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Business Standard
13 hours ago
- Business
- Business Standard
India's New Soft Power? TERN Group's CEO Avinav Nigam speaks at London event about India's Talent Mobility Surge
VMPL London [UK], June 3: The Ideas for India 2025 conference, a cornerstone of India Week hosted by Bridge India, emerged as a global platform for visionary dialogue, held at the iconic Royal Lancaster London in its premier auditorium. This landmark event convened over 200 influential delegates, uniting parliamentarians, government leaders, and trailblazing founders from India and the UK to chart India's ascent on the world stage through talent, technology, and trade. The conference was a powerhouse of positively disruptive thought leadership, featuring luminaries such as MP Raghav Chadha from the Aam Aadmi Party, K.T. Rama Rao, Telangana's founding IT Minister; Sachin Pilot, former Minister of IT, Telecom & Corporate Affairs, Govt. of India; the former Chief Election Commissioner of India Dr Quraishi, Barbara Mills KC, the UK Chair of the Bar Council; and the founder of IPAC, a body ensuring bipartisan politics in India,; Lord Simon Mcdonald, the former head of the UK's diplomatic service, FCO; and founders of major asset management firms further elevated the event, making it a melting pot of ideas across politics, governance, and business. Discussions ranged from the UK-India free trade agreement--finalized after three years and three UK prime ministers--to the role of India in fostering global diplomatic support, underscoring the event's far-reaching impact. Amidst these high-stakes conversations, Avinav Nigam, CEO of TERN Group, delivered a compelling session on India's emerging soft power: Talent Mobility. A former IIT Bombay alumnus who began his career 20 years ago in rural Japan, rising to lead Ariel's Asia business, and later serving as a founding executive at Hotstar and Cars24 and the Co-Founder & COO of IMMO, companies valued over $10B, Nigam now is the CEO at TERN's mission-driven business spanning 13+ countries, focusing on ethical migration systems. "India has a surplus of 105 million youth aged 18-35, while the world faces an 85 million skilled worker shortage," Nigam stated. "By 2035, 40% of the global workforce will come from India. This is India's moment to take the world into the next decade as the global talent leader, setting the standard with ethical workforce systems." Nigam emphasised the urgent need to address human suffering in migration. "Exploitative agents are causing misery--modern slavery and trafficking are on the rise," he said. "We need ethical, transparent, digital systems and stronger G2G and G2B collaborations to protect vulnerable workers. Talent mobility should be a force for shared prosperity, not exploitation." Nigam also highlighted a global shift: "The locus of power is moving east. India, the fourth-largest economy in the world, isn't just a manufacturing hub--it's an emerging talent superpower, set to overtake Germany soon in GDP. Countries like the UK, with its new free trade agreement, easing rules for India's highIndia's high -skilled workers, and Germany, offering 90,000 worker visas to Indians, see this shift." He underscored TERN Group's mission: "At TERN, we're replacing opaque systems with trust. Our zero-cost, AI-powered model ensures transparency for many thousands of thousands of healthcare & engineering professionals heading to the UK, Germany, the GCC and Japan, where we are closely collaborating with those governments" Ideas for India 2025 underscored India's opportunity to lead global migration standards, with cross-sector collaboration as a key driver. The event cemented India's role as a global influencer, defining how the world's workforce moves and thrives. About TERN Group TERN Group is helping 650,000+ professionals on its platform. TERN Group is a global AI leader in ethical, tech-enabled talent mobility, connecting skilled professionals to overseas opportunities with transparency. Operating in 13+ countries, TERN partners with 80+ German providers, 18+ NHS Trusts, along with GCC, US & Japan clients.
