Gurugram, April 17, 2025: The three-day Connect 360 International Conference, held from April 15-17, 2025, organized jointly by K.R. Mangalam University, Gurugram, and Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, concluded successfully. The conference aimed to promote dialogue between sustainability, innovation, and Indian knowledge systems. It presented a grand confluence of thoughtful discussions, research, and innovation, dedicated to placing India’s traditional knowledge systems in global discourse, exploring their innovative uses through media, design, and communication, and identifying new possibilities for sustainable development.
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In the inaugural ceremony, Prof. (Dr.) Amit Chawla, Dean, S.J.M.C., welcomed all distinguished guests and highlighted the significance of the conference. The Vice Chancellor of KRMU, Prof. Raghuvir Singh, delivered the opening speech, emphasizing the need for a 360-degree approach that integrates the environmental, economic, and social aspects of sustainability. He also stressed the critical role of media, advocating for responsible communication and truthfulness. During the three-day Connect 360 International Conference, prominent speakers shared their insights, including Prof. F.B. Khan, Prof. William L. Gannon, and Dr. K.G. Suresh, Prof. Anubhuti Yadav who discussed sustainability, the role of media, and the importance of traditional knowledge systems. A major highlight of the first day was the research papers presented by students, showcasing in-depth research on both Indian and global challenges.
On the second day, the conference was held at the Department of Design & Innovation, Jamia Millia Islamia, where Prof. Mazhar Asif, Vice Chancellor, Jamia Millia Islamia, discussed the importance of traditional knowledge in Indian villages and the need to integrate it with modern scientific perspectives. Presentations focused on Indian water conservation techniques, Ayurvedic principles, and traditional design thinking. A significant session on “Indian Knowledge Systems and Sustainability” featured a panel discussion where Prof. Amit Chawla emphasized the importance of local and contextual knowledge, introducing the concept of “Highest Common Factor” (HCF) thinking, which seeks unity in diverse systems. He also highlighted the importance of traditional storytelling and announced an app-based system to support the reach of IKS language. Experts like Prof. F.B. Khan and Dr. K.S. Kusuma also shared their views during this session.
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On the third and final day of the conference, research was presented on Indian myths, the impact of social media, and the psychological effects of colors in design. The closing ceremony featured Prof. Ajay Gupta (former Director, ICSSR) as the chief guest. On this day, a panel discussion titled “Designing the Future with Tradition” included renowned experts such as Prof. Durgesh Tripathi, Prof. Sumit Narula, and Prof. Rakesh Yogi. In the closing session, Prof. Ajay Gupta and Prof. (Dr.) Manish Verma shared their thoughts on the convergence of Indian knowledge systems and global sustainability practices.
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Awards for the best research papers were distributed during the closing ceremony, recognizing the outstanding contributions of the participants. On the first day of the conference, Archika Arya received the Best Paper Award for her work on “From Tradition to Technology,” while Anurag Gupta and Devang Chaturvedi were awarded for their paper on “Simplification.” On the second day, Vishal Azad and Pratibha Tiwari received the Best Paper Award for their contribution to the integration of Indian knowledge systems and contemporary media. Dr. Sagarika Dash was awarded for her paper on “Ghibli Animation and Indian Ecological Ideology.” On the final day, Somendra Prajapat from Amity University Rajasthan received the Best Paper Presentation Award for his paper on “Maya, Illusion, and Nolan’s Quest for Reality: A Philosophical Analysis of Inception and The Prestige.” Additionally, Dr. Mudasir Hameed received the Best Paper Award for his offline research presentation on “Bridging the Digital Divide: An Analysis of NEP,” and Trilok Kumar Singh was awarded for his paper on “Indian Knowledge Systems in the Age of Digital Media: Preservation, Transformation, and Global Reach.”
This conference emerged as a significant bridge between traditional and modern knowledge systems, generating new hopes and perspectives for sustainability and innovation in the future. The “Connect 360 International Conference” organized by the Department of Journalism & Mass Communication, K.R. Mangalam University, Gurugram, not only proved to be an international platform for research and dialogue but also served as a crucial effort to connect India’s rich traditional knowledge heritage with innovation and global sustainable development goals (SDGs). The conference provided a shared platform for students, researchers, educators, and policymakers, where new ideas emerged from the confluence of tradition and technology. The conference organizers included Dr. Aqib Anwar Butt, Dr. Rithvik Ghosh, and Dr. Saniuddin Khan, DDI, JMI, along with co-organizers Dr. Deepshikha, event secretary Mr. Karan Singh, Ms. Aditi Agarwal, and coordinators Trilok Kumar Singh,Mr Ujjwal Kumar, Dr. Ujjwal Chandra Das, and Mr. Salaam Mohammad.
(With the inputs of Mr. Karan Singh, Assistant Professor, SJMC, KRMU).
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