I firmly believe 21st century belongs to India, our time has come: Nita Ambani

Reliance Foundation Chairperson Nita Ambani

Reliance Foundation Chairperson Nita Ambani on Saturday said that the essence of India's growth story lies in the pursuit of excellence and innovation and asserted that the 21st century belongs to Bharat.

Nita Ambani was speaking at the CNBC-TV18’s India Business Leaders Awards (IBLA) 2024 after being honoured for her Outstanding Contribution to Brand India.

She said that the recognition of her efforts is not just a personal honour but a tribute to our country India.

"India is where it all began. We are the cradle of civilisation. A land of timeless values and enduring wisdom. And today, India is also where the future is being shaped. We have the world's youngest population and the fastest growing economy. In many ways, this is a defining moment in India's journey. I believe our time has come," she said.

Recalling her early years, Nita Ambani said she was taught the values of loving and serving our country at a young age.

"I grew up in a family where Indianness was a way of life. My maternal grandmother was a Gandhian and a freedom fighter. From a very young age, we were taught the values of loving our country, serving its people and protecting its ideals. And then, I got married into a family that share the same deep sense of pride in India," she said.

She said the essence of India's growth story lies in the pursuit of excellence and innovation.

"These ideals are embedded in our DNA. Whether it is in our ancient text, our scientific achievements and the entrepreneurial spirit of every Indian."

She added that India is a living proof that "ordinary people can dream extraordinary dreams".

Nita Ambani also spoke about the state-of-the-art Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC), proudly highlighting how the centre has provided a global platform to showcase India's artistic brilliance.

"As a young Bharatanatyam dancer, I dreamed of creating a space where India's artistic brilliance could shine on the global stage. That dream became the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre. I am proud to share that we have so far hosted over 6,000 artists and over 2 million guests at NMACC. Not only from India, but around the world. In less than 2 years, NMACC has been named one of the top seven cultural spaces in the world ..." she said.

She also spoke about the landmark India House which was inaugurated during the Paris Olympic Games, marking a step in India's journey towards potentially hosting the Olympic Games in the future.

"Earlier this year, for the first time in Olympics history, we hosted the first ever India House at the Paris Games in 2024. India House became a space where we honoured our athletes, celebrated our stories and showcased India's beauty, depth, diversity, culture and heritage to the world," she said.

Nita Ambani recalled that a journalist said that if country houses were an Olympic category, the India House would win a Gold medal.

"We will take another bold step early next year by presenting India's bid to host the 2036 Summer Olympic Games in our country Bharat. This is the India I dream of, a nation that leads the world with its boldness brilliance, creativity and culture. A nation that does not just follow but sets the benchmark for excellence across industries," she said.

She asserted that the 21st century belongs to India, and particularly, the women.

"I firmly believe that this century belongs to India, more importantly, it belongs to us women. In our culture, Shakti, the divine feminine energy, embodies power, wisdom and progress," she said.

She urged everyone to re-dedicate themselves to building an India that "chases excellence, embraces innovation and carries its cultural heritage into a future of infinite possibilities."

"Let's create a Bharat that leads the world not just economically, but also with its heart, heritage and hopefulness," she said.