New Delhi, 24 Nov (KNN) Minister of Science and Technology and MSME Omprakash Sakhlecha was the chief guest at the curtain raiser programme of India International Science Festival (IISF) 2021 at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on Tuesday.

“The new generation must be acquainted with the glorious, successful and inspiring history of Indian science. I believe that Vigyan Mahotsav will be a medium for this. IISF is a festival, not a science conference or symposium,” said the Minister.

He said that next Science Festival should be considered in the centre of the country, because so far the festival has not been held in Madhya Pradesh. Jayant Sahasrabuddhe, National Organising Secretary of Vigyan Bharati and a member of the Festival Organising Committee, said that science is the identity of India, which the British rulers tried to raze before independence. He said that the Science Festival is for every citizen of India, in which students to general public can participate. This time the festival will be on both virtual and live mode.

Director General of MP Council of Science and Technology Dr. Anil Kothari called it the biggest science festival in Asia.

“We want that the students and general public of Madhya Pradesh should get information about science through this festival. Dr. Avnish Kumar Shrivastava, Director, CSIR-AMPRI said that science cannot be limited to laboratories, as it has played an important role in economic development and creation of employment opportunities,” added Kothari.

Chairman of Madhya Pradesh Private University Regulatory Commission, Dr Bharat Sharan Singh said that such an event should have been started in 1947. Vigyan Mahotsav will be a platform for exchange of ideas along with providing joy and healthy entertainment.

He said that rocket science is a gift of India. Dr Rakesh Kumar Arya, Chief Scientist of the Council told in the presentation on IISF 2021 that the 7th Vigyan Mahotsav will be held in Panaji during December 10-13. There will be 12 events including Science Film and Science Literature Festival.