IISF-2025 Function at CSIR-CSIO, Sector-30, Chandigarh
Smt Mitra Ghosh Ji, First Lady of Haryana
Prof Shantanu Bhattacharya Ji, Director CSIR-CSIO
Prof Renu Vig, Vice Chancellor, Panjab University
Shri DK Behera Ji, IAS, My Secretary
Shri Praveen Ramdas Ji, National Joint Organizing Secretary, Vigyan Bharti
Prof Satish Kumar Ji, Chief Scientist CSIR-CSIO
Dr Sanjeev Khosla Ji, Director, CSIR-IMTECH, Chandigarh
Representative from VIBHA, Distinguished Scientists, Respected Teachers, Dear Students, Esteemed Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen
Namaskar!
It is my privilege to stand before you at the Central Scientific Instruments Organisation, one of India’s most respected laboratories and a symbol of our nation’s scientific strength. We gather today for a significant occasion—the Curtain Raiser of the India International Science Festival 2025.
The atmosphere here, filled with curiosity, intellect, and enthusiasm, reflects the very spirit of scientific progress. I am deeply grateful to Director Prof. Shantanu Bhattacharya for inviting me to preside over this important event.
Before we reflect on today’s theme and mission, it is essential to understand what the India International Science Festival truly represents. Established in 2015 through the collective initiative of the Ministry of Science & Technology, the Ministry of Earth Sciences, and Vijnana Bharati (VIBHA), the India International Science Festival, or IISF, was envisioned as a national celebration of science.
Its inaugural edition was held at IIT Delhi in December 2015, and since then, it has evolved into one of the largest science outreach platforms in the world. The objective of IISF, right from its inception, has been to promote scientific temper, encourage innovation, cultivate curiosity in the masses, and bridge the gap between science and society. It seeks to carry science out of laboratories and academic institutions, and place it directly into the lives of common people, making it a lived experience rather than an abstract concept.
When we call it a “festival,” it is not a mere figure of speech. A festival, by nature, is inclusive, participatory, and celebratory. IISF is exactly that—a joyful expression of scientific ideas, where culture, creativity, and knowledge blend together. Science is not presented here as a distant discipline reserved for experts; instead, it becomes a public celebration.
Through science exhibitions, hands-on experiments, science theatre, lectures, demonstrations, rural science outreach programs, innovation showcases, interactions with scientists, and student-led projects, IISF transforms scientific learning into an engaging and exciting journey. It breaks barriers, shatters stereotypes, and invites people from all walks of life—students, farmers, homemakers, artisans, young professionals, and senior citizens—to explore and enjoy the wonders of science.
The deeper significance of IISF lies in its potential to become a mass movement. The dream of building a scientifically aware society is not new. Our civilizational wisdom has always upheld the value of knowledge. The ancient Sanskrit shloka says:
“विद्यानामनरस्यरूपमधिकंप्रच्छन्नगुप्तंधनम्।”
Knowledge is the greatest form of wealth, subtle and secure, and it accompanies a person everywhere.
The path to a progressive society is rooted in knowledge, awareness, and reasoning. IISF plays a transformative role in making this possible, by encouraging citizens to question, to explore, and to think logically. In a world increasingly driven by technology, data, and innovation, imbibing a scientific mindset becomes a national priority.
A festival like IISF opens the doors of science to the grassroots, bringing into focus the scientific solutions that can address everyday challenges—from health and agriculture to environment and digital empowerment. Over the years, IISF has been instrumental in creating such awareness.
It has taken science to rural communities, involved school dropouts, empowered women scientists, encouraged startups, and aligned its programs with national missions such as Digital India, Make in India, Swachh Bharat, and Atmanirbhar Bharat. Its outreach initiatives ensure that science is no longer limited to laboratories or English-speaking audiences; rather, it becomes accessible in multiple Indian languages, reaching children and families who may never have had the chance to visit a research institution before.
This year’s theme, “Vigyan Se Samruddhi: For Aatmanirbhar Bharat,” beautifully captures the essence of our nation’s aspirations. It reminds us that true prosperity—Samruddhi—emerges when scientific knowledge is converted into innovation, when innovation becomes technology, and when technology transforms lives. Prosperity through science is not merely an economic ideal; it is a cultural and philosophical commitment.
The vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat is deeply intertwined with scientific advancement. A self-reliant nation is built not only on manufacturing or infrastructure, but on indigenous knowledge systems, research capability, technological excellence, and an internal ecosystem of innovation.
Institutions like CSIR–CSIO stand at the heart of this mission. For decades, CSIO has empowered India’s technological leadership through critical instrumentation, precision sensors, photonics, automation technologies, medical devices, environmental monitoring systems, and numerous indigenous scientific instruments—many of which are silently driving progress in industries, healthcare, and national security.
CSIO’s contributions do not merely support national development; they embody national pride. Your work is an affirmation of the idea that India can innovate for itself and for the world. I commend every scientist, engineer, researcher, scholar, and staff member whose dedication keeps the spirit of scientific excellence alive in this institution.
To the students present here today, I say this with deep conviction: you are the future custodians of this scientific legacy. Your curiosity is the fuel that will power our nation’s innovation engine. Festivals like IISF are organized for you—to spark questions, to open new worlds, and to inspire you to dream big dreams. Every experiment you observe, every scientific principle you learn, every interaction you have with a researcher here today could very well shape your future path.
Always remember the words of the Rig Veda:
“आनोभद्राःक्रतवोयन्तुविश्वतः।”
Let noble thoughts come to us from all directions.
Let your mind remain open to ideas, diverse perspectives, and the thrill of discovery. Today’s Curtain Raiser symbolizes the beginning of a larger journey—one that seeks to carry the message of science to every corner of our nation.
As we move towards IISF 2025, let us commit ourselves to expanding scientific awareness, supporting our teachers, encouraging our youth, empowering our scientists, and nurturing innovation. Science is not confined to laboratories; it is present in every household, every village, every street. It is in the food we grow, the technology we use, the health systems we depend on, and the environment we must protect.
When science becomes a shared value, a habit, and a movement, then the vision of a truly Atmanirbhar Bharat becomes achievable.
I extend my heartfelt best wishes to the organizers, participating institutions, teachers, students, and the entire scientific community for an inspiring and successful India International Science Festival 2025.
Let us collectively embrace the spirit of “Vigyan Se Samruddhi,” and let us work toward a future where scientific ideas become engines of prosperity, sustainability, and national pride.
Jai Vigyan! Jai Hind!