The Panjab University, Chandigarh, celebrated its Foundation Day with a PU Colloquium lecture by Infosys co-founder Senapathy ‘Kris’ Gopalakrishnan on ‘The Transformative Power of Technology: Catalysing India’s Future.’ The PU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Renu Vig, presided over the colloquium, which coincided with PU Foundation Day. In his motivational lecture, Padma Bhushan awardee Gopalakrishnan underlined the critical role of PU in shaping India’s journey towards Viksit Bharat 2047. He called upon the university to expand its mission beyond teaching and research, to become a launchpad for innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology-led solutions. “This institution has shaped leaders for generations. Today, it must lead again, by building a research and innovation ecosystem that not only creates knowledge but also companies, jobs, and solutions for India’s biggest challenges,” he said. Chairman of Axilor Ventures, Senapathy Gopalakrishnan, highlighted that India stands at an unprecedented inflexion point, with a chance to lead globally in the next wave of technological revolutions. Areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, new materials, and biotechnology, he noted, present opportunities for India to shift from being a consumer of imported technologies to becoming a global innovator and owner of foundational Intellectual Property (IP). “To achieve the vision of Viksit Bharat, India must seize leadership in these sectors, create world-class businesses, and ensure IP ownership remains within the country,” he stressed. Pointing to India’s success in IT services, today a USD 300 billion industry employing 5.5 million people, he urged academia and policymakers to replicate such achievements across new technology domains. “Technology is the ultimate economic multiplier. By leveraging it, India can create wealth, high-value jobs, and global market leadership,” he said, urging students to embrace disruption, acquire interdisciplinary skills, and lead the charge in shaping India’s technological destiny.
