By Prof. (Dr.) Nirupam Bajpai
Prof. (Dr.) Nirupam Bajpai, Senior Advisor and Director of the South Asia Program at Columbia University’s Centre for Sustainable Development, delivered a thought-provoking lecture on “Viksit Bharat 2047: Integrating Sustainable Development and Its Goals into India’s Development Vision.”
At the heart of his address, Prof. Bajpai argued that India’s aspiration to be a developed nation by 2047 cannot rest on economic growth alone. True progress, he emphasised, must integrate robust healthcare, universal foundational learning, gender equity, sustainability, and innovation. Drawing lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, he highlighted the urgency of strengthening rural health systems. He identified education as a cornerstone, noting that early literacy and numeracy directly shape long-term national productivity. He also stressed that the SDGs are interlinked: policies in health, education, and climate resilience must converge to drive inclusive growth. Turning to the audience, he called upon youth to act as catalysts of change, whose integrity, innovation, and leadership would define India’s future.
The lecture was marked by lively interaction, with students raising questions on balancing growth with ecology, ensuring equitable access to learning, and pathways for contributing to governance. The session also opened doors for collaboration between Chanakya University and Global Universities, exploring avenues in research, exchange, and policy engagement.
Earlier, Prof. Bajpai was welcomed by Prof. Chetan Singai, Dean of SLGPP, and the event concluded with a token of appreciation presented on behalf of the university.
