Kharagpur (West Bengal), Aug 18 (NationPress) The global landscape is shifting from traditional warfare to technology-driven conflicts, and our preparedness will shape our future, stated Gautam Adani, Chairman of the Adani Group, on Monday.

During his address at the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of IIT Kharagpur, Gautam Adani remarked that the battles we face today are often concealed, fought not in trenches but in server farms.

"The weapons of today are algorithms, not firearms. Empires are constructed in data centers, not on land. The armies of the present are botnets, rather than traditional battalions," the billionaire industrialist shared with the audience. He emphasized the need to fight for the freedom of self-reliance.

“You are the future freedom fighters. Your innovations, software programming, and ideas are the weapons of today. You will determine whether India commands its own destiny or yields it to others,” Gautam Adani conveyed to the students and faculty.

“I firmly believe that the era of transformation we are witnessing is unprecedented. The battlefield extends beyond our national borders; it encompasses our technological leadership and our capability to remain at the cutting edge of global innovation," he stressed.

“This involves reimagining every business, reinventing every sector, and redefining every rule—so that we lead, rather than merely compete as low-cost players in the international arena. Because, in a world governed by robotics and AI, cost advantages can vanish instantly, and we risk losing our competitive edge. Companies may become more potent than many nations," Gautam Adani asserted.

In the coming decade, numerous companies that currently seem invincible may cease to exist. They will not disappear due to lack of resources, but because they cannot keep pace with the rapid scale of change.

"The same applies to educational institutions! They, too, must evolve. They need to adapt to the speed of transformation, drive advanced research, and remain accountable for real-world impacts. It’s no longer sufficient to produce brilliant graduates; we must cultivate brilliant patriots armed with ideas, discipline, and the resolve to make India unassailable," emphasized the Adani Group Chairman.

The harsh reality is this—when knowledge becomes a commodity, when skills can be downloaded, and when AI can solve engineering challenges in moments, we must question—what will the future hold for an engineering or technical degree? How should we prepare?

"Because the lifespan of technical knowledge has diminished from years to months—perhaps even weeks. This signifies that the gap between academic theory and industry reality is widening faster than ever. The new currency is abundance. Abundance of innovative ideas. Abundance of swift adaptation. Abundance of relentless reinvention," he outlined.

“In this new battle, India will require its brightest minds. And you, dear professors, are the guardians of these minds. Minds trained on this very campus, equipped to think beyond textbooks, prepared for quick innovation, and imbued with the courage of discovery as a national obligation. This is not merely a call to uphold the legacy of our premier institutions; it is indeed a call to design a different future before it’s too late," Gautam Adani concluded.