⚠ Safety Notice: Helmets are mandatory for all two-wheeler riders entering IISER Pune campus. Please comply with safety regulations at all times.
Bridging Ancient Wisdom with Modern Science
India (Bharat) has been known for its rich civilizational and cultural heritage. The great civilization of Bharat has been renowned from the west to the east of the world for millennia. Undoubtedly, Bharat is known for very rich scientific and technological knowledge that not only shaped India but also contributed to the growth of other parts of the world.
The broad term Indian Knowledge System (IKS) encompasses Vedic sciences, spirituality, mathematics, astronomy, chemistry and metallurgy, Āyurveda, civil engineering, architecture, ship building, Artha shāstra, yoga, art, classical music and more. All these sub-disciplines thrived over millennia with numerous treatises that stand as testimony to the contributions of our great ancestors.
The traditional knowledge with a holistic approach and newer scientific advancements with a reductionistic approach offer a great and valuable platform to build a resilient future for any nation. Reconnecting and revitalizing the Indian Knowledge Systems for the modern world is essential for building a sustainable and equitable world with a moral order.
This National Conference aims to provide a platform for interdisciplinary scientific dialogue by bridging ancient wisdom with modern science. We bring together scholars and enthusiastic students from different disciplines to encourage interest in this field and motivate exploration, research, and possible collaboration.
In alignment with the National Educational Policy (2020), we emphasize revisiting and integrating ancient Indian knowledge to revitalize and understand IKS with a modern scientific perspective.
Exploring the Depths of Ancient Indian Scientific Knowledge
Exploring ancient Indian contributions to astronomy, astronomical observations, mathematical principles, and their applications in understanding the cosmos and developing computational methods.
Metals in medicines and materials - investigating ancient Indian metallurgical practices, the use of metals in traditional medicine, and advanced material science from ancient texts.
Understanding ancient Indian medical wisdom, personalized medicine approaches, herbal remedies, and their relevance to modern healthcare and wellness.
Ancient temple building technology - examining the engineering marvels, architectural principles, and construction techniques that created enduring structures.
Evolution of scientific Indian language and grammar - studying how ancient languages facilitated the documentation and transmission of scientific knowledge.
March 07, 2026 - Full Day Program with Lecture Presentations, Panel Discussions, and Interactive Sessions
Conference registration and welcome
9:00-9:03 AM: Welcome & Introduction to Conference Theme - Prof. Ramakrishna G. Bhat
9:03-9:10 AM: Inaugural Address by Prof. Sunil S. Bhagwat - Hon'ble Director
9:10-9:17 AM: Address by Shri. Madabhushi Madan Gopal, Hon'ble Chairperson BOG, IISER Pune
9:17-9:27 AM: Keynote Address - Prof. M. D. Srinivas (Padma Shri Awardee)
9:27-9:30 AM: Vote of Thanks
Chairperson: Prof. Shashikala Gurpur
9:30-10:00 AM: Lecture 1 - Prof. M. D. Srinivas
"Seminal Contributions of the Kerala School of Mathematics and Astronomy"
10:00-10:30 AM: Lecture 2 - Prof. Amartya Kumar Dutta
"Mathematics in Ancient India: Glimpses"
10:30-11:00 AM: Lecture 3 - Prof. Anil Gourishetty
"Promoting Sanskrit and IKS"
Refreshments, networking, and group photography
Chairperson: Prof. Prasad Joshi
11:30 AM-12:00 PM: Lecture 4 - Prof. M. S. Sriram
"Notable Features of Siddhāntic Astronomy"
12:00-12:30 PM: Lecture 5 - Prof. V. Ramanathan
"Insights from Spectroscopic Characterization of Hiṅgula & Haritāla"
12:30-1:00 PM: Lecture 6 - Dr. Ketu Ramachandrasekhar
"Temple Architecture: Sacred Geometry, Consciousness, and Technology"
Lunch and networking
Chairperson: Dr. Naveen Kumar
2:00-2:30 PM: Lecture 7 - Prof. Sunita T. Pandey
"Vrikshayurveda: A Glorious Agricultural Heritage of Bharat and Its Scientific Validation, Herbal Kunap Jal in particular"
