India aspires to be a Vishwaguru, a global teacher and thought leader, but true influence stems from originating ideas and frameworks, not just slogans. While India possesses a rich intellectual heritage and talented individuals, its ecosystem struggles to foster conceptual impact. Universities prioritize publication counts, interdisciplinary work is risky, and think tanks focus on short-term policy briefs. This environment hinders the development of original theories, leaving India to often operate within imported intellectual frameworks, despite its historical contributions to global knowledge.