New Delhi: Those who inspire society through their knowledge, personality, and leadership are the real stars. The stars of Bengal have been gaining widespread recognition on the global stage. From the Nobel Prize stage to the cricket field, the world has seen the excellence of Bengalis. TV9 Bangla remembered those stars and organised Nakshatra Samman, 2025 in Kolkata in their honour. During this programme, Barun Das, MD and CEO of TV9 Network, reminded us that these stars can become our source of inspiration and help us reach our goals.
MD and CEO Barun Das said, “At the beginning of 2025, I felt that the lifestyle of people around the world could change. Life will not be the same as before. We will have two options, rise or fall. We will not be stuck at one place.”
Clarifying his thoughts, Barun Das said, “I am not predicting. Two things have impressed and influenced me. One is AI. Technological discoveries like the wheel, electricity, air travel, computers or the Internet have taken human history down on a new path. The adverse effects of these discoveries were not very significant. However, AI is different. No one knows whether its impact on humanity will be more positive or negative.”
‘Difference between Trump and India’s policies’
Barun Das pointed at geopolitical uncertainty as the second reason. He said that elections were held in 60 countries in 2024. Therefore, he believes that this geopolitical uncertainty, combined with technological changes, will create a rare situation that can usher in changes in our lives.
Barun Das added that our neighbouring country has brought its 55 years of bloody history into the present. Then came Donald Trump. Globalisation of the economy since the Second World War had created a situation where major economies, except China, did not focus only on themselves but tried to complement each other. However, Trump and his tariff policies have disrupted the 80-year-old practice of the world, he said.
Comparing India’s policies with the US, Barun Das said, ‘I believe Trump can make America great. Americans voted for him for this reason. There is nothing wrong in this. When our Prime Minister Narendra Modi says ‘India First’ or Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee says ‘Bengal First’, there is no problem in it. However, there is a difference between Trump’s policies and India’s policies.”
He further said that we know that under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, India thinks that its development and rise should not be at the cost of someone else’s downfall. India has created a unique position for itself with its foreign policy of inclusiveness. Almost every country wants to be friends with us. In this way, India will be able to regain its prominent position on the world stage, he underlined.
Lauds Sourav Ganguly’s leadership skills
Barun Das highlighted the vital opportunity for excellence in West Bengal. He reminded that whenever India achieved global success, Bengali leadership played a crucial role. Barun Das said that from India’s first multinational industrialist Ramdulal Dey in the 19th century to Satyendra Nath Bose and Jagadish Chandra Bose in science, Rabindranath Tagore in literature, Satyajit Ray in cinema and Amartya Sen and Abhijit Banerjee in economics, Bengalis have played a leading role in establishing India’s global identity.
Barun Das also commended former Team India cricket captain Sourav Ganguly. He praised Ganguly’s exceptional leadership skills. The MD said that we know where Sourav Ganguly has taken the Indian cricket team and there is no turning back from there. “If Sourav was a football player, perhaps we would also be dreaming of playing in the World Cup.” Barun Das said that Ganguly’s leadership has taught not only the cricket world but the entire world how to lead in an effective and strong way.
He said that if India becomes a global superpower, Bengalis will lead it. Bengal has historically given birth to influential leaders who have contributed significantly to the development of India, he pointed out.
His message for the youth
Barun Das added, “I want to tell young Bengalis to dream big. Chase your dreams. When you chase your dreams, you need hard work as well as inspiration. Today, we are honouring some Bengalis who can be our inspiration and that inspiration will help us achieve our goals.”
Barun Das concluded his speech with a quote from Winston Churchill. He said, “I may not agree with everything that Churchill said, but I have always admired his indomitable courage. He never considered defeat as an option. Churchill once said, ‘A pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity, while an optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty’.”
