Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 27 Mar: Uttaranchal University School of Liberal Arts organised a two-day International Conference on 26–27 March on the theme, “From Vedic Wisdom to Technological Advancement for Viksit Bharat @ 2047: A Global Perspective for Psychological Excellence and Sustainable Development”. The conference brought together eminent academicians, researchers, policymakers, and practitioners from across the globe to deliberate on integrating Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) with modern technological advancements for sustainable development.
The programme was organised by the Centre for IKS and the School of Liberal Arts in collaboration with the ACIC Foundation, Uttaranchal University. Prof (Dr) Kartikey Gaur, Director, SLA, Uttaranchal University delivered the welcome address, setting the tone for intellectual engagement.
The conference commenced with an inaugural session held at the Swami Vivekanand Auditorium. The event began with the assembly of delegates, followed by a floral welcome, ceremonial lamp lighting, and the University Kulgeet. The session also featured the release of the conference book and inspiring addresses by Prof (Dr) Dharam Buddhi, Vice Chancellor, Uttaranchal University, and Prof (Dr) Rajesh Bahuguna, Pro-Vice Chancellor. Special talks were delivered by Guest of Honour Lt Gen AK Singh, Member, National Security Advisory Board, and Distinguished Guest Swami Brahmdev, Head, Sri Aurobindo University. The session concluded with a vote of thanks and the national song.
The academic proceedings of Day 1 included a panel discussion on “Scientific Spirituality and Indian Knowledge Systems for Psychological Excellence and Holistic Therapeutic Framework for Viksit Bharat @ 2047”. The panellists were Dr Geeta Rani, GCS Counsellor, IIT Mandi, RCI Licensed Clinical Psychologist, PGDRP, MCHT (CSI-USA), Dr Pradeep Kumar Gupta, Scientist, DRDO & RCI Licensed Clinical Psychologist, and Dr Jwalant Bhavsar, Head of the Department, Scientific Spirituality, Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya, Haridwar. The discussion was moderated by Mohit Chandra, Clinical Psychologist, Member, IKS– IIT Roorkee. Experts highlighted the relevance of ancient Indian wisdom in addressing contemporary mental health challenges. This was followed by Symposium I on “From Shastra to Strategy”, which explored the role of Indian knowledge traditions in shaping leadership, governance, and education in the 21st century. The experts were Prof Sanjit K Mishra, Professor, Department of Humanities & Social Sciences, IIT Roorkee, and Dr Romasa Shukla, UGC Master Trainer of IKS, Assistant Professor, DU. The moderator was Dr Rati Sood, Assistant Professor, School of Liberal Arts, Uttaranchal University.
Post-lunch sessions included a cultural programme themed on ancient cultural diversity, showcasing India’s rich heritage. Parallel technical sessions were conducted for paper presentations across multiple venues, covering diverse topics such as sustainable energy practices, indigenous therapeutic approaches, artificial intelligence in workplace wellness, and psychosocial determinants of mental health.
Day 2 began with an invited talk on “Digitalising IKS: AI, Bigdata and Knowledge Preservation & Integrating IKS into National Sustainable Technology and Innovation”, which highlighted the importance of technology in preserving traditional knowledge systems. The resource persons were Prof (Dr) Rajesh Singh, Director, DRI, Uttaranchal University. The session was chaired by Prof (Dr) Raghav Mehra, Professor, Department of AIT-CSE, Chandigarh University. Symposium II focused on “Yogic and Vedantic Models of Health, Harmony, and Happiness”, featuring international and national speakers who emphasised holistic well-being. The resource persons were Cameron Hogg, Sound Healer, South Africa, Dr Vaidya Rajesh Kapoor, Traditional Healer and Agriculturalist & Founder, VRK Consultancy, Swami (Dr) Parmarth, Chief Central Coordinator, Bharat Swabhiman Nyas, Patanjali University, Purujit Dasa, Founder BLISS, London, UK, Dr Isha Ahuja Batra, Psychologist, Founder- Avlokan Transforming Minds, Dr Darlene Genizera-Pajarito, Licensed Guidance Counselor, Educator, Researcher, Mental Health Advocate, University of Antique, Philippines, and Swamini Triyambakeshwari, Yoga & Meditation teacher, Serbia, Germany. The session was chaired by Prof Prakash Joshi, Professor of English & Director UGC-MMTTC, University of Allahabad.
Extensive paper presentation sessions continued on Day 2, in which scholars presented research on indigenous practices, ecological sustainability, mental health, grassroots innovation, and financial systems rooted in ancient Indian traditions.
The conference concluded with a valedictory session, which included the presentation of the conference report, participant reflections, and award distribution. The event ended on a patriotic note with the national song.
University President Jitendra Joshi and Vice President Miss Ankita Joshi congratulated the organisers on the successful conduct of the seminar.
