The World Hindu Economic Forum (WHEF) 2025 was inaugurated in Mumbai, marking the start of a two-day conference themed Innovation, Self Reliance and Prosperity. The opening ceremony was led by Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister, Maharashtra, and attended by Mohan Yadav, Chief Minister, Madhya Pradesh, along with Swami Vigyananand, Founder, WHEF, Rajesh Sharma, Chairman, WHEF Organising Committee, senior policymakers and leading industrialists.

A major highlight of the inaugural session was the address by Hari Mohan Bangur, Chairman, Shree Cement Ltd, who underscored India’s inherent strengths in talent, resources and technology, asserting that the country need not look beyond its own civilisation for inspiration. On the occasion, Bangur also presented a letter of intent to invest ₹2,000 crore in Maharashtra to Devendra Fadnavis.

Emphasising the ethical roots of Indian economic thinking, Bangur said that in Indian culture, dharma guides artha, and profitability must be aligned with responsibility. “We must get out of the Macaulayan education system and reinvest in our old values. For centuries India alone accounted for nearly 30 per cent of the world economy. But something negative happened with the coming of Europeans who successfully looted the country. A Hindu Economic Forum was necessary and it has been created and is working fine. The Forum may take a year or 10 years, but it will surely be successful,” he said.

Sharing Shree Cement’s experience in innovation, Bangur highlighted advances in energy efficiency that enabled power plants to operate at lower capacity utilisation, reducing coal consumption. “We should unshackle ourselves and bring innovation in our thinking and in our education,” he added.

Addressing the gathering, Devendra Fadnavis described WHEF as an important platform for dialogue and collaboration, noting that a deeper understanding of India’s philosophical foundations could help build a prosperous and harmonious society. Meanwhile, Mohan Yadav highlighted India’s rising global standing and Madhya Pradesh’s role in driving growth across sectors including mining, energy and tourism.