Kolkata, February 24, 2026: The Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur today hosted a historic global convergence titled “Renaissance 2.0: Parliament of Enlightened Thoughts towards Collaborative Prosperity” at the IIT Kharagpur Research Park, New Town, Kolkata. Organised under the aegis of the Institute’s Platinum Jubilee Celebrations, in collaboration with The Boston Pledge on its Silver Jubilee, the landmark gathering set the stage for a renewed civilisational dialogue for the 21st century.

Inspired by the seminal Parliament of the World’s Religions, where Swami Vivekananda repositioned India on the global stage and sparked a profound intellectual awakening, Renaissance 2.0 aspires to catalyse a contemporary renaissance rooted in collaborative prosperity, ethical innovation, and spiritual humanism. The Parliament brought together eminent leaders from government, academia, industry, science, technology, and the spiritual and cultural spheres to deliberate upon humanity’s shared future amid global volatility and rapid technological transformation. The initiative seeks to move beyond zero-sum paradigms towards a “plus-sum” framework of cooperation, sustainability, and collective well-being.

The inaugural session was graced by Dr Sukanta Majumdar, Hon’ble Union Minister of State for Education, Government of India, alongside distinguished dignitaries, including Shri TV Narendran, Chairman, Board of Governors, IIT Kharagpur; Prof. Suman Chakraborty, Director, IIT Kharagpur; Dr Partha S. Ghosh, Chairman, The Boston Pledge, USA; Prof. Madhusudan Chakraborty, Former Director, IIT Bhubaneswar; Shri Harshvardhan Neotia, Chairman, Ambuja Neotia Group; Dr Asoke Deysarkar, President, IIT Alumni Foundation US; Prof. Subrata Chattopadhyay, Emeritus Professor and Chair, Renaissance 2.0; and Padma Bhushan Pt Ajoy Chakraborty, eminent classical vocalist.

Renaissance 2.0 is anchored in four transformative plenary dialogues designed to reimagine the foundational pillars of civilisation: reimagining education to awaken the whole human being; rethinking economic constructs beyond capitalism and socialism; guiding technological evolution through a framework of “Science with Soul”; and reawakening the spiritual vector to advance the vision of One Humanity. Addressing the gathering, speakers underscored that the equations that shaped the industrial and postindustrial eras must now evolve to ensure planetary sustainability, inclusive growth, and ethical technological advancement. The Parliament emphasised responsible self-expression over unchecked self-interest and long-term planetary fitness over short-term gains.

As the inaugural edition concluded, delegates collectively affirmed their commitment to developing collaborative research initiatives, policy frameworks, and cross-sector partnerships that will translate enlightened thought into actionable global impact. Renaissance 2.0 thus marks not merely an event, but the beginning of a sustained global movement toward collaborative prosperity and a renewed human future.

IIT Kharagpur Director, Prof. Suman Chakraborty Quote: – “Renaissance 2.0 reflects IIT Kharagpur’s enduring commitment to shaping not just technological advancement but the moral and intellectual compass of the 21st century. As we celebrate our Platinum Jubilee, we reaffirm our responsibility to integrate education, economy, technology, and spirituality into a unified vision of collaborative prosperity. The future demands institutions that do not merely respond to change but consciously design it for the greater good of humanity.” Issued by:

Renaissance 2.0 – Parliament of Enlightened Thoughts towards Collaborative Prosperity

Following the Inaugural Session, the Forum will deliberate upon four foundational pillars of modern civilisational evolution through thematic plenary dialogues, bringing together distinguished leaders from academia, governance, industry, science, technology, and spiritual traditions.

Plenary Session I

Reimagining Education—Awakening the Whole Human Being

Anchored by: Prof. Suman Chakraborty, Director, IIT Kharagpur

This session will examine the transformative role of education in nurturing not only intellectual excellence but also ethical awareness, creativity, leadership, and inner consciousness. The dialogue seeks to move beyond conventional pedagogy toward a holistic framework that integrates knowledge, character, and societal responsibility.

Esteemed Speakers:

Prof. Govindan Rangarajan

Director, IISc Bangalore

Dr Dhriti Banerjee

Director, Zoological Survey of India,

Kolkata—Ministry of FECC. Go.

Father Dr Felix Raj

Vice Chancellor, St Xavier’s

University / Former Principal

St Xavier’s College

Prof. Souvik Bhattacharya

Principal Advisor, Heritage Group

and Former VC, BITS Group and JU

Prof. Bishwapriya Sanyal

(Online) Ford International Professor,

MIT, USA

Kaori Yamashita

45th Associate, Matsushita

Institute of Government and Management, Japan

Plenary Session II

Rethinking Economic Constructs—Beyond Capitalism and Socialism

Anchored by: Mr R. Gopalakrishnan, Former Executive Director, Tata Sons

This session will explore new economic paradigms that transcend traditional binaries and envision models rooted in equity, sustainability, and collaborative prosperity. The dialogue aims to identify frameworks that balance growth with social justice and long-term planetary well-being.

Esteemed Speakers:-

Dr Partha S. Ghosh

Chairman, The Boston Pledge, USA

Dr Nandita Chatterjee, IAS, (R)

Former Secretary, MoHUPA, Go.

Dr Bivas Chaudhuri

Advisor (Statistics) in the United

Nation’s Industrial Development

Organisation, Vienna

Prof. Mahalaya Chatterjee

UGC Fellow and Former Head,

Professor of Economics, Calcutta University

Prof. Diane Davis

(Online) Professor,

Harvard Graduate School of Design

Prof. Kaushik Basu

(Online) Professor, Cornell University

Rajat Gupta

Indian-American Business Executive, Former CEO, McKinsey & Co.

Plenary Session III

Guiding Technological Evolution — Science with Soul

Anchored by: Prof. Partha Pratim Chakrabarti, Former Director, IIT Kharagpur

This session will deliberate on how to ensure that scientific advancement and technological innovation remain anchored in ethical responsibility, inclusivity, and human-centric values. The focus will be on harmonising artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and emerging sciences with moral and ecological consciousness.

Esteemed Speakers:-

Swami Atmapriyanandaji

Secretary, RKMVERI Centre,

Pro-Chancellor, RKM Belur University

Padma Shri Prof. Ajoy Ray

Former Director, IIEST Shibpur and Director, JSI

Prof. Indranil Manna

Vice Chancellor, BIT Mesra and

Former Director, IIT Kanpur

Prof. Steve Gullans

CEO, Thynk and Thought Leader in Brain-Computer Interface, AI

Prof. Wolfgang Ketterle

(Online) Nobel Laureate in Physics from

MIT, USA

Dr Tony Fadell

American Engineer, Designer,

Entrepreneur and Investor

Prof. Matthew B. Schabath

(Online) Senior Member & Cancer Epidemiology

Leader, Moffitt Cancer Center

Dr Mark Spencer

(Online) President, Water Analytics

Plenary Session IV

Reawakening the Spiritual Vector — Toward One Humanity

Anchored by: Prof. Joy Sen, Co-Chair, Renaissance 2.0

This session will reflect upon the spiritual and civilisational foundations necessary for nurturing global harmony, inner awakening, and the vision of One Humanity. The dialogue will integrate perspectives from diverse faiths, philosophies, and cultural traditions.