IIT Delhi to hold mega science festival

IIT Delhi is gearing up for a mega science festival on its campus in December organised in association with Vijnana Bharati, formerly known as a swadeshi science movement working towards implementation of modern technology and ancient sciences in the country.
Close to 3000-4000 people are expected to descend on the campus from December 4 to 8 for the event, expected to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Christened as the 'India International Science Festival', the Department of Science and Technology is the other major partner. Vijnana Bharati is incidentally being headed by Vijay Bhatkar who is the chairman of IIT Delhi's Board of Governors.

Informing about the grand event, officiating director of IIT Delhi Kshitij Gupta told reporters the sessions would comprise interaction with eminent scientists, expo award function, science film festival to showcasing of innovative models and young scientists meet.
Vijnana Bharati was initiated by RSS minded scientists of Indian Institute of Science Bangalore and is considered one of the largest science promotion bodies in the country conducting its activities through 22 independent units functioning in various parts of the country.
One of the theme of the event is innovative agricultural practices and livestock management.

Earlier in January this year, participating at a programme under the Unnat Bharat initiative, yoga guru Baba Ramdev had discussed the importance of cows in addressing rural issues.

Inviting Ramdev and an RSS affiliate for deliberations had itself raised eyebrows and triggered a controversy.
Asked the justification of collaboration with right wing outfits, Gupta asserted that "there should be no objections associating with any group as long as the objective is addressing issues through interventions of science and technology".
Highlighting steps taken in the campus during the year including overhauling the PG courses, Gupta reacted with caution to the controversy surrounding the proposed research centre in Mauritius supported by IIT Delhi.
While the present dispensation has questioned the legal standing of the campus there, Gupta refused to comment about its fate but blamed the new government there for the uncertain future of the yet to start venture.

Asked about his reaction to a proposal to collect the running expenses of IITs through student tuition fee, he appeared to suggest that any hike should be considered two to three years from now.