G. M. Rao

Grandhi Mallikarjuna Rao is a mechanical engineer, industrialist and the Founder Chairman of GMR Group. Over the last 4 decades, he has successfully established GMR Group as one of the most recognized brands in the country, creating national infrastructure assets of global scale. He has received various awards and recognitions. GM Rao received the Economic Times Entrepreneur of the year Award in 2007. He has also served on the prestigious Central Board of Directors of RBI from 2011 to 2015

“There is no impossible word in the dictionary of those who lead. No matter how big a challenge, they can be resolved with strong intentions and resolutions.”

These words of Swami Vivekananda prophesises the hallmarks of a Great Leader. Great leaders are said to have a vision and the ability to inspire others to help them turn that vision into reality.

Today, India has at its helm a truly magnificent, visionary leader who takes pride as recognizing himself as the Pradhan Sevak of the Nation. Our Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi Ji, with inherent strengths of strong determination, resilience, and ability to face adversity and turn it into opportunities, is the Leader that will take India to be a global Superpower and World Leader. His love and passion for India and its people is unmatchable.

Recently, I was invited by the Institute of Cost Accountants of India to address their members, as they were very anxious about the future of our Country due to the current pandemic. For my talk, I coined the theme ‘India: Superpower-to-Superpower’, which is India’s journey from being a superpower in 18th century to regaining its position as superpower in the current 21st century. I have no hesitation in sharing that my confidence of India regaining its superpower status was mainly because of our Honourable Prime Minister Modi ji.

India has always been a Guru to the world. Our rich heritage and culture has not only survived but also flourished over centuries. Our Prime Minister visualizes an India that is AatmaNirbhar, Self-sustaining, and provider to the world. The Prime Minister is working relentlessly to realise this dream, and we are at the cusp of achieving Greatness.

Shri Narendra Modi Ji has envisioned India as a Superpower by 2050. To achieve this vision, there are many challenges and complexities. The Covid crisis has drastically impacted our society, and our economies. However, our Prime Minister has always stood steadfast in the face of such monumental adversities.

In the challenging times of Corona, we were in need of many items that we needed to import but the world was unable to provide them. Under the stewardship of Shri Narendra Modi Ji, India stood up to the challenge. The youth of our nation, our entrepreneurs, the industries turned around the situation. The nation that never manufactured N-95, PPE kits, Ventilators etc. started doing so. We were not only able to meet our own requirements, but also became strong enough to export to the world.

We can very well see how a self-reliant India can help the world. Therefore, it is also the duty of India to work for the welfare of the world. Shri Narendra Modi Ji in his speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort on Independence Day very clearly laid out the roadmap to make India a Superpower. Our Prime Minister recognized the importance of India to become self- reliant. By following on the principles of Vasudeva Katumbkhum, ‘Whole world is one family’, we shall strive for not only financial development, but also for mankind and humanity.

Shri Narendra Modi Ji has rightly highlighted that the need of a world that is inter-connected and inter-dependent is for India to increase its contribution to the world economy.

By envisioning a 5 trillion economy by 2024, the Prime Minister has recognized India’s duty towards world welfare. It is our collective duty to make ourselves capable of contributing towards world welfare. With our strong roots and faith in our capability, we will be ableto take steps towards world welfare.

Shri Narendra Modi Ji has emphasized on the value addition of our abundant natural resources and human resources; and to take the country to new heights. India is full of energy of youth power, we have 34.33% share of youth in total population, the highest in the world. With the recent historic reform in education with New Education Policy, these youths will get the right kind of education and skills to contribute towards the growth of our beloved nation.

We must also forego our practice of exporting raw material and importing finished goods. India has all the necessary requirements to be the Manufacturing Hub of the world. We will have to resort to value addition of our capabilities as per the world’s requirements.

To be able to achieve these objectives, the Government of India led by Shri Narendra Modi Ji has initiated a number of reforms to facilitate inclusivity and growth. Policies and measures such as Jan-Dhan, National Education Policy, One Nation-One Ration Card, One Nation-One Grid, One Nation-One Tax, Insolvency and Bank Bankruptcy Code, National Infrastructure Pipeline and the effort for merger of banks, all these have touched people across all sections of society and positively impacted industries across all sector. Today, India has significantly improved its ranking in ease of doing business, and is now an attractive investment destination.

Shri Narendra Modi Ji’s efforts to provide for the vulnerable sections of the society have also been a boon to the underserved people. Campaigns have been launched to improve the lives of the toiling citizens of the country be it about their own bank accounts, owning apucca house, construction of such a large number of toilets, providing electricity connection in every house, providing a gas connection to free our mothers and sisters from the smoke, making efforts to provide insurance protection to the poorest of the poor, Ayushman Bharat Yojna to provide free treatment in the best of hospitals, connecting Ration shops through digital technology. Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyan has been launched to generate employment in their own villages. India is in real sense witnessing inclusive growth under the stewardship of Modi ji.

As Shri Narendra Modi Ji rightly believes, we are no less than anyone in the world. We will thrive to be the best. We have to be the best in manufacturing, best in human resources, finest in governance, and aim to make a headway while achieving the best in every field by the 75th anniversary of our Independence. It is the duty of each and every Indian to answer the call of our Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji to take our beloved Nation to Greatness, and leaving a rich and prosperous legacy to our children.

I join the entire nation in wishing Shri Narendra Modi Ji on 70th birthday, and we pray to the almighty for his continued leadership in taking India to the pinnacle. Swami Vivekananda’s words continue to inspire us when he says “Believe in yourself and the world will be at your feet.”

Jai Hind.