China is putting scientists on public giant screens but in India..: Harsh Goenka questions why Indian hoardings dominated by politicians and film stars instead of scientists, teachers, doctors and innovators

Industrialist Harsh Goenka said India should put scientists, teachers, doctors, innovators and other nation-builders on public hoardings instead of allowing billboards to be dominated by politicians and film stars.

Goenka made the remarks while highlighting how China has been putting scientists on giant public screens, contrasting it with India’s public hoardings, which he said are largely dominated by politicians and film stars. He argued that what society chooses to celebrate can influence what children aspire to become.

Read Harsh Goenka's statement


"China is putting scientists on giant screens in public places. In India, our hoardings are dominated by politicians and film stars. What we celebrate shapes what our children aspire to become. Why not put our scientists, teachers, doctors, innovators and nation-builders up there?" said Harsh Goenka in a post on X.

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Goenka’s remarks come at a time when technology and public fascination with robots are increasingly becoming part of India’s popular culture. Recently, a humanoid robot was brought in as a chief guest at the inauguration of a sandwich shop in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, drawing attention online. The robot was given a traditional welcome, participated in the puja and later performed dance moves at the event.

The unusual inauguration was shared by Goenka on X, where he questioned the decision to make the robot the chief guest. His post triggered a wider discussion online, with some users viewing the move as an innovative publicity strategy, while others debated the growing presence of robots in everyday life.

The incident also highlights the growing public fascination with technology and artificial intelligence. Against this backdrop, Goenka’s latest call to put scientists, teachers, doctors and innovators in the spotlight raises a broader question about the kinds of people and achievements India chooses to celebrate publicly.