03-09-2026 : Address by Hon’ble Governor on the topic “Eco-AI for Amrit Kaal – Artificial Intelligence for a Sustainable Himalayan Future”
Jai Hind!
Respected dignitaries, Hon’ble Vice-Chancellors and Directors of universities across Uttarakhand, eminent scientists, academicians, policymakers and experts from across the country and the state, Professor Dr. Tripta Thakur, Vice-Chancellor of Veer Madho Singh Bhandari Uttarakhand Technological University, and members of the university family, Dr. Anil Prakash Joshi, Founder of HESCO, representatives of scientific and research institutions, my dear students, young researchers and innovators, and all the respected citizens of Devbhoomi Uttarakhand.
It gives me immense pleasure to be amongst you today on such a visionary and timely theme as “Eco-AI for Amrit Kaal – Artificial Intelligence for a Sustainable Himalayan Future.” I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Veer Madho Singh Bhandari Uttarakhand Technological University, HESCO and UCOST for organising this important event.
This conference is a meaningful initiative to envision Artificial Intelligence as an effective bridge between the Himalayan ecosystem, human needs and sustainable development.
Friends,
The Himalayas are not merely a chain of mountains for us. They are the source of our life, culture, faith and civilisation. The rivers that originate in the Himalayas sustain millions of people. Its forests protect our water sources, preserve biodiversity and support the livelihoods of mountain communities.
The great poet Kalidasa described the Himalayas as a divine mountain king:
“Astyuttarasyam dishi devatatma
Himalayo nama nagadhirajah.”
—“In the northern direction stands the Himalaya, the divine mountain king.”
These words, spoken thousands of years ago, continue to remind us of the grandeur and dignity of the Himalayas. But today, we must ask ourselves: How well do we truly understand the Himalayas, and how prepared are we to protect their future?
Today, science and technology are transforming human life at an unprecedented pace. Artificial Intelligence is one of the most important forces driving this transformation. Therefore, the question before us should not simply be: What can AI do?
The larger question is: What can AI do for our society, our environment and future generations?
For a sensitive Himalayan state like Uttarakhand, this question becomes even more significant. Landslides, excessive rainfall, flash floods, risks associated with glacial lakes, forest fires, changing climate patterns and increasing pressure on water sources are some of the serious challenges before us.
The recent natural disaster in Nepal has also highlighted the vulnerability of the Himalayan region and the need to understand and strengthen disaster-management preparedness with even greater seriousness.
AI can help us move from response to preparedness.
By analysing satellite imagery, rainfall data, terrain characteristics, soil moisture and historical disaster records, we can identify areas that are vulnerable to various risks. Through sensors and real-time data, early-warning systems can be made more accurate and effective.
We may not always be able to prevent a disaster completely, but we can certainly reduce the damage it causes. At times, receiving an accurate warning even a few hours in advance can make the difference between safety and devastation for an entire village or region.
India’s indigenous space capabilities also provide an important foundation in this direction. Earth-observation information received from satellites is already being used in agriculture, water resources, forests, the environment and disaster management.
When satellite information, remote sensing, ground-based sensors and AI come together, data is no longer merely information—it becomes the basis for the right decision at the right time.
Friends,
For Uttarakhand, water is not merely a natural resource; it is also a part of our identity and our responsibility.
Our knowledge traditions have never regarded nature merely as an object for exploitation. The Atharvaveda reminds us:
“Mata Bhumih Putro Aham Prithivyah.”
—“The Earth is my mother, and I am her son.”
Today, science and AI can give this sense of responsibility a new capacity and dimension.
They can help us monitor changes in glaciers, rivers and water sources, assess water quality, and develop more scientific and effective strategies for future water security.
Our forests are not merely areas that absorb carbon. They protect water sources, prevent soil erosion, shelter biodiversity and remain deeply connected with the lives and livelihoods of mountain communities.
