The Governor of Tamil Nadu emphasizes the need to combine traditional knowledge with contemporary technology

Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar addresses the IMECE Congress – Sustainable Future and Engineering at Chennai Trade Center on Thursday | Photo credit: M. Srinath

Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar on Thursday (September 3, 2026) called for a fusion of traditional knowledge and contemporary technology so that lessons can be learned from both for the betterment of society.

He was speaking at the International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exhibition (IMECE) at the Chennai Trade Centre.

Mr Arlekar said although many people say the Mahabharata is a myth, “for all of us it is our history.” The Udyoga Parva, part of the Mahabharata, provided lessons on management as early as 5,000 years ago. “It will definitely be a lesson for us. There are some technical references in the Udyoga Parva,” he said.

India was working on ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’, Mr. Arlekar said. Referring to the national vision plan ‘Viksit Bharat’ through which the country sought to fully develop by 2047, the governor said, “To fulfill this vision, we all have to work towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat. All our goals, intentions and efforts should be towards self-sufficiency.”

American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Executive Director and CEO Thomas Costabile said India’s rapid growth in manufacturing, digital technologies, energy systems, transportation infrastructure and advanced research is creating opportunities not only for itself but for the world.

“As engineers, we know that the future belongs to those who can turn bold ideas into real impacts,” said Mr. Costabile. “I encourage you to think boldly. I encourage you to collaborate openly and seize the opportunity. And most importantly, do it together,” he said.

Congress president K. Shanmuga Sundaram of IMECE India said during his speech that India is no longer a country that only needs engineers. The country needed engineering solutions for clean energy, mobility, water, manufacturing, climate resilience, healthcare and infrastructure, he said.

Tamil Nadu had a special place as it had notable strengths in manufacturing, automobiles, aerospace, power, electronics, infrastructure and research, he said. Chennai was a city where knowledge and industry met and hence it is an ideal city to host IMECE 2026, he said.

145th ASME President Janis Terpenny, Council of State Industrial Development and Investment Corporations of India (COSIDICI) CEO Hansraj Verma and National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) Director Balaji Ramakrishnan were also present at the inaugural session. ASME India Director and President Madhukar Sharma proposed the vote of thanks.

Published – 03 Sep 2026 17:08 IST