“Research institutes of science & technology and centres of higher education should be established in India and the people of India should study in Indian institutions, rather than foreign countries”: this concept of Swami Vivekananda is the basis of the concept of New India today, said Dr Shekhar C. Mande, former Director General, CSIR, and former Secretary, DSIR, New Delhi, in his address to the students.He was the keynote speaker in the CSIR-Jigyasa programme which was celebrated on the occasion of Swami Vivekananda Jayanti and AmritMahotsav of Independence on 12 January  2023 at CSIR-Central Salt & Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSMCRI), Bhavnagar, Gujarat. 

On the occasion of National Youth Day, CSIR-CSMCRIorganised an online seminar on the topic “Role of Scientists in India's Freedom Struggle”. Dr Mande said that Swami Vivekananda changed the perception of the world towards India and informed the world that India's knowledge and science arewell developed.He narrated the history of the CSIR and described its contribution tothe research activities of the country.

Dr Kanti Bhooshan Pandey, Senior Scientist and PRO of the Institute informed that hundreds of students and teachers from various KendriyaVidyalayas, JawaharNavodayaVidyalayas and AtalVidyalayas of Gujarat State and Daman-Diu participated in this seminar. The participants were welcomed by DrBiswajitGanguly, ChiefScientist and the programme was concluded by Dr Mangal S.Rathore, Principal Scientist with a vote of thanks. The programme was coordinated by Dr Doongar Ram Chaudhary, Principal Scientist and Coordinator.