As New Delhi’s diplomatic, academic, and policy communities gathered to mark the first Foundation Day of the Chintan Research Foundation (CRF), Mr. Shishir Priyadarshi, President of CRF, extended an eloquent welcome to the distinguished dignitaries, setting a tone of warmth and intellectual friendship for the occasion.
It was both commemorative and forward-looking, a reflection of the spirit with which CRF was conceived—an institution born not out of institutional legacy, but from a courageous commitment to ideas, inquiry, and impact.
He credited the vision of Mr. Gautam Adani for CRF’s inception, quoting his core belief that “the future will not be shaped by the loudest voices, but by those who dare to ask the hardest questions.” This guiding principle, he noted, continues to anchor the Foundation’s mission—to be a space where difficult questions are not avoided but embraced.
He compared the process of founding CRF to parenting: unpredictable, exhausting, yet full of joy. Every milestone—from publishing the first op-ed to launching the website—was celebrated like a triumph. What anchored the Foundation through these formative moments was a core belief: that asking difficult questions and walking challenging paths lead to the most meaningful destinations.
From its earliest days, CRF positioned itself at the confluence of three timely and vital themes: climate change, global trade and economy, and international relations.
On climate change, the Foundation seeks to examine how India and other developing countries can balance their net-zero aspirations without sidelining developmental imperatives. “After all,” he reminded the audience, “2047—India@100—comes before 2070. We must not forget the present in pursuit of the future.”
With over two decades of experience at the WTO, Mr. Priyadarshi also highlighted the importance of rethinking global economic governance in ways that support inclusive prosperity, self-reliance, and a reinvigorated private sector. As India charts its path toward its 2047 vision, CRF aims to be a thought partner in reimagining this economic path.
In the realm of international relations and strategic affairs, the Foundation focuses on reflecting and amplifying the voice of the Global South amid a rapidly evolving global order. CRF’s perspective, he asserted, is not to merely respond to global events but to proactively shape narratives through foresight and reflection.
At the heart of CRF’s mission lies the value of introspection that leads to action. “Chintan means reflection,” he explained. “But this reflection must lead to prayaas—action. Measurable, purposeful, people-centred action.” That idea, he said, informs the team’s daily efforts. “Your focus determines your reality,” he declared. “Our job is to cut through the noise, find clarity, and pursue truth—even when it’s inconvenient.”
Though the event marked a year since the Foundation’s establishment, Mr. Priyadarshi stressed that the real journey lies ahead. The vision for the future includes hosting deeper and more ambitious conversations across India and internationally, producing ideas that challenge convention, and convening cross-sector dialogue between unlikely allies—diplomats and data scientists, policymakers and poets, climate activists and gender advocates.
“We want to build a space,” he said, “where thinking itself becomes a tool for action—and action becomes a catalyst for inclusive, sustainable change.”
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