Pune: Spiritual leader Dalai Lama underscored the importance of integrating ancient Indian knowledge with contemporary approaches to promote economic development and global harmony.

Speaking about the relevance of mental training techniques like meditation, the Dalai Lama expressed optimism about the youth shaping the 21st century and urged collective efforts to create a morally sound foundational path for the world.

The Dalai Lama’s message was read out during the symbolic inauguration of Pune International Centre’s (PIC) new campus on Republic Day (January 26) by PIC President Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar.

The event saw the presence of key PIC members, including Vice President Dr. Vijay Kelkar, Treasurer Dr. Ravi Pandit, General Secretary Prashant Girbane, and Director Major General Nitin Gadkari.

In his address, the Dalai Lama commended Pune’s dynamic intellectual environment, which PIC utilizes as a platform to deliberate on critical issues influencing regional and national policies.

A Landmark for Independent Policy Research

Highlighting the uniqueness of the institution, Dr. Vijay Kelkar stated, "PIC is the first fully autonomous think tank, breaking the monopoly of Delhi in policy research." Echoing this sentiment, Dr. Ravi Pandit emphasized the campus’s focus on independent, objective, and actionable policy development.

Dr. Prashant Girbane detailed PIC’s journey from a modest beginning to becoming a center with state-of-the-art infrastructure. He expressed hope that the campus would inspire transformative ideas and continue to make an impact on national and global policies.

The event concluded with Dr. Mashelkar describing the new campus as the fulfillment of a dream. “PIC is a torchbearer of change. When people think of Pune, they must associate it with PIC,” he said.