2:30-3:00 PM: Lecture 8 - Shri Raghava Krishna
"Cultural Strategies for Institutionalizing IKS sciences"
3:00-3:30 PM: Lecture 9 - Prof. Ramakrishna G. Bhat
"Metals and Medicines in Ancient Indian Chemistry: Teaching at its Best"
3:30-4:00 PM: Lecture 10 - Prof. Alex Hankey
"The Four Levels of Speech in Shiksha, the Vedic Science of Education"
Refreshments, photography session, poster viewing, and networking
Chairperson: Prof. Bhav Sharma
4:30-4:37 PM: Dr. Vasudev Aital (DES Pune University, Pune)
4:37-4:54 PM: Prof. Hari Krishna (NIT Warangal)
Moderator: Prof. Anil Kumar Gourishetty
Panelists: Shri. Madabhushi Madan Gopal (IAS), Prof. Sunil S. Bhagwat, Prof. M. D. Srinivas, Prof. M. S. Sriram, Shri. Raghava Krishna, Prof. Amartya Kumar Dutta
Closing address and acknowledgments by the organizing committee
Distinguished Patrons and Organizers
Distinguished academic leadership for conference sessions
Director, ICMR-National Institute of Virology
Dr. Naveen Kumar is the Director of the ICMR-National Institute of Virology, Pune, and a pioneering virologist specializing in virus-host interactions. He earned his Ph.D. under the DAAD Sandwich Program and pursued postdoctoral research at Emory University. A recipient of the 2023 Award of Excellence in Agriculture Research, he developed the world's first DIVA marker vaccine for lumpy skin disease and India's first animal COVID-19 vaccine. He also serves as a WHO technical advisor.
Director, Symbiosis Law School, Pune
Dr. Shashikala Gurpur is the Director of Symbiosis Law School, Pune, and Dean of the Faculty of Law at Symbiosis International. A distinguished academician with over 32 years of experience, she holds a Ph.D. in International Law and is a Jean Monnet Chair Professor. Featured in the 2016 LexisNexis book 100 Legal Luminaries of India, she has authored over 85 publications and pioneered EU Legal Studies in India. Dr. Gurpur is also a former member of the Law Commission of India and a Fulbright Scholar.
Vice-Chancellor, Deccan College
Dr. Prasad P. Joshi is the Vice-Chancellor of Deccan College Post-Graduate and Research Institute, Pune. He also serves as a Professor in the institution's Department of Sanskrit and Lexicography. A distinguished scholar of ancient Indian linguistics, his research focuses on the scientific study of language in ancient India, including the Vedangas and Vyakarana (grammar). He actively contributes to academic leadership and curriculum development as a subject expert on various university boards.
Associate Professor, Centre of IKS-EDS, Central Sanskrit University, Deccan College
Prof. Bhav Sharma is an Associate Professor and Assistant Editor at the Centre of IKS-EDS of Central Sanskrit University, Deccan College, where he also serves as Secretary of the Sanskrit Dictionary Project. A distinguished scholar specializing in Indian Philosophy (especially Pūrva-Mīmāṁsā), Hermeneutics, and Sanskrit Linguistics, he holds multiple advanced degrees including a Ph.D. in Sanskrit and two M.A. degrees. He co-led the Digital Preservation and Online Portal for Encyclopaedic Sanskrit Dictionary project and serves as visiting faculty at AIIS and MIT-ADT University.
Leading experts in Indian Knowledge Systems
Mathematician, ISI Kolkata
Prof. Amartya Kumar Dutta is a mathematician at the Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata, working in commutative algebra and affine algebraic geometry. He is a recipient of the INSA Teachers Award and the first Satish C. Bhatnagar Award for History of Mathematics. For over 25 years, he has researched and taught ancient Indian mathematics, especially the Vedic period.
Professor of Physics, IIT Roorkee
Prof. Anil Kumar Gourishetty is Professor of Physics and Head of the Centre for Indian Knowledge Systems at IIT Roorkee. He is an expert in nuclear radiation detectors and is passionate about Indian astronomy, with ongoing work on Sanskrit translation tools and astronomy education. His research bridges modern physics with traditional Indian knowledge for interdisciplinary scientific inquiry.
