New Delhi & South Asia India’s Global Significance
From the Mughal grandeur of The Red Fort and Jama Masjid to the subtle beau- ty of Lutyen’s colonial Delhi, it is a city that travels through time. And it boasts of modern travel too: a clean and effi- cient metro system that ferries millions through the city everyday. It is a city that can be old and then new within seconds; it serves as a vivid classroom for aspiring young minds. The streets of Delhi whisper and shout tales of politics, governance, and history. It is home to the seat of power in India, where the nation’s policies and future are shaped. Students abound in the city and actively engage in its politics, history, and culture. It’s also a city that breathes business—from the bustling markets of Chandni Chowk to the modern, sleek cor- porate towers of Gurgaon, students can feel the diverse economic fabric of India. Delhi is perfectly located to take ad- vantage of the long Baret weekends. Just 240km to the south of Delhi is the Taj Mahal—a true wonder of the world. Addi- tionally, beautiful and iconic Indian towns like Jaipur, Mussoorie, and Haridwar are all within striking distance from Delhi. Most importantly, we are visiting Del- hi in its prime: the spring. The sky will be blue, the thick, red flowers of the Semal Tree will be in bloom, and the great festi- val of colour, Holi, will be celebrated. Delhi is the best city in India to host our Morning Program. There are over 200,000 businesses in Delhi, 91 colleges associated with Delhi University, and innumerable NGOs, think tanks, and policymakers. We invite influential cur- rent and past politicians from a range of political parties, journalists and publish- ers from powerful news organizations like NDTV and The Hindustan Times, students, activists, and researchers from Delhi University, IIT, and Ashoka, and world-renowned artists and authors. We bring together 50 of the very best from the great range that Delhi has to offer, which opens up the city in fascinating ways.
INDIA, THE world’s largest democracy, is home to 1.4 billion people and the world’s 5th largest economy. It is a land of deep diversity—religious, linguistic, geograph- ic, economic, cultural, and social—and a state grappling with the tensions of plu- ralism, secularism, and inclusion. Its rise as a major global player through its bur- geoning economy, growing middle class, and geopolitical significance is a transi- tion to behold. However, India’s future is only one of its many treasures. The subcontinent is the home of Yoga, Mahatma Gandhi, Bol- lywood, Gautam Buddha, Ayurveda, and the Taj Mahal. It is a kaleidoscope of tradi- tions, histories, and people. There are 122 major languages. Prior to colonization, India was the richest region of the world. Its spiritual and philosophical teachings, from the Vedas and Upanishads, have in- spired countless visionaries. TS Eliot once said that the great philosophers of India “make most of the great European philos- ophers look like schoolboys”; The Beatles’ wrote their White Album while in Rishi- kesh, and a statue of Nataraja—a dancing Lord Shiva—stands outside CERN. Today, India is a place of ambition. It has the largest youth population; it is the home of the CEOs of Microsoft and Goo- gle; it recently landed a spaceship on the south pole of the moon. India is where tradition meets innovation, and where ancient wisdom collides with 659 million smartphone users. Why Delhi? THE NATIONAL Capital Region of Delhi has an estimated population of over 28 mil- lion. It is the second-largest metropolitan area in the world. It is dense and sprawl- ing, rich and poor, historical and modern. Strategically located on the banks of the Yamuna River, Delhi has been the capital of the region 4 times over—during the Sultanate, the Mughal Empire, the British Empire, and now modern India.
“India lives in several centuries at the same time.” ARUNDHATI ROY “To other countries, I may go as a tourist, but to India, I come as a pilgrim.” MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR
The Lotus Temple, Delhi
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