‘Too much Vishnu’: Banker Uday Kotak says India needs more of Brahma and Mahesh to become a powerful economy
Speaking at the CII Annual Business Summit 2026, Kotak used the symbolism of the Hindu trinity (Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh) to explain his view on India’s economic future. He argued that India currently has “too much Vishnu”, referring to preserving and maintaining the status quo, while the country needs more of the creative Brahma and the disruptive and transformative Mahesh to drive bold economic change.
Kotak stated that the global order has undergone a deep structural change and warned that the world is steadily moving towards a more fragmented and power-oriented system similar to the one before 1945. In his view, nations are increasingly prioritizing regional influence, ownership of critical assets, and economic dominance.
The founder of Kotak Mahindra Bank observed that many people continue to believe that global disruptions are temporary and normalcy will eventually return. But he argued that the world had entered a phase where “raw power” and strategic control would define international relations and economic success.
Kotak noted the increasing concentration of both physical and digital assets in the hands of a few powerful countries and companies. He also pointed to vulnerabilities in global supply chains and energy security, including tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, saying such risks expose how fragile the global economy can become during geopolitical conflicts.
He emphasized that future global leadership will belong to countries with financially strong institutions, profitable businesses and strategic industries. Citing the USA as an example, Kotak said that America transformed itself from an energy-dependent country in the 1970s into an economic superpower thanks to the power of its companies, especially in technology, innovation and cloud computing.
“The strength of the United States lies in its ability to create products and services that the world wants to buy,” Kotak said, adding that businesses play an important role in helping the country overcome its structural weaknesses.
He also warned India against being overly protective or resistant to change. Kotak warned that excessive focus on preserving existing systems could harm India’s competitiveness in the long run.
Elaborating his analogy further, he said the country needs a stronger mix of creation and destruction (ideas represented by Brahma and Mahesh) to build a more dynamic and strategically strong economy. “The biggest danger for a country is to have too much Vishnu in total. What we need is much more of the creator and the destroyer in the mix and that is what will create a truly strong strategic positioning for our country… I feel we need to significantly increase our ratio of Brahma and Mahesh in India,” he added.
