At WAVES 2025, Jaishankar addresses issues of colonial legacy and global power imbalances

Foreign Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar on Thursday underscored the need to speak up to traditional cultures and harness technology with care to build an inclusive global future.

In his speech on day 2 at the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit WAVES 2025, he stated that pluralism, though integral in the global community, has long was hampered by colonialism as well as power dominance by the major powers.

"The world is intrinsically and essentially diverse, and pluralism has been suppressed in the past by both colonialism and big power dominance," Jaishankar stated.

He said that establishing an equitable international system will require "giving voice to our traditions, heritage, ideas, and creativity."

The minister stated that the global transformation has a "strong cultural dimension," and urged technology and innovation to be utilized to elevate the voices of diverse voices. "That is best done by harnessing the power of technology more effectively," the minister stated, adding the fact that "innovation is key to the leapfrogging that will create 'Viksit Bharat by 2047'."

Jaishankar has also called for changes in the mindsets, policies frameworks and global practice to encourage inclusive growth. "We require a shift in our mindsets, frameworks and policies and practices to create a global workforce and workplace. Be aware that neither tasking nor talent can be static. More mobility and smoother movement can lead to greater creativity" the man said.

In a discussion of the massive amount of information available in the modern age of information, Mr. emphasized the challenges of capturing attention as well as how important it is to prepare children for the digital world.

Concerning the growing role that is being played by Artificial Intelligence, Jaishankar warned of new threats, ranging in the realm of authenticity, intellectual property issues. "Every technological advancement comes with its challenges and AI is no exception. As the political landscape of this time will wrestle with issues of authenticity, companies will be faced with the new challenges of intellectual property in order to encourage the development of innovation and creativity for everyone," he said.