Declaring that India’s civilisational icons far surpass fictional superheroes, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Friday called upon parents and educators to instill pride in Indian epics among children, asserting that characters like Hanuman and Arjuna are far greater role models than Spider-Man or Iron Man.

Addressing the inaugural session of the Bharatiya Vigyan Sammelan in Tirupati, Chandrababu Naidu said India must reconnect its younger generation with the intellectual and moral depth of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. “We should tell our children that our epics are far more profound than movies like Avatar. Our epic heroes embody courage, knowledge, discipline, and values that shaped civilization,” he said.

Expressing strong confidence in India’s future, the Chief Minister asserted that the country would emerge as the world’s number one nation by 2047. “India becoming a global superpower is not an aspiration, it is inevitable,” he declared, citing the country’s demographic strength, cultural depth, and scientific legacy.

Naidu traced India’s scientific and intellectual leadership to ancient times, recalling that the Harappan civilisation introduced urban planning to the world thousands of years ago. He said India gifted yoga, Ayurveda, zero, and chess to global civilization, and once accounted for nearly 40 per cent of the world’s GDP as a knowledge-driven economy.

“Universities like Takshashila and Nalanda laid the foundations of global education centuries before the West. Thinkers such as Aryabhata in astronomy, Bhaskaracharya in mathematics, Chanakya in economics, and Charaka and Dhanvantari in medicine continue to inspire the modern world,” he said.

The Chief Minister lauded Mohan Bhagwat for his efforts to preserve Indian culture and traditions, stating that national resurgence was impossible without civilisational self-confidence. He said India’s unmatched youth power would be the driving force behind its rise.

Naidu credited former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for laying the foundation of modern India’s growth, and praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for accelerating reforms and positioning India strongly on the global stage.

Outlining Andhra Pradesh’s development roadmap, Naidu said the state was prioritising technology and green energy. He revealed that Andhra Pradesh would soon operate a quantum computer, and announced that companies like Google are preparing to make significant investments in Visakhapatnam.

Before the session, Chandrababu Naidu and Mohan Bhagwat visited exhibition stalls showcasing indigenous technologies and innovations. The event was formally inaugurated with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp, and Naidu released the book India’s Knowledge Systems on the occasion.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh and Andhra Pradesh Minister Anagani Satya Prasad were among those present. Reiterating his message, Chandrababu Naidu said India’s resurgence lies in blending ancient wisdom with modern innovation. “When a nation understands its past, no force can stop its future,” he asserted.