Prof C.R. Babu, noted environmentalist and Professor Emeritus, Delhi University, who is credited with a number of success stories and three awards in the field of environmental conservation, was invited on to share with the VIF’s faculty his views on the importance of Ecological Restoration of Degraded Lands and Wastelands. Welcoming the speaker, Dr.

RNP Singh has lucidly narrated the heroic saga of integrating the nation by indomitable Sardar Vallabhbai Patel by incorporating the princely territories into it. The account refreshes the memory of struggle to keep together the parts of the dismembered and exploited nation by the colonial power.

On 01 Mar 2018, the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) invited Dr Sushmit Kumar, author of “The Modernisation of Islam and the Creation of a Multipolar World Order” (Booksurge, January 2008) for a discussion that hinged on exploring possibilities of India to become a Super Power. Dr Kumar highlighted key historic events of global politics and their implications for countries like India seeking to rise in the global power status.

VIF’s monthly Vimarsha for the month of February, 2018, focused on ‘Ensuring Food Security for India’ through an enlightening talk delivered by Mr. S.K Pattanayak, Secretary to the Government of India (Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare). The Secretary highlighted availability, accessibility, utility and stability, among various other dimensions, to India’s food security. He underscored that policies on food security are made in accordance with emergent priorities across various dimensions.