Udaipur: Rajasthan Legislative Assembly Speaker Professor Vasudev Devnani emphasized that India must move beyond the “Make in India” approach and adopt the vision of “Design and Develop in India” to progress on the path of national development. He stated that this requires confidence in India’s ancient knowledge, present-day talent, and available resources, along with a strong focus on research and development.

He was addressing the valedictory session of the Vice-Chancellors’ Conference of Western Region Universities held on Wednesday at Hotel Lotus County in Debari, Udaipur, where he attended as the Chief Guest. The theme of the conference was Self-Reliant India through Swadeshi, Economic Nationalism, and Technological Nationalism.

In his address, Devnani highlighted that in ancient India, every village functioned as a self-reliant unit—serving not only as a center of production but also of knowledge and self-sufficiency. He illustrated India’s rich intellectual heritage by referring to renowned ancient institutions like Takshashila University and Nalanda University, as well as pioneers such as Sushruta, and mathematicians and astronomers like Aryabhata and Brahmagupta.

He noted that concepts in modern physics, such as the unified field theory, resonate with Vedic ideas like Aham Brahmasmi. Stressing the importance of the “Local for Vocal” initiative, he described it as the foundation of a self-reliant India and a driver of economic nationalism. He further urged the nation to advance toward “Design and Develop in India” by building technological expertise domestically and focusing on complete production within the country.

Devnani pointed out that India has progressed from being the 11th largest economy in 2014 to the fourth largest today, and is on track to become the third largest soon. He emphasized that rather than aspiring to be a dominating superpower, India aims to become a guiding force for the world—promoting human welfare, much like in ancient times.

The closing session was chaired by Professor Vinay Kumar Pathak. Distinguished guests included Atul Kothari, Rajendra Singh Shekhawat, and Dr. Pankaj Mittal.

Vice-Chancellors Are the Pillars of Universities; Inspire the Next Generation

Devnani stressed the importance of educating the younger generation about the greatness of India’s ancient knowledge systems. He said Vice-Chancellors play a crucial role as the backbone of universities and should embody and promote a spirit of nationalism in their conduct to create a positive academic environment.

He also expressed his views on academic research, stating that the benefits of PhD research should reach the last person in society. Emphasizing that India’s future lies in its villages, he concluded that universities will play a key role in shaping and documenting that future.

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