On 8 October, Łukasiewicz – ITECH hosted a meeting devoted to contemporary India and the launch of the book “Trzecia potęga świata? Czy Indie staną się światowym supermocarstwem”, published by Prześwity and written by Adam Burakowski – former Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to India and a non-resident fellow of the Łukasiewicz – ITECH Asia Programme. The discussion with the author was moderated by Michał Matlak, Director of Łukasiewicz – ITECH.
Paweł Kowal, Member of the Sejm and Chair of the Sejm Foreign Affairs Committee, also attended the event. He asked, among other things, about India’s business elites and the growing presence of Indian executives in some of the world’s largest companies.
The meeting brought together individuals who have long been engaged in strengthening Polish-Indian relations. Kinga Gajewska, Member of the Sejm and Chair of the Polish-Indian Parliamentary Group, highlighted Adam Burakowski’s ability to present India in an accessible way while still conveying the country’s complexity. Mohan Lal, Counsellor and Head of Chancery at the Embassy of India in Warsaw, also took the floor, stressing Poland’s importance as a partner for India in a changing international environment.
The discussion began with the author’s personal experiences and his long-standing interest in India. Adam Burakowski recalled his first visits to the country, which gradually developed into a deeper engagement with its economic, social and political transformation. The conversation then broadened into a reflection on the sources of India’s growing global importance and the role the country may play in the evolving balance of power.
Among the key topics discussed were:
- India’s economic transformation – from a highly regulated model towards an economy increasingly driven by private enterprise, the growth of domestic companies and international expansion;
- the distinctive features of Indian democracy – operating within a country marked by immense social, cultural and regional diversity, with a strong role played by state-level authorities;
- strategic autonomy in foreign policy – India seeks to preserve freedom of action and maintain a balance in its relations with the world’s major powers, while consistently strengthening its own position;
- demography as both an opportunity and a challenge – India’s young population could become one of the country’s greatest development assets, provided the right conditions are created to harness its potential;
- relations with Poland and the European Union – as India’s global importance grows, so too does the scope for expanding economic, scientific and technological cooperation.
- The discussion also covered scientific cooperation, the significance of Indian culture and the film industry, and whether the country will be able to sustain its pace of development by capitalising on its demographic advantage.
The meeting demonstrated that India can no longer be viewed solely as a rapidly growing economy. Its expanding demographic, technological and economic potential is increasingly translating into greater political influence, while India is also becoming an ever more important partner from both the Polish and European perspectives.
At the close of the meeting, the Director of Łukasiewicz – ITECH announced a forthcoming seminar devoted to EU–India and Poland–India relations, building on the themes discussed during the event.
We congratulate Adam Burakowski on the publication of his book and thank all our guests for an inspiring discussion on contemporary India.
