Together, we can make Bengaluru even stronger: Deputy CM of Karnataka D K Shivakumar's speech at the Bangalore Times Headliners Gala

First of all, I would like to congratulate all the Bangalore Times Headliners being honoured today. In many ways, the Times Group and The Times of India have created a platform that celebrates people like you, and through your work, you have helped shape the spirit and identity of Bengaluru.

I firmly believe in one principle: a true leader creates more leaders, not followers. In that sense, initiatives like this — especially platforms that highlight achievers — help recognise individuals who are making a difference to the city and beyond. So I feel fortunate to be here today, part of this wonderful gathering. Congratulations to the Times Group for bringing everyone together for such a meaningful celebration.

There is a saying I always like to repeat: Coming together is the beginning. Thinking together is progress. Working together is success. If we follow these three principles — coming together, thinking together, and working together — we can make Bengaluru and Karnataka even stronger and more successful. When I lit the lamp earlier, I was asked to make a speech. But before speaking, I wanted to listen to some of the voices here — to understand your aspirations and ideas. As someone in public life, representing the people and the government, it is important for me to hear what you want and what you dream of.

Today I heard about security, creativity, music, cinema and vision. I heard young voices talking about translating their dreams into reality. I heard about passion for art, culture and innovation.

So let me share something simple with you — something my young friend here mentioned — the importance of the four Ds: Dream. Desire for the dream. Dedication to the dream. Discipline to achieve it. If we follow these four principles, we will grow stronger as individuals and as a society.

I too came to Bengaluru with dreams. I come from a village in Kanakapura taluk, about 35–40 kilometres from Bengaluru. By birth I am an agriculturist, by profession a businessman, by passion an educationist, and by choice a politician. Interestingly, I did not complete my degree during my college years. I became a student leader and entered public life very early. I contested elections and became an MLA. But many years later, in 2008, when I was around 47 years old, I finally completed my degree. My children had once asked me, “Appa, why didn’t you finish your studies?” I wanted to set an example for them. So I went back and completed my education. That is something I always share with young people — it is never too late to learn.

Now let us talk about why Bengaluru is so special. First, the weather. There is no other city in India with a climate like this. I always say Bengaluru is a naturally air-conditioned city. Second, our culture. Bengaluru welcomes people from every part of India and the world. Third, our education ecosystem. When I was Urban Development Minister in the late 1990s, Bengaluru’s population was about 72 lakh. Today it has crossed 1.4 crore. The number of vehicles is also enormous, which naturally creates challenges like traffic. Yes, Bengaluru was originally planned by Kempegowda, but today the city has grown far beyond those original plans. It is not like cities that were designed later under colonial or modern planning frameworks. So now the responsibility is on all of us — especially the government — to deliver infrastructure that matches the city’s growth.



That is why we have taken bold decisions. In the next three to four years, we are planning to invest around Rs 1.5 lakh crore in infrastructure and development.

Of course there is criticism and opposition — and that is healthy. I welcome criticism. If a newspaper like The Times of India writes something critical about the government tomorrow, I will not take offence. Criticism helps us correct ourselves. Without criticism, improvement is impossible.

Today the world is looking at Bengaluru with great interest. Recently, when I attended the World Economic Forum in Davos, I did not need to market the city aggressively. People were already coming to us. Why? Because Bengaluru represents talent and opportunity. We have about 2.6 million IT professionals, compared to around 1.6 million in California. That tells you something about the strength of our talent pool.

Karnataka also has 70 medical colleges, nearly 14,000 doctors graduating every year. Around 1.2 lakh nurses and paramedical staff are enrolled annually. Nearly 1.5 lakh engineers graduating every year. This is not something created overnight. It is the result of decades of investment in education and human capital.

Our creative industries are also growing rapidly.

Toda,y people say Sandalwood is making waves across India, and our films are reaching global audiences. Cinema, music, technology and startups are all part of Bengaluru’s cultural and economic identity. The city is home to people from everywhere — doctors, engineers, entrepreneurs, artists, and innovators. That is why Bengaluru continues to grow. Of course, we face challenges — traffic, infrastructure pressure, rapid urbanisation. But these are the problems of every major global city, whether it is Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad or Delhi. Our goal is to address these challenges while preserving what makes Bengaluru unique.

And what makes it unique is its openness. You can criticise the government here. You can debate. You can express yourself freely. That democratic spirit is something we must protect. I also want to speak about culture. As a young boy, I even tried learning Bharatanatyam for a few months at Rudra Kalakshetra in Chamarajpet. That shows how deeply culture shapes us. Today I visited Chitrakala Parishath, and it reminded me again how rich our artistic traditions are. From dosa and idli to classical dance, cinema and startups, Bengaluru embraces everything — and that diversity is our strength. After the 9/11 attacks in the United States, many global companies started looking for safe and stable destinations for technology and innovation. India, and particularly Bengaluru, became a natural choice.

Even former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, when he laid the foundation for Bengaluru’s international airport, spoke about the city’s global potential.

Today, many world leaders visit Bengaluru before even going to Delhi — that shows the city’s global significance. Finally, let me say this. Today I may be addressing a few hundred people in this room. But each of you has thousands — even lakhs — of followers on social media and in your communities. Through you, this message reaches many more people. So I want to thank the Times Group once again for creating platforms like this that celebrate achievers and thought leaders. Your contributions make this city vibrant. As a government, we are committed to providing a friendly, responsive and progressive administration. But we need your guidance and support. Please continue to tell us what the city needs — whether it is in technology, healthcare, startups, culture, cinema or education.

Together, we can make Bengaluru even stronger. Once again, congratulations to all the Headliners honoured. Thank you very much.

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