India's Contibution to Global Economy Was 25% Before Colonial Rule: Hardeep Puri Takes Down West

New Delhi: India's Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, tore into the "contrived" Western narratives about India's progress, calling for a shift in how the global community views the nation. 

Puri challenging the often disparaging Western narrative about India’s past said, “It's easy to buy into the contrived Western narrative, which has historically looked down upon India as a land of snake charmers, a place where nothing works.”

However, Puri pointed to India’s pre-colonial past, when the country contributed 25% of the world’s GDP, a stark contrast to the "two centuries of colonial domination" that reduced India's global economic share to a mere 2%. 

He emphasized that India’s historical significance was being rediscovered. He also addressed the skeptics who once labeled India as part of the "fragile five" economies but have since been forced to reconsider. 

"When Prime Minister Modi assumed office, India was the 11th largest economy in the world. Just ten years later, we are now set to become the 4th largest economy, and within a year, we will be the 3rd largest," he stated. 

‘No One Questions India’s Rise Anymore' 

Puri drew attention to the fact that no one questions India’s rise anymore, but there “remains a persistent, subtle skepticism from Western commentators who continue to question India’s status as a 'developed' country.”

Puri took a pointed jab at this line of questioning, referencing the moment India surpassed the United Kingdom in economic size. "When we surpassed the UK to become the fifth-largest economy, there was a hint of disbelief in the global discourse," Puri remarked. 

"Yet no one questions our position in the top ranks now, except for those who still wonder if India can truly become a developed nation." 

Puri further said that India is no longer a passive recipient of global narratives but an active agent of change, with its youth playing a pivotal role in shaping the nation’s future. 

"The youngsters gathered here today will be the beneficiaries of a Viksit Bharat (Developed India), and in 22 years, you will be in the prime of your lives, shaping the journey of this transformation," Puri said. "You are the agents of change," he stated. 

"You will shape not only the economic destiny of India but the global role it plays in the energy, technology, and geopolitics of tomorrow." 

The Republic Plenary Summit 2025 , India’s biggest and most influential news event, is live, bringing together the brightest minds to shape the future of a Limitless India—an India of infinite potential, innovation, and global leadership. With Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the chief guest, the summit opened with a ceremonial lamp lighting by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, setting the stage for transformative discussions. 

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