A two-day National Seminar titled “The Quest for Atmanirbhar Bharat: From the Past, Through the Present, to the Future” commenced today at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS), Rashtrapati Niwas, Shimla. The academic gathering, held from September 24 to 25, explores self-reliance through the lens of Indian knowledge traditions, Swaraj, Swadeshi, Integral Humanism, and the overarching vision of Viksit Bharat.
The inaugural program opened with the National Song, followed by the welcome address and thematic introduction by Dr. Aayushi Ketkar, Assistant Professor at JNU’s Special Centre for National Security Studies and Convener of the seminar. Following her presentation outlining the academic objectives, Prof. Himanshu Kumar Chaturvedi, Director of IIAS, delivered the Chair’s Address. The opening session concluded with a vote of thanks from Dr. Rajeev Kumar Mishra, Librarian and Academic Resource Officer at IIAS.
The conceptual foundation of the seminar frames Atmanirbhar Bharat as more than a matter of economic or technological self-sufficiency, connecting it directly to India’s intellectual heritage, developmental trajectory, and global standing. Interdisciplinary panels are examining the historical progression from colonial-era Swaraj and Swadeshi movements to Atmanirbhar Bharat@2047. Additionally, scholars are revisiting Integral Humanism within a post-globalization context to offer an indigenous model for sustainable development, cultural continuity, and national consciousness.
Initial academic sessions featured papers on the Indian knowledge tradition as a pillar of Viksit Bharat, education under Integral Humanism, and consciousness-led national growth. Subsequent deliberations focused on constitutional values, developmental equity, women-led initiative, healthcare, and expanding self-reliance into the vision of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.
The seminar will wrap up on September 25 with a valedictory session presided over by the Hon’ble Governor of Himachal Pradesh, Kavinder Gupta. The closing ceremony will include the release of four academic books, a summary report of the proceedings, a virtual valedictory address by Dr. Vinay Sahasrabuddhe (President, Asiatic Society, Mumbai), and remarks by Prafulla Ketkar (Editor, Organiser).
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