India Today
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
In defence of Sonu Nigam, SBI official and all ‘anti-Kannada' people
'Kannada Kannada ... This is the reason what occurred in Pahalgam, happened.''I will not ... I will never speak Kannada.'Two different people. Two separate utterances. One single reaction. One missing element. The first was said by playback singer Sonu Nigam during a concert in Bengaluru. The second was said by a supposed manager of a State Bank of India suburban branch, again in statements, captured on camera, sparked outrage over 'disrupted public harmony' and 'insulted dignity' of Kannadigas. A pro-Kannada group filed a complaint against Nigam on May 2, stating he 'insulted the Kannadiga community and equated their cultural pride and linguistic identity with violence and intolerance' by linking a fan's repeated song requests to in both cases, the individuals said much more before and after these inflammatory snippets. So, here is the defence for both Sonu Nigam and the SBI official: There is context to this and there is intent. Neither seems to have been taken into consideration before going hammer and tongs at the two individuals for hurting Kannada NIGAM 'DIDN'T LIKE' THE 'RUDE THREATENING' BEHAVIOURIn Sonu Nigam's case, he was trying to explain the 'rude' behaviour and attitude of a single individual in the audience. There is a one-minute video that shows how he is trying to explain that he was the complete video, he says: 'Whenever I come to Karnataka, I come with respect, because you have thought of us as family. I didn't like it that a boy there ... he was so rudely threatening me: 'Kannada! Kannada!' I've probably sung more songs in Kannada than how old he probably is ... This is the reason what happened in Pahalgam. What you are doing. What you did just now.'He continues: 'I love Kannadigas. I love you guys ... There would be 14,000 people in the audience but if there is one voice which says Kannada ... for that one person, I sing a few lines in Kannada. That's how much I respect you guys.'Nigam said all in the build up to the comparison, that led to mass outrage and some of his gigs getting context is that he was heckled. His intent is to let everyone know that he was upset by the behaviour of a member of the audience and he also expects respect in OFFICIAL WANTED TO KNOW 'WHERE IS THE RULE' FOR KANNADAIn the SBI official's case, she was arguing with a customer. What is being circulated on social media is about half of the entire exchange full 2:55-minute video shows the customer first complaining about wait times: 'I came here for service. I have been sitting here. Has anyone come to the counter yet? Anyone who is there, come and sit at the counter.'When the erring official entered the conversation saying, 'It's not your duty to tell us what to do,' the customer demanded: 'Talk in Kannada. Why are you talking in Hindi?'This is where things escalated, as the man is heard saying, 'Talk in Kannada. Why are you talking in Hindi?'Other staff explained she didn't know Kannada, but the customer persisted, speaking only in Kannada and pushing her to respond in a language she couldn't speak. Her colleagues tried to mediate, but both parties remained stubborn. At what can also be construed as egging, her response escalated from 'I don't know' to 'I will not' to finally 'I will never' about speaking the context is of an isolated argument between a frustrated customer and a haughty official. Here, both parties are intent on having the upper hand. He didn't like that he had to wait; she didn't like that he told her and her colleagues to do their WITHOUT CONTEXT, INTENT OR MOTIVEIn these two separate cases, both Sonu Nigam and the SBI official were virtually crucified for causing harm to the dignity of of the fact that there were following videos. Sonu Nigam had two separate videos: one where he apologised for having caused hurt unintentionally and another trying to explain the incident video of the SBI official being helped and coached by presumably her colleagues to apologise in Kannada. She says she did not mean any hurt. 'Anyone if hurt, forgive me. I'll cooperate for transactions in Kannada,' she is repeating what is being told to other following videos did not get as much traction as the ones of their indiscretion. Their utterances were taken out of context by snipping them to the operative offending parts and then both cases they were driven to make these gaffes. One was heckled, the other was egged on. And yet, there are no fingers being pointed at the other party, who in a just society, will also be held jury when trying a crime takes context, intent and motive into consideration before assigning guilt. In court, it is 'presumed innocent until proven guilty.'advertisementSonu Nigam and the SBI official, however, have been presumed guilty unless proven innocent.
