Jaishankar criticises colonialism at WAVES 2025
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday said pluralism, although intrinsic to the world, had long been suppressed by colonialism and dominance by major powers.
Addressing the gathering at the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025 in Mumbai, he said building a fairer international system would require “giving voice to our traditions, heritage, ideas and creativity”.
He said the ongoing global transformation had a “strong cultural dimension”, and called for innovation and technology to be leveraged in ways that elevate diverse voices.
“That is best done by harnessing the power of technology more effectively,” he noted, adding that “innovation is key to leapfrogging that will create ‘Viksit Bharat by 2047’,” he added.
Jaishankar also called for accompanying changes in mindsets, policy frameworks and global practices to foster inclusive growth. “We need accompanying shifts in mindsets, frameworks, policies and practices to build a global workplace and workforce. Remember, neither talent nor tasking will be stationary. Smoother mobility can contribute to stronger creativity,” he said.
Pointing to the overwhelming volume of information in the digital age, he highlighted the challenge of capturing attention and the importance of preparing young people for this landscape. “It is particularly important that young talent is made ready for it, including through skills diffusion,” he remarked.
On the emerging role of artificial intelligence, Jaishankar warned of new challenges, from authenticity to intellectual property concerns. “Every advancement has its issues, and AI will be no different. Even as the politics of this era will grapple with authenticity concerns, businesses will have to deal with new intellectual property challenges as they promote innovation and creativity for all,” he said.
He also called for ethical and inclusive use of emerging technologies. “The responsible use of emerging technologies will be an increasing preoccupation. Reducing bias, democratising content and prioritising its ethics are all part of the emerging discourse,” Jaishankar said.
