Advantage India Is Advantage to Humanity: VP Radhakrishnan

• Vice-President calls for equitable access to technology
• Book explores India’s global opportunities and strengths
• India’s technological growth linked to human welfare
• Citizens urged to help build Viksit Bharat

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 23rd Oct: Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan on Friday said innovations and emerging technologies should benefit all humanity rather than remain the exclusive property of any one country. He made the remarks while releasing Anil K. Antony’s book, Advantage India: Reshaping the Future for an Equitable World, at Uprashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi.

Congratulating Antony and publisher Rupa Publications, the Vice-President said the book examines India’s transformation and the opportunities emerging for the country in a rapidly changing world. He highlighted India’s civilisational heritage, democratic traditions, demographic strength, growing economy, robust institutions and expanding technological capabilities as key national strengths.

Radhakrishnan said India’s development journey under Prime Minister Narendra Modi had brought improvements in areas such as education, housing, sanitation, healthcare and food security. He noted that more than 25 crore people had been lifted out of absolute poverty and emphasised the importance of inclusive growth.

Highlighting women-led development, he referred to the emergence of more than three crore Lakhpati Didis. He also pointed to the expansion of educational and healthcare infrastructure, including IITs, AIIMS, medical colleges and other higher education institutions, alongside improvements in connectivity through Vande Bharat trains, airports, highways and railway stations.

The Vice-President recalled how India moved from initial apprehension about computers to becoming a global information technology powerhouse. He said emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and machine learning, offered fresh opportunities, while emphasising the importance of leadership in directing technological progress towards societal welfare.

Referring to the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, Radhakrishnan highlighted India’s growing indigenous manufacturing capabilities. He cited the commissioning of INS Samarthak, an indigenous multipurpose vessel, as an example of the country’s expanding domestic defence production.

On India’s international role, he recalled the country’s G20 Presidency and its emphasis on Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam — the world is one family. He also highlighted India’s role in the inclusion of the African Union in the G20 and its growing engagement with the Global South.

The Vice-President cited India’s response during the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that the country conducted a nationwide vaccination drive and supplied vaccines to more than 100 countries. He said this reflected India’s commitment to global solidarity and service to humanity.

Emphasising the need for fair access to technological progress, Radhakrishnan said sovereign countries should be treated equally and that new innovations must serve the collective welfare of humanity. He reiterated that “Advantage India is Advantage to Humanity,” calling for an equitable approach to emerging technologies.

He also described Viksit Bharat by 2047 as both an aspiration and a responsibility, stressing that nation-building requires active participation from every citizen and cannot be achieved by the government alone.

The Vice-President expressed hope that Antony’s book would encourage young Indians to engage more deeply with technology, economics, public policy, international relations and nation-building.

Professor Ajay Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India; Dr. Shamika Ravi, economist and member of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council; author Anil K. Antony; and Kapish Mehra, Managing Editor of Rupa Publications, attended the event along with diplomats and other dignitaries.