India Today
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Tejasvi Surya, Sonu Nigam in online spat over Kannada language row
MP Tejasvi Surya and singer Sonu Nigam are in an online spat over a viral video of an SBI employee refusing to speak Kannada. Surya called it 'unacceptable,' while Nigam hit back, challenging Surya's stance and calling him a 'language warrior.' Earlier, Nigam also faced controversy over a Kannada remark at a concert. #TejasviSurya #SonuNigam #LanguageRow #Kannada #IndiaNews
Economic Times
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
US clients of Bengaluru software companies should also 'speak in Kannada', Sonu Nigam to BJP MP Tejasvi Surya amid language row
Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Amid ongoing tensions around linguistic pride and public service communication in Karnataka , playback singer Sonu Nigam has stepped right into the storm, this time, with sharp jabs at BJP MP Tejasvi Surya . What began as a banking controversy has snowballed into a full-blown debate about regional identity, governance, and the double standards of language politics, now fuelled by one of Bollywood 's most recognisable took to X to take a dig at Surya's statement advocating for mandatory Kannada in public-facing sectors like banking. Reacting to the uproar caused by a viral video from Bengaluru of an SBI bank manager refusing to speak Kannada with a customer, Surya had tweeted, 'Banks working in Karnataka should serve customers in Kannada. Period.'Nigam responded with biting sarcasm, writing in Hindi which when translated to English read, 'Kannada language should also be made mandatory in software companies . If American clients want to get their projects done in Karnataka, they should also speak in Kannada. There should be no compromise on this.'The singer didn't stop there. In another scathing tweet, he challenged Surya on his linguistic consistency, writing, 'Don't dub Kannada movies in Hindi! Don't release Kannada movies pan-India! Do you have the guts to say this to Kannada film stars, Mr. Tejasvi_Surya, or are you just another language warrior?'Nigam's posts come just hours after Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah condemned the SBI incident and stressed that all bank staff should 'treat customers with dignity and make every effort to speak in the local language.' Interestingly, Nigam's remarks arrive at a time when his own standing in Karnataka is under fire. Sonu Nigam faced backlash after comments at an April 22 Bengaluru event allegedly hurt Kannadiga sentiments. A pro-Kannada group filed a complaint, leading to an FIR under multiple IPC Sections. On May 5, Nigam apologized publicly, saying, 'Sorry Karnataka… My love is bigger than my ego.' Meanwhile, his upcoming Kannada song Kuladalli Keelyavudi has been pulled from its release after his behaviour at Bengaluru concert.
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
"Don't dub Kannada movies in Hindi": Sonu Nigam takes a jab at MP Tejasvi Surya amid the language tensions in Karnataka
Following the language tensions in Karnataka, Sonu Nigam is in the middle of the storming altercations, yet again. Sparking the controversy, Nigam bashed the MP Tejasvi Surya for his comments on the viral video of a language clash at the public sector bank between the manager and a customer. On X (formerly Twitter), MP Tejasvi Surya stated that the bank employee's behaviour is 'simply not acceptable,' adding that the individuals working in the customer service should know Kannada as it is important to communicate in the language they know. Sonu Nigam asks not to dub Kannada movies in Hindi... As a response, Sonu Nigam took a jab by involving the international businesses in Bengaluru and the pan-India films. The 51-year-old singer stated, 'Don't dub Kannada movies in Hindi! Don't release Kannada movies pan-India! Do you have the guts to say this to Kannada film stars, Mr. @Tejasvi_Surya, or you are just another language warrior?' Sonu Nigam asks to make Kannada language mandatory in software companies... Additionally, Nigam, in all sarcasm, tauntingly stated, 'सॉफ्टवेयर कंपनियों में भी कन्नड़ भाषा को अनिवार्य किया जाना चाहिए। अगर अमेरिकी क्लाइंट्स को कर्नाटक में अपने प्रोजेक्ट्स करवाने हैं, तो उन्हें भी कन्नड़ में बात करनी चाहिए। इस पर कोई समझौता नहीं होना चाहिए। ठीक है @Tejasvi_Surya जी? Period. (Kannada language should be mandatory in the software companies as well. If American clients want to collaborate on projects in Karnataka, they should speak the Kannada language. There should be no compromise on this).' A couple of hours prior to Nigam's comments, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah condemned the aforementioned incident, and emphasised that the staff should 'treat customers with dignity and make every effort to speak in the local language.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like USDJPY đang đi lên không? IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Earlier this year, Sonu Nigam faced a massive backlash for his statements at the Bengaluru concert, hurting the sentiments. Along with the repercussions on social media, an FIR was lodged against the singer. While Nigam issued a public apology, his Kannada song has been halted from release. Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
