DEHRADUN: The Uttarakhand edition of TOI Dialogues, the flagship property of The Times of India, brought together a vibrant mix of policymakers, thought leaders and cultural icons to explore Uttarakhand’s development journey across governance, economy, arts, sports and sustainability. The highlight of the event, held on Sept 30, was a special address by CM Pushkar Singh Dhami, who outlined the roadmap for a “prosperous, strong, developed, and self-reliant Uttarakhand.” About the recent student’s protest over an alleged paper leak, Dhami spoke passionately about his government’s commitment to protecting the future of Uttarakhand’s youth. He stressed “the state would not tolerate any attempt to play with the dreams of young people”. “Some are saying we have bowed down before the youth or before those demanding a CBI probe. To all such people, I want to state clearly – for the sake of protecting the interests of the youth, I can not only bow my head – I can also sacrifice it.”In a dialogue with actor and author Ashutosh Rana, the CM also addressed the challenges of climate change and the steps being taken by govt to mitigate them. “We are investing in climate-resilient infrastructure while safeguarding spirituality and culture. Uttarakhand is Devbhoomi, and our development model must reflect that identity,” he said. He added that development projects worth over Rs 2 lakh crore are underway in the state.In his session “Ram and Raavan: The Duality Within,” Ashutosh Rana reflected on his life philosophy. “It is my belief that life works on the ‘accept, appreciate and acknowledge’ model. Lord Ram, too, believed in this,” he said. “We often say Lord Ram renounced, that is he sacrificed his kingdom and went for 14 years to the forest. I believe he accepted whatever came his way, and then acknowledged and appreciated it. That is what made him so great.” Linking ancient wisdom to contemporary life, Rana stressed embracing situations with grace was the true way to live meaningfully.The versatile actor also offered a thought-provoking perspective on leadership. “A leader doesn’t change his team’s position; he changes his own position,” he said, stressing that true leadership lies in adapting oneself to guide and empower the team, rather than forcing others to adjust. Actor Neena Gupta brought warmth to the stage in her candid conversation on life beyond cinema, speaking about motherhood and the craft of acting. Author Akshat Gupta shared how he weaves together ancient Hindu mythology and modern science in his storytelling.