Engineers Are the New Soldiers: Sridhar Vembu Champions Tech Sovereignty at Aaruush 2025
Chennai: “Wars today are not fought only on the battlefield but also in the realm of technology; engineers are the new soldiers,” declared Dr. Sridhar Vembu, Founder and Chief Scientist of Zoho Corporation, during his keynote address at Aaruush 2025. The flagship techno-management fest of SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST), Kattankulathur, concluded its 19th edition with record participation from across India.
Since its inception in 2007, Aaruush has evolved into one of India’s premier student-led innovation platforms, drawing over 50,000 students, academicians, and industry leaders to collaborate on future-ready solutions. This year’s edition was inaugurated by Dr. Vembu and Dr. A. Sivathanu Pillai, Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan awardee, CEO of BrahMos Aerospace, and veteran of DRDO and ISRO—underscoring the fest’s stature as a national platform for visionary thought and youth-driven innovation.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. T. R. Paarivendhar, Founder Chancellor of SRM Group, recalled Dr. Vembu’s early education at Nightingale School, West Mambalam, in the 1970s. He emphasized SRMIST’s commitment to nurturing innovators, stating, “Aaruush is conducted for celebrating the research work done by SRMIST. Our management cannot do everything by itself, which is why we rely on the right set of young minds to set a clear vision and carry it forward.”
Dr. Nitin M. Nagarkar, Pro Vice Chancellor (MHS), echoed this sentiment, describing SRMIST as “the living ecosystem of innovation and entrepreneurship for students.”
In his keynote, Dr. Vembu stressed the urgency of technological self-reliance. “Our national sovereignty today comes down to technology and self-reliance. We cannot depend on GPS, operating systems, or platforms like ChatGPT, which can be taken away in an instant. That is why we must build on our own,” he said. He urged India’s engineers to rise to the challenge, noting that “R&D is not expensive, but it is time-intensive. It requires patience, perseverance, and a culture of continuous learning.”
Reflecting on Zoho’s journey, Dr. Vembu shared that the company followed a Japanese-inspired model of discipline and innovation. “It took decades of focused R&D to build world-class products. The good news is that India has the human talent—we have the people, the creativity, and the resolve. What we need is the attitude to make the best in the world,” he added.
Held under the theme “Rising in the Spirit of Innovation,” with the motto “Towards Infinity” and tagline “Bridging Aspirations, Harmonising Unity,” Aaruush 2025 celebrated the limitless potential of youth-led creativity, technology, and leadership.
Key highlights included hackathons and technical challenges focused on AI, sustainability, and emerging tech; entrepreneurship bootcamps and startup showcases; policy dialogues and expert lectures featuring jurists, industry leaders, and academics; and cultural evenings celebrating unity and diversity. The fest also featured SRM RUN 9.0, a 10K run themed “Run for Zero Waste,” promoting sustainable practices and community engagement.
Over nearly two decades, Aaruush has grown into a transformative ecosystem where youth, academia, and industry converge to foster innovation, leadership, and collaboration. Hosted by SRMIST—with over four decades of academic excellence, 50,000+ students, and 4,000 faculty—Aaruush continues to embody the institution’s vision of empowering India’s next generation of innovators and change-makers.
With Aaruush 2025, SRMIST reaffirmed its role as a hub for youth-led innovation, proving that the future of technology and leadership lies in the spirit of collaboration and boundless imagination.