Mumbai: Techfest 2024 at Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-B) concluded with a series of events that highlighted innovation, creativity, and intellectual discourse.
The final day’s highlight was an insightful lecture by the Director of Satish Dhawan Space Centre-SHAR (SDSC-SHAR), A. Rajarajan, who inspired students with his insights into space exploration and India’s potential to lead the field globally.
Addressing an auditorium brimming with eager students and professionals, Rajarajan elaborated on the strides made in space technology, not just by India but also globally.
“Till two months ago, a total of 552 men and 72 women have landed in space from across the world,” he informed, underscoring the growing ambition in the domain of space exploration.
Rajarajan detailed several ongoing space programmes, shedding light on both India’s achievements and international collaborations that continue to push the boundaries of human ingenuity.
He praised the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for its transformative contributions to global space exploration and lauded its commitment to innovation and perseverance in overcoming challenges.
Expressing his optimism about the future, Rajarajan shared a hopeful vision for India’s role in the global space race. “Young people will make sure India is the leader in space technology by 2047, the 100th anniversary of independence,” he said.
The lecture also touched upon India’s recent accomplishments in space, including groundbreaking missions that have captured global attention like Chandrayaan – 3. Rajarajan’s message was clear: collaboration, curiosity, and an unwavering focus on innovation will be the driving forces behind India’s ascent as a global space leader.
“No country can develop a technology alone that ensures, that maybe after a century, people start living on planets other than earth. Collaborative efforts will, however, make that possible,” he said.
“Then younger generation will send marriage proposals which will say ‘my sign is moon, what is your sign, earth or mars’,” he joked, eliciting laughter from a young crowd.
The final day of Techfest 2024 also featured a lecture by entrepreneur and artist Ananya Birla, who discussed resilience and creativity in overcoming challenges. The Techfest ended with a superbike roadshow that enthralled attendees with its high-octane display of engineering marvels.
