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September 6, 2025

From Legacy to Leadership:
Gautam Adani’s Rallying Cry at IIT Kharagpur’s Platinum Jubilee

IITKGP Foundation

At the 75th Foundation Day celebration of IIT Kharagpur, Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani delivered a keynote that transcended traditional convocation speeches—blending visionary strategy with stirring personal narrative, and prompting a heartfelt response from students across social platforms.

Addressing the assembled faculty, alumni, and students, Adani reframed modern challenges: “The wars that we have to fight today are often invisible. They are fought in server farms, not in trenches; the weapons are algorithms, not guns; the empires are built in data centres; the armies are botnets.” He warned that India’s digital and strategic vulnerabilities are magnified by its deep dependence on imports—90% of semiconductors and 85% of oil—meaning that “a single geopolitical incident can restrict our growth.”

He emphasized that true freedom in the 21st century must be anchored in Atmanirbharta—self-reliance in technology, energy, defense, and data sovereignty—and called for a national shift from being consumers of innovation to becoming its creators.

Adani challenged students with a powerful metaphor:

“One train takes you to a salary. The other takes you to a legacy. And only one train carries the pride of building Bharat.”

He recounted leaving Ahmedabad for Mumbai at just 16, guided only by conviction, reinforcing his belief that a life of purpose outweighs a path of comfort. 

Backing his vision with concrete action, Adani launched the Adani-IITKGP Platinum Jubilee Change Makers Fellowship, aimed at channeling India’s brightest minds into work that advances national priorities across innovation, infrastructure, and technology. He also announced the creation of “living laboratories” on campus—dynamic innovation hubs focused on renewable energy, logistics, and airports, where students can pilot real-world solutions.

Adani concluded his speech with a concise four-point framework for action:

  1. Be the new freedom fighters of Bharat

  2. Build first for Bharat

  3. Fortify our foundations

  4. March as one team for Bharat

For the alumni community—whether innovators, educators, or entrepreneurs—Adani’s speech offers both inspiration and a call to reengage:

  • Mentor the next generation: Help students turn ideas into tangible impact through guidance and collaboration.

  • Bridge academia and industry: Participate in or support living labs and fellowship programs to co-create solutions for national scale.

  • Champion India-first innovation: Leverage experience and resources to help position India as a global originator, not merely a consumer.

Gautam Adani’s address at IIT Kharagpur reminded us that the fight for freedom continues—now fought with algorithms, renewable grids, and homegrown systems. For alumni, it’s not just a speech—it’s a renewed summons to lead, to build, and to leave a legacy worthy of Bharat’s truest aspirations.