New Delhi Bureau. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday addressed the eighth Bloomberg New Economy Forum in the national capital — the first time the prestigious global gathering is being held in India — and placed a new mantra before the world: “Power to Empower”. Speaking at the three-day forum, which runs from 13 to 15 October and brings together more than 500 global leaders, the Prime Minister said that technology, data, knowledge and innovation have emerged as the true power of the third decade of the 21st century, but the real question is not who holds this power — it is how this power is being used.
“Today, technology is power, data is power, knowledge is power, innovation is power. But the real question is not who holds power. The real question is how power is being used. Will technology take only a few people forward, or will it create new opportunities for crores? Will knowledge remain the strength of a few, or will it make everyone stronger? This is where a new idea is born — power to empower,” the Prime Minister said.
From Control to Empowerment
The Prime Minister spoke of a fundamental shift in how power itself should be understood. “Beyond the power of control lies the power of empowerment. Beyond the power of competition lies the power of collaboration. Beyond the power of succeeding lies the power of helping others succeed,” he said.
Mr. Modi underlined that the right use of knowledge, wealth and power lies not in controlling others, but in protecting and enabling them. In this context, he cited the ancient Indian shloka — “Vidya vivaday, dhanam madaya, shaktih pareshaam paripeedanaya” — which warns that knowledge, wealth and power, when misused, lead to conflict, arrogance and the oppression of others.
“India Is the Mother of Democracy”
Calling India the “mother of democracy”, the Prime Minister said the country speaks more than 100 languages, has nearly 80,000 registered newspapers and publications, and over 1,000 satellite television channels. India, he noted, has more than 500 million YouTube users and more than 500 million Instagram users, with open debate on every issue. Digital power, he said, has only strengthened this culture of open discussion.
7.8 Per Cent Growth, Forex Reserves Above $700 Billion
The Prime Minister also presented India’s economic credentials. Growth stood at 7.8 per cent in the April–June quarter, foreign exchange reserves have crossed $700 billion, and reforms in taxation, insolvency and labour laws have strengthened the economy’s foundations, he said.
“We do not grow at anyone’s cost. We grow with the world. And we grow for the world,” the Prime Minister said, adding that in a world full of uncertainties, India inspires trust and stability.
From Cheap Data to the Village Shopkeeper
Recalling that mobile internet access itself was a privilege 12–13 years ago, the Prime Minister said the government after 2014 focused on making mobile data affordable, so that even a small shopkeeper in a village could reach customers. Connectivity, he said, has not merely connected people — it has connected opportunities. That, he added, is the true meaning of “power to empower”.
First Time in India — “Right Time, Right Place”
The Prime Minister welcomed Michael Bloomberg, the founder of the forum, saying he had chosen the right place at the right time. India, he said, stands ready to share its experience in digital identity, payments and public infrastructure — especially with the countries of the Global South.
Source: PTI
Photo: Prime Minister Narendra Modi — Wikimedia Commons (GODL-India)
