Chandigarh: Moving beyond its colloquial meaning as a “makeshift fix”, chief minister Bhagwant Mann and top industrial captains on Friday sought to redefine “Punjabi jugad” as a key element of industrial innovation. Speaking at the inauguration of the three-day Progressive Punjab Investors’ Summit 2026, Mann framed the state’s inherent problem-solving spirit as the key driver for the state’s next economic phase.“Jugad is the name of innovation and Punjabis are known for innovation,” Mann declared, asserting that the state’s entrepreneurial abilities allow it to perform under the most difficult conditions. Mann illustrated the spirit with a story he said he heard during his days as an artiste about a luxury German car that broke down repeatedly across Punjab. Each time, local mechanics kept the vehicle running using unconventional local fixes. “The car broke down in Phillaur and the mechanic said he will use a ‘jugad’. The car again developed a fault in Ludhiana and the mechanic again said he will use a jugad using a part from a tractor,” Mann said. He said that the car owner eventually wrote to the German manufacturers, “He said it was a good car, but it needed a part called jugad that helps repair the car in case of any problem.” Drawing a vivid analogy with aviation, Mann declared that Punjab’s economy is prepared for a high-altitude take-off. He assured industrialists of a smooth journey, while framing “Punjabi jugad” as the state’s ultimate competitive advantage in the global market. “Punjab is set to take a new flight. We will soon be in a safe zone and seat belt signs will be off,” Mann told the gathering of global business leaders. In a light-hearted yet firm invitation to the investors, he added, “You may come and go at will but you (industrialists) will have to stay in our plane….And this plane too has been built with jugad.” Speaking before Mann, Sajjan Jindal, chairman of the JSW Group, said, “The word ‘jugad’ came from Punjab. It means managing the technology. Today we use AI and machine learning but back then, it was done using jugad,” Jindal remarked. He recalled, “In my childhood, I also made a small car using a diesel pump using jugad. That is the inherent innovative strength of Punjab.” Meanwhile, Mann added, “Punjabis are known for their entrepreneurial abilities, innovation and problem-solving spirit,” Mann stated. “You will rarely find a Punjabi begging because our people believe in hard work and are doers who can perform even in the most difficult conditions. Punjabis can work for 20 hours a day with unmatched dedication, commitment and resilience. This quality is unparalleled across the world.” MSID:: 129558337 413 |
