Over the last six years, it has provided a platform for thought leaders from diverse ideologies across the world to come together, debate and help distil ideas and strategies for change.

No wonder, the HT Leadership Summit has become one of the most awaited fixtures on the New Delhi’s events calendar.

When we started in 2003, India was on the threshold of emerging as a global economic powerhouse. At the same time, the situation in our neighbourhood was deteriorating. That was why we chose to begin with the theme “Progress in India and South Asia” that tied India’s progress to peace and stability in the region.

In the years since, the summit’s themes have been in sync with India’s changing stature and image on the world stage.

Leaders such as Congress President Sonia Gandhi, former UK premier Tony Blair, late Pakistan prime minister Benazir Bhutto and superstar Shah Rukh Khan, to name only a few, have helped the summit become a part of the change it hopes to bring about.

And that gives us the confidence and courage to soldier on with our endeavour.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, former US president George W. Bush, former Afghanistan foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury, cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar, former Ranbaxy CEO Malvinder Singh and film stars Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor, among others, will speak their minds from the same pulpit this year.

How’s that for diversity?