Shyam Lal College Organizes International Conference on India’s National Security
Rakesh Thapliyal
New Delhi: The Department of Political Science, Shyam Lal College, University of Delhi, successfully organized a two-day international conference on “Understanding India’s National Security in the Emerging World Order: Achievements, Opportunities and Aspirations”.
The event was sponsored by the Indian Council for Social Science Research (ICSSR) under the Rashtriy Ekta (National Unity) theme, commemorating the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
The first day of the conference was held at the India International Centre, New Delhi. The inaugural session featured Prof. Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit, Vice-Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University, as the Chief Guest, who delivered the keynote address urging young researchers to engage with India’s civilizational wisdom and explore the contributions of Indian security thinkers.
Prof. K. G. Suresh, Director of the India Habitat Centre, presided over the session and highlighted the importance of national unity and responsible use of social media, especially in times of crisis like the recent Pahalgam terror attack.
Prof. Rabi Narayan Kar, Principal of Shyam Lal College, welcomed the guests and introduced the theme, while Dr. Sitaram Kumbhar, Conference Director, provided an overview of the event. Dr. Niranjan Chichuan, the Convenor, proposed the vote of thanks.
The inaugural session was followed by three plenary sessions and two technical sessions, where prominent speakers like Dr. Uttam Kumar Sinha, Dr. Smruti Pattanaik (MP-IDSA), Shri K. N. Shrivastava, Shri P. K. Mishra, Prof. Rekha Saxena, and other national and international experts shared their insights. Academics, scholars, and students from across India and abroad presented their research on various aspects of national and international security.
The second day was hosted at Shyam Lal College, where six parallel technical sessions were held at the Multi-Purpose Hall, Seminar Hall, and Board Room.
The conference concluded with a Valedictory Session attended by Prof. Sanjeev Kumar Sharma, former Vice-Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi Central University and Senior Professor at Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut, who was the Chief Guest.
Prof. Munim Kumar Barai from Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Japan, addressed the gathering as the Guest of Honour, providing global insights on India’s security landscape.
Over 100 abstracts were received, of which 60 were selected and published in a souvenir book. The conference witnessed participation from around 200 students, making it a vibrant and engaging academic event.
The conference was coordinated by Dr. Sitaram Kumbhar, Dr. Niranjan Chichuan, and the dedicated faculty and student team of the Political Science Department at Shyam Lal College.