The Oxford India Forum 2025 concluded as a landmark event that went far beyond symbolic engagement, evolving into a serious platform for shaping India’s global narrative with intellect, innovation, and introspection. Held at the University of Oxford, the second edition confirmed that the "India story" is not a projection of future potential but a statement of present global relevance.
Over the course of the event, policymakers, business leaders, scientists, entrepreneurs, and students engaged in deep, multidisciplinary discussions — exploring India’s path to becoming a compassionate superpower, a technological leader, and a cultural force grounded in its civilisational values.
From Ajay Piramal's call for empathetic development to Dr. S. Somanath’s vision of frugal innovation in space, and Preetha Reddy’s rally for gender equity in healthcare, the forum focused not just on how India will grow, but what kind of nation it aspires to be.
Key themes included:
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Demographic empowerment through skilling, education, and inclusion
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Ethical AI and digital sovereignty, articulated powerfully by Rajeev Chandrasekhar
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Cultural soft power and rooted globalism, highlighted by Gauranga Das and Ronnie Screwvala
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Healthcare reform, rural innovation, and media integrity as central to India's development
Speakers like K.T. Rama Rao and Kalli Purie urged young Indians to think boldly, ethically, and globally. Meanwhile, leaders like Naushad Forbes and Rajiv Mimani offered actionable insights on legal and economic reform to drive the $5 trillion economy goal.
Most importantly, the forum carved out space for multiple Indias — rural and urban, spiritual and scientific, local and global — to come together in dialogue. It projected an India that is not only rising, but redefining what leadership looks like in a fractured world.
With its growing influence, the Oxford India Forum is not merely a university event — it has become a serious incubator of ideas, action, and agency for India's next chapter on the world stage.