Professor, IIT (BHU) Varanasi
Prof. V. Ramanathan is a chemist specializing in laser spectroscopy, Raman microscopy, and computational chemistry. His work includes analytical validation of traditional Indian Siddha medicine using modern scientific methods. He brings a strong interdisciplinary perspective linking ancient Indian chemical knowledge with contemporary laboratory science.
Professor, IISER Pune
Prof. Ramakrishna G. Bhat is an Organic Chemist by training. In 2006, he began his independent research career at IISER Pune and is currently Full Professor. His research focusses on ‘Organic Synthesis and Catalysis’. His early exposure to Saṃskṛta language helped him study the ancient Indian philosophy and Science over the years and he is passionate about popularizing Indian Knowledge System. He has been part of more than 60 workshops on IKS and has also offered a course on IKS-Science and Technology to BSMS students of IISER Tirupati.
Professor of Agronomy, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar
Prof. Sunita T. Pandey is Professor of Agronomy with 32 years of teaching, research, and extension experience. She has received faculty excellence awards (2021–2024), the Rishi Parashar Award at the International Conclave on Vrikshayurveda (WAC 2024), and serves as Executive Secretary of the Asian Agri-History Foundation. Her work focuses on Vrikshayurveda-based Bhartiya Paramparik Krishi Padhiti, including Herbal Kunap Jal, and includes contributions with CSIR-TKDL and CSIR-NIScPR.
Ministry of Culture Fellow, Siddhanta Knowledge Foundation (SKF)
Dr. Ketu Ramachandrasekhar holds a PhD in Indian Epistemology and is a recipient of the Prince of Wales Medal from the University of Madras. He is a Ministry of Culture Fellow in Neuro-Aesthetics and Indian Rhetoric, with publications on Abhinayadarpana, Devi Mahatmya, and a translation of Dara Shikoh’s Majma-ul-Bahrain. He teaches advanced texts in Tantra and Pratyabhijna Shaivism, temple architecture, and ancient Indian city planning, and serves on expert panels including ICH and Sangeet Natak Akademy.
Physicist and Historian, Prof. K. V. Sarma Research Foundation, Chennai
Prof. M. S. Sriram is a physicist and historian of Indian astronomy and mathematics with over three decades of scholarship in the field. A former Professor and Head at the University of Madras, he has edited and published key Kerala school texts including Yuktibhāṣā, Tantrasaṅgraha, and Karaṇapaddhati, and co-authored work on Siddhāntaśiromaṇi. He is a Fellow of INSA and has also served as President of the Indian Society for History of Mathematics.
Physicist and Historian of Science, Centre for Policy Studies
Renowned physicist and historian of science specializing in Indian mathematics and astronomy. Former Professor of Theoretical Physics at University of Madras, with expertise in quantum mechanics foundations and the Kerala School of Mathematics. He was honored with the Padma Shri award and has extensively researched and documented ancient Indian contributions to calculus and planetary models.
Founder and CEO, Brhat
Shri Raghava Krishna is Founder and CEO of Brhat Culture Creatives and Brhat Educational Trust, with over two decades of experience across industry and academia. His work focuses on cultural storytelling, IKS-centered education, and public policy engagement. He is an active voice in mainstreaming IKS in contemporary learning frameworks.
Professor, MIT WPU
Prof. Alex Hankey is a theoretical physicist and Professor Emeritus of Biology at MIT World Peace University, Pune, having formerly served at S-VYASA. Educated at Cambridge and MIT (Ph.D. under Nobel Laureate Steven Weinberg), he held a fellowship at Stanford. Dr. Hankey pioneers research integrating Vedic sciences with modern physics, biology, and cognitive science. A co-founder of the Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, he has published about 100 scientific pages in that field.
Poster presentation registration is now closed.
The submission deadline was 4 March 2026.
Thank you for your interest in presenting at the conference.
Participate in our Pre-Conference Quiz on Ancient Indian Science and Technology!
Challenge yourself and discover fascinating facts about India's scientific heritage
Take the QuizSupporting Excellence in Scientific Research
Dr. Ravindra Kulkarni
Managing Director, Elkay Silicones
Interested in partnering with us? Get in touch
