STANFORD, Calif. (Diya TV) — Renowned Indian attorney J. Sai Deepak is known for his candor and thus it was fitting that he was the first keynote speaker at the inaugural Stanford India Dialogue, hosted by the Stanford India Policy and Economics Club (SIPEC), a student-run organization.
Deepak dove into India’s historical evolution and ongoing sociocultural shifts.
With profound societal changes underway, Deepak spoke of comparing India’s journey post-liberalization to that of a middle-class Indian family in the nineties. He emphasized the impact of economic liberalization on cultural resurgence and suggested a delayed market liberalization contributed to the current cultural exploration.
A growing hunger for cultural reclamation was noted by Deepak, who highlighted an awakening to the inadequacies of the education system in representing India’s true history. He attributed this to the political shaping of the curriculum by colonial policies, which instilled a sense of self-loathing now challenged by the younger generation.
Discussing internal and external challenges, Deepak observed a diverse range of opinions within the non-left spectrum, noting a shift away from the left and the creation of space for diverse conversations.
Regarding the rising tide of Indic thinking in a constitutionally secular democracy, Deepak offered insights into the ongoing debate, highlighting the evolving nature of discourse and the need to establish the building blocks of the conversation.
Expressing gratitude for benefiting from previous generations’ sacrifices to awaken the Indic consciousness, Deepak characterized the current period as a culmination of collective efforts rather than individual endeavors.
Watch his remarks from Diya TV’s live broadcast of the event in full here:
