O.P. Jindal Global University Launches World Ideas Forum to Celebrate Haryanas 60th Anniversary

Sonipat, October 31 (Daily Kiran) : O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU) in Sonipat has announced the inaugural World Ideas Forum, coinciding with the 60th anniversary of Haryana’s establishment. Scheduled for January 23-25, 2027, the forum will be themed “Where the World Ideas Meet.”

This annual global conference aims to bring together leaders from public life, academia, industry, science, technology, arts, and civil society. They will exchange ideas and explore solutions to pressing challenges of our time.

As Haryana enters its seventh decade since its formation on November 1, 1966, the state has a unique opportunity to celebrate its achievements while envisioning new possibilities for the future. The World Ideas Forum symbolizes JGU’s commitment to positioning Haryana as a hub for knowledge, creativity, international dialogue, and intellectual exchange.

The initiative envisions Sonipat as a city that welcomes the world and plays a pivotal role in shaping global conversations. This announcement connects a significant milestone in Haryana’s history with investments aimed at its future.

On this occasion, JGU seeks to demonstrate that a university can extend beyond classrooms. By fostering collaboration and creating a public platform, it aims to influence institutions, policies, and society through diverse perspectives.

Naveen Jindal, the founder and chancellor of O.P. Jindal Global University, remarked, “The 60th anniversary of Haryana is an opportunity to celebrate the entrepreneurship, determination, and aspirations of its people. It is also a time to make new commitments for the future. The state’s leadership in agriculture, industry, and sports lays a strong foundation for its advancement as a global center for education, innovation, and knowledge.”

He added, “We established O.P. Jindal Global University with the belief that a world-class university in Haryana would create new opportunities for India and deepen its connections with the world. The World Ideas Forum builds on that belief. By bringing global voices to Sonipat, we want to contribute to Haryana’s future and involve youth in discussions that will shape the coming decades.”

Under the tagline “Where the World Ideas Meet,” the forum will facilitate multidimensional and impartial dialogue between nations, cultures, professions, and generations. Held on the university campus, it will prioritize intellectual curiosity, evidence-based discourse, respectful disagreement, and openness to new perspectives.

The inaugural edition will focus on themes such as governance, economic development, education, science, technology, sustainable development, culture, and human welfare. Discussions will also address how society can meet technological changes, strengthen public institutions, expand opportunities, and prepare future generations for a more interconnected world.

The program will feature keynote speeches, leadership dialogues, fireside chats, public lectures, literary discussions, book launches, and cultural presentations. Additionally, there will be exhibitions showcasing innovation and startups, student debates, policy simulations, and displays related to art, music, theater, and design.

This comprehensive approach reflects the forum’s core belief that solutions to global challenges can only emerge through dialogue across diverse subjects and experiences. Scientists, artists, policymakers, entrepreneurs, scholars, and students will all contribute to deepening understanding and finding new solutions.

Professor (Dr.) C. Raj Kumar, the founding vice-chancellor of O.P. Jindal Global University, stated, “The World Ideas Forum is based on a simple yet powerful belief that the world of ideas can help us envision and create a better world. It is the responsibility of universities to create spaces where people can think freely, listen attentively, question beliefs, and learn amidst diversity.”

He emphasized, “Our vision is to bring the world to Sonipat and connect the ideas emerging from here to global conversations. On this occasion of Haryana’s 60th anniversary, we want to establish a dialogue platform that is not limited to the present but also considers possibilities for the coming decades. Central to this effort will be the youth, who will have the opportunity to learn from diverse perspectives and shape a shared future.”

The World Ideas Forum is designed as a long-term institutional initiative, with each subsequent edition fostering new relationships and ongoing dialogue beyond the annual event.

Proposed initiatives include the World Ideas Lecture, World Ideas Award, World Ideas Book Prize, and Global Young Ideas Fellowship. Additionally, platforms like the India Ideas Lecture, Future Leaders Dialogue, and Global Universities Roundtable will connect public leadership, higher education, and emerging talents. The proposed World Ideas Declaration, JGU Global Futures Report, and World Ideas Index will extend the forum’s intellectual discussions into public discourse and future collaborations.

At the heart of this vision will be students and young leaders. Their direct engagement with experienced leaders and experts will link education to public life issues and responsibilities.

For Sonipat, this forum represents an opportunity to build a distinctive international identity through education and the exchange of ideas. The arrival of participants from India and abroad at Haryana’s university campus will strengthen academic and cultural ties, promote new partnerships, and draw significant attention to the region’s potential.