The use of AI alongside satellite imagery, sensors and camera traps can make the monitoring and protection of forests and wildlife more effective.
But one thing must remain absolutely clear: technology cannot replace the forest; technology must be our partner in protecting the forest.
Our ancestors understood nature through experience and tradition. Today, machines are attempting to understand the changing face of nature through data.
Our real success will come when local knowledge, scientific research, community experience and AI work together.
Agriculture, too, can benefit enormously from AI. Based on local weather conditions, soil characteristics and crop health, farmers can receive timely and scientific advice.
But technology must not be placed above the farmer; it must work with the farmer.
The generations of local knowledge possessed by the farmers of the mountains are an invaluable asset.
Tourism and pilgrimage hold a special place in the economy and culture of Uttarakhand. With increasing visitor pressure at Char Dham and other important destinations, it is essential to maintain a balance between development and the carrying capacity of the Himalayas.
AI can analyse visitor numbers, traffic patterns, weather conditions and the availability of facilities to promote a form of tourism that is safe, strengthens the local economy and respects the ecological limits of the Himalayas.
Another important priority is to ensure that the benefits of technology reach the last village in the mountains.
Given the limitations of internet connectivity and digital infrastructure in remote Himalayan areas, technologies such as Edge AI can prove particularly useful by enabling essential analysis and decision-making at the local level itself.
The true success of digital transformation will be achieved only when technology reaches the last village in the mountains and makes the lives of its people simpler, safer and more empowered.
Friends,
Universities have an extremely important role to play in this entire endeavour.
Veer Madho Singh Bhandari Uttarakhand Technological University has an opportunity to emerge as a strong centre for Himalayan technology and innovation.
Multidisciplinary research should be encouraged in areas such as AI, water security, disaster management, climate science, biodiversity, renewable energy and sustainable infrastructure.
My expectation is that our journey should move from the classroom to the laboratory, from the laboratory to the ground, and from research papers to real-world solutions.
The success of a university should not be measured only by the number of students who graduate from it.
We must also ask:
Is a student’s research helping us understand the risk of landslides?
Is a project helping conserve a water source?
Is an innovation enabling the early detection of forest fires?
Is a startup creating dignified employment opportunities in the mountains?
My young friends,
The opportunity before you is enormous.
Learn AI—but learn it with responsibility.
Conduct research that can identify disaster risks before they become disasters.
Develop technologies that can conserve water.
Create innovations that serve farmers and villages.
Ask yourself:
Is my knowledge making someone’s life better?
Is my research making the Himalayas safer?
The most important question is not how intelligent AI can become.
The question is: How much better can society become through our intelligence?
Along with the power of AI, we must also understand its limits and responsibilities.
A machine can provide us with data, but human sensitivity must remain at the heart of decision-making.
Technology can give us speed, but we must decide the direction.
Responsible AI means combining innovation with ethics, efficiency with accountability, and intelligence with compassion.
We are moving forward towards the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
The journey towards a developed India cannot be complete without the journey towards a developed, secure and sustainable Himalayas.
Uttarakhand can present to the world a model in which nature, culture and progress complement one another.
Let us understand the Himalayas, embrace science, use AI wisely and ensure that development remains accountable to both humanity and the environment.
The Himalayas give us height.
The rivers give us life.
The forests give us breath.
The Earth gives us shelter.
Science gives us the power to understand.
And AI gives us new possibilities.
Our responsibility now is to bring all these forces together for human welfare and the protection of the Himalayas.
Let us build a future where the speed of AI and the patience of the Himalayas move together; where the power of science and the dignity of nature coexist; and where the aspirations of development are balanced with the rights of future generations.
Because the true measure of development is that it enriches the present while safeguarding the future of generations yet to come.
This is the call of Amrit Kaal.
This is the message of the Himalayas.
And this is our responsibility—to ensure that we leave behind for future generations not merely a developed India, but also a safe, prosperous and living Himalayas.
Jai Hind!