The third edition of Ahmedabad Design Week by Karnavati University was inaugurated and officially launched on February 26. General MM Naravane, Chief of Army Staff, Indian Army; along with Shri Hari Babu Srivastava, Outstanding Scientist and Director General – Technology Management (TM), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Prahlad Kakkar, Prahlad Kakar, Ad-Film Director and Founder of Genesis Film Production and Air marshal, Ravindra Kumar Dhir PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC is an advisor to Gujarat state for ‘Defence and Aerospace Industries’, launched this event. This year’s theme for the design week is to keep Design and Innovation In Defence and Aerospace; Thought Leaders, Startups, Investors from Defence Design Fraternity to participate.
The Ahmedabad Design Week will be held from today, i.e February 26th, 27th and 28th February 2022. Karnavati University is a state private university dedicated to excellence in teaching and is focused on interdisciplinary learning.
while welcoming the audience and the esteemed guests, Ritesh Hada, President, Karnavati University briefed the chief guests regarding the functioning of the university and features of its courses. Hada further said, “we are a design-centric university and like ou Indian army, we are unbeatable in the field of design and creative technology and for that what we have done amalgamation of liberal arts with creative technology, creative thinking, and emerging technologies. what I have in front of you are the students which are going to be the future of India and are going to make this dream of “make in India” come true through ‘Design in India’. This is our vision and we want to be the platform where all the patents ad copyright are not western technology anymore”
Prahlad Kakkar, Prahlad Kakar, Ad-Film Director and Founder of Genesis Film Production who belongs from a defence background also addressed the gathering and stated a few important points related to designing and defence warfare. ‘ design field is one of the most critical value-adding zones in the world, anything that can function better or is valuable is that so because of its design ts easier to use. Today we are sitting in a very uncomfortable world, a country which is supposedly a friend of ours has invaded another country and everybody who has been talking from the west about how much they are in solidarity with Ukraine are now standing on aside. What we don’t realise is that this goes very badly for us if China-funded Russia might side with China would want it to pitch a fight with us. So this is the time when we need to back up. we are still lagging as far as our defence capabilities are concerned, not in terms of bravery and fervour but in terms of technology. Hopefully, this cause creating independent defence production and design will help us through.”
He further added, ” The business of war today is economic and it is based on a country’s ability to sustain a war. we need to support our soldiers with the right kind of weaponisation “
the special guest of honour, Air marshal, Ravindra Kumar Dhir PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC is an advisor to Gujarat state for ‘Defence and Aerospace Industries’ while addressing the gathering said, ” national security is very essential for a nation, the nation becomes strong and secure through pillars which are jot just the military but are economic might, diplomacy, military power and many other factors. The Moment we will have self-reliance, the ‘make In India’ and Atmanirbharta will succeed. “
“The national leadership is creating an ecosystem to make India
strong. A leading manufacturing company may soon come into Gujarat for
defence manufacturing. This is where the scientists, DRDO and others
have to work together,” the Marshal further added.
He also explained how national efforts ensure the production and distribution of imported essentials during Covid times. ” army has given a befitting reply to our aggressors and has consistently displayed the will to survive and fight. There is enough to have faith in defence forces but today looking inwards for self-reliance is the most important for which skill development is equally important. Behind any equipment and weapon, adaptability and software design is very important, so if we master the design ourselves then we can adapt to success. Now the entrepreneurs and industry have to take the lead, and I can assure you that our industry is strong, this is the way to go forward.”
“If we do not change and innovate then we will be consigned to the scrapbook of history, change is exponential, it happens very fast.” he further stated the importance of compact and stackable designed items and their importance in the armed forces, “designing is jug mot about products but also about speed. Everything dies not to need to be a profound change but even small stackable items can also be of great use.”
While explaining the importance of novelty in design and technology, the Cioas also stated that “We have recently embarked in the journey of future-ready vehicle. if you design something, you have to foresee where it will bad dream 50 years from now. When you’re designing something today, you must see where it will be.50 years from now. Requirements of the modern-day battlefield are daunting and diverse. Designing a system that fits all in one is daunting. In designing, you must keep these aspects vital, essential and desirable in mind. If this aspect is kept in mind we would be able to do much better. For instance, a vehicle that can efficiently operate across all terrains or say develop a technology that makes potable water available easily in inaccessible areas. We are looking
for technology solutions.”
The general further stated that the defence system and nation need to concentrate on two things 1 future is electric. we need to emphasize E.V. vehicles. 2 Miniaturisation. packing more and more inro less and less.
The inauguration of the event was begun by the lighting of the lamp and after the speeches, all the chief guests rang the bell and announced the opening of the AWD 3.0.