Spiritual Leader and Motivational Speaker, Pujya Dr Gnanvatsal Swami, addressed the gathering at The Festival of Manufacturing: 10 Years of Make in India, on 7th March 2024. His address centered around the principles of reinvention, involvement, and leadership.
He started with the analogy of building the biggest conventional Hindu temple in the world, the Akshardham. Initially projected to take 35 years to complete due to its size and scale, the temple was completed in merely five years, thanks to skill development initiatives. By sourcing talent from deep inside the villages of Rajasthan and Odisha and redeveloping their skills through workshops, the construction workforce expanded from 800 to over 5,000 skilled artisans. This highlights the crucial role of skill development in manufacturing sector growth, which will be a key theme for the next decade of Make in India.
Dr. Swami's narrative went beyond the physical construction journey of Akshardham. He emphasised its importance as a symbol of reinvention. The temple's London counterpart, with components created in Indian villages and assembled abroad, is a testament to India's innovation and capabilities.
Central to Dr. Swami's speech was the idea of internal transformation within organisations and individuals. He emphasised how an entity's internal composition directly correlates with its long-term success. Drawing a parallel with carbon-based materials like coal, graphite, and diamond, which vary greatly in value based on their internal structures, Dr. Swami highlighted how organisations achieving long-term success are shaped by their internal systems, i.e., their values and ethos.
What industries in India should aim for is value-driven and output-driven growth, prioritising ethics over mere profitability. Dr. Gnanvatsal Swami emphasises this sentiment, stating, "In the pursuit of profits, no matter how they come, organisations often abandon their values and resort to unethical practices. It is crucial to stick to one's internal values to uphold integrity to sustain long-term success."
Dr. Swami further advocated for a shift from competition to cooperation, talking about the recently inaugurated Ram Mandir in Abu Dhabi, as a proof of collaboration and resilience. In this project, manufacturing, and engineering, along with representatives from different religions, came together to create a marvel amidst the deserts of Abu Dhabi.
In summary, Dr. Gnanvatsal Swami's address underscored the importance of reinventing oneself and fostering collaboration within the manufacturing landscape. Through skill development, internal refinement, and collaborative endeavours, organisations and individuals can navigate challenges and pave the way for the coming decade of Make in India.
