This initiative is inspired by the discussions on the online forum

Speech by The Honorable Ms. Neelam Deo

Consul General, Consulate General of India in New York

 

My distinguished colleagues on the stakeholder panel, Asia Society President Vishakha Desai, Mr. Bruce Nussbaum, Mr. Bunker Roy, and members of the resource panel who represent thought leadership from the field of design:

 

I am honored to address the “Design with India” strategy session. Organized by the New York chapter of the Industrial Designers Society of India, the Asia Society and the Confederation of Indian Industry, today’s strategy session flows out of the 6th CII Design Summit, held this past December in New Delhi. That summit convened leading figures in business, engineering, sociology and Indian arts and culture to help define a cultural background for design and innovation. The Design with India strategy session here in New York continues the discussion in New Delhi, and I am delighted to welcome all of you to be part of this creative process today.

 

The Design with India initiative emerged from the discussions from an online forum called Design-India. The exchange of ideas by this online community, comprised of innovators from around the world, provided a vibrant core to this strategic initiative. It has generated enthusiasm among institutions and individuals world wide who want to partner with India in its growing role as a significant player in the global economy. As you may know, Time Magazine awarded its Person of the Year award this year to the billions of individuals spread across the globe who are ushering in a silent revolution online by creating content and tools that are leading to innovative solutions for humanity. I congratulate Design-India Forum for their endeavors to create, foster and define new directions for design with India.

 

As a diplomat, I have spent my entire career helping to build bridges of understanding and cooperation between India and the rest of the world. I understand that design equals art plus science plus commerce—not much government there. However, it is important to sustain and upgrade existing design institutes and extend the concept beyond textile design, fashion design that is luxury to industrial design, incorporating every day use products. Moreover, I would like to believe that at its best, diplomacy is the fine art of building sustainable relationships and that collaboration between creative industries that enhance the quality of life for people across borders is an important aspect of public diplomacy. Therefore I am pleased that today’s strategy session continues to build on this tradition.

 

The world has entered the post-industrial age. People’s aspirations are no longer constrained by the limits of their environment or their geography. Exchange of information over the web, as well as the ease of travel, is blending world cultures and producing lifestyles, especially urban lifestyles. India has much to offer as a stimulus for creative minds looking to draw upon traditional skills, materials, and aesthetics to develop new platforms for inter-cultural experience. A diverse and dynamic India has produced numerous entrepreneurs and innovators who continue to have a significant impact in traditional fields such as medicine, the arts, humanities, economics, culture, education, and increasingly non-traditional fields of science and technology. The possibilities that could emerge from India’s continued engagement with the global community in the design field are limitless. Combined with other countries, regions, and cultures, Design with India aspires to produce the creative energy and impact that the world has not seen before.

 

I wish this strategy session great success and hope that the Design-India Forum will take its message to other countries as well.

 

Thank you.

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