Rakesh Jhunjhunwala Memorial Lecture 2025: N Chandrasekaran on How AI Will Fuel India’s Growth Story

The Rakesh Jhunjhunwala Memorial Lecture 2025 was held in Mumbai on April 8, 2025. This lecture series honours the legacy of late investor and philanthropist, also one of Ashoka’s biggest champions, Rakesh Jhunjhunwala. The keynote address for the evening was delivered by N Chandrasekaran, Chairman, Tata Sons, who spoke about the immense potential that artificial intelligence (AI) holds for India to transform lives and enhance human capabilities.

The event was attended by over 250 people, including industry leaders, academics and distinguished guests. Chandrasekaran’s address focused on the growing relevance of Generative AI and the need for a uniquely Indian model that advances technology while complementing traditional systems.

“Many fear that AI is a job destroyer. However, the digital approach represents our greatest opportunity to create millions of new jobs. The ‘new’ is a very critical word here. Not a white collar, not a blue collar, but a ‘new’ collar. The new roles which infuse human skills with AI augmentation,” he said.

He stressed that while automation could replace some jobs, it also holds the promise of creating 30 to 40 million new opportunities by bridging existing access gaps.

Following his address, Chandrasekaran was joined by Amit Chandra, Ashoka Founder and Trustee and Pramath Raj Sinha, Chairperson, Board of Trustees, for a conversation.

In this interaction, Chandrasekaran spoke about achieving the vision of a Viksit Bharat and a $7 trillion economy by focusing on enabling enough capital for small and medium businesses and creating a support system. He expressed confidence in India’s growth trajectory and aspirations. He also highlighted the importance of scaling education and multidisciplinary research, particularly through institutions like Ashoka University.

The evening concluded on a heartfelt note with Rekha Jhunjhunwala, Partner at RaRe Enterprises and Director of the RaRe Family Foundation, reflecting on her husband Rakesh Jhunjhunwala’s deep admiration for the Tata Group and his vision for Ashoka.

She said, “Building Ashoka University to world-class standards was one of Rakesh Ji’s many dreams for India, and looking at its growth in size and reputation, I am confident that we are on track to fulfil his dream. I look forward to the day that the brightest minds from around the world seek admission into Ashoka.”

This was the second edition of the Rakesh Jhunjhunwala Memorial Lecture. In the first edition held in 2023, Uday Kotak, Founder & Director, Kotak Mahindra Bank, was the keynote speaker.