Om Birla Praises IITs as Global Solution Hubs at IIT-Delhi Event
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla addressed a major gathering at IIT-Delhi on Saturday, stating that solutions to both national and global challenges are now emerging from the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). Speaking at an event celebrating 75 years of the IIT ecosystem, Birla praised the innovative capacity of India's youth in driving global progress.
The event, held in Delhi, was organized by Pan IIT Alumni India, an organization representing over 500,000 IIT alumni. The gathering brought together a diverse audience of IIT alumni, academicians, and policymakers.
During the celebration, Birla launched a new book titled 'IIT: The Story of India’s Most Prestigious Educational Ecosystem'. The publication was written by Prabhat Kumar, the chairman of Pan IIT Alumni India.
In his address, Birla highlighted the international reputation that the institutes have built over the decades. He noted that during his visits to various countries, leaders and representatives frequently speak about the success of the IITs and express a desire to set up similar institutions for research, science, innovation, and technology in their own nations.
Birla emphasized that no other institution globally can compete with the quality, innovation, and research of the IITs. He credited this success directly to the dedication of the students and alumni.
"There are countries that are more developed than ours. But our youth and their thinking and capacity for innovation builds institutions. All of you have come from that hard work," Birla said.
He also spoke about the changing role of IIT graduates in the modern world. While IITians previously focused almost exclusively on the engineering sector, Birla observed that they are now actively working across multiple fields to address the needs of everyday citizens and the nation's progress.
According to the Speaker, IIT graduates are now tackling critical issues ranging from the COVID-19 pandemic and Artificial Intelligence to the challenges faced by farmers and the common man.
Birla concluded by stating that despite rising global competition, the IITs continue to do exemplary work in addressing the immediate and future challenges facing humanity. He asserted that India is increasingly becoming the center for these solutions, drawing global attention to its premier educational institutions.
