a magical moment no matter if it is perfect or not. Usually, magical moments are not perfect. So I am a person who believes in getting that moment and not having it perfect," Aamir added.


The highlight of the session was when he revealed that he had quit the film industry for a while. Asked why, he replied: "I had informed my family that I won't be doing any films from now onwards. Neither I'll act nor I will produce any films. Now, I just want to spend my time with you all. My family was shocked."


Watch the full interaction here: