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PIC’s New Campus Inaugurated by The Dalai Lama

PIC’s New Campus Inaugurated by The Dalai Lama

The new campus of Pune International Centre (PIC) was inaugurated on the occasion of India’s 76th Republic Day in Pashan, Pune. The facility was symbolically inaugurated by His Holiness The Dalai Lama through a message read by Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar, FRS, President of PIC.

In his message, The Dalai Lama praised Pune’s “vibrant intellectual environment,” which he said PIC has harnessed to foster discussions on critical regional and national policy issues. Highlighting the importance of engaging youth in PIC’s mission, he noted that empowering the younger generation could help shape a brighter future for India and the world. He also emphasized the relevance of ancient Indian wisdom and techniques like meditation in today’s era, combined with India’s economic growth, to create an ethically grounded society.

Dr. Mashelkar described the new campus as a “dream come true” and expressed gratitude for The Dalai Lama’s blessings, which he said would imbue the facility with wisdom, compassion, and harmony. Reflecting on PIC’s 14-year journey, he acknowledged the contributions of its late founders—Dilip Padgaonkar (journalist), B.G. Deshmukh (former bureaucrat), and Mohan Dharia (former Union minister and deputy chairman of the Planning Commission). He declared that PIC would continue to serve as a hub of transformative ideas and an intellectual beacon for Pune.

“When people think of Pune, they should think of PIC,” said Dr. Mashelkar.

The inaugural ceremony was held at the state-of-the-art Amphitheatre of the new campus, which features a Main Administrative Building, Research Wing, Auditorium, Convention Hall, and Art Gallery, designed to host world-class events. Distinguished guests, including former Union Minister Mr. Prakash Javadekar, PIC Trustees, and Members, were present at the event.

The day began with the unveiling of a Buddha statue by Dr. Mashelkar, Dr. Vijay Kelkar (Vice President, PIC), Dr. Ravi Pandit (Treasurer, PIC), Mr. Prashant Girbane (General Secretary, PIC), and Maj Gen Nitin Gadkari (Director, PIC). The guests were later given a guided tour of the campus by Col. Rajendra Kenjalkar (Project Manager), Mr. Neeraj Thakur (Head of PIC’s Social Innovation Lab), and Maj Gen Gadkari.

The ceremony, anchored by Ms. Lisa Pingale (Member, PIC), commenced with the National Anthem sung by students of Jnana Prabodhini and PIC staff.

Dr. Vijay Kelkar highlighted PIC’s unique role in shaping public policy as one of India’s first independent think tanks, challenging the traditional dominance of Delhi in policy research. He emphasized that good policies must be knowledge-based and consensus-driven. He also outlined PIC’s contributions across national security, environmental policy, cooperative federalism, and social innovation, noting that the Centre’s research papers and books have influenced government policy.

Dr. Ravi Pandit spoke about PIC’s future vision, titled “PIC 2.0,” which aims to attract 20 research fellows and produce 100 research papers annually. He emphasized a focus on independent, objective, and actionable policy research that benefits society.

Mr. Prashant Girbane traced PIC’s growth from modest beginnings to its current state, crediting the late Ratan Tata for his support and Tata Trusts for their funding. He also expressed gratitude for the inspiration and guidance of Dr. Mashelkar and Dr. Kelkar.

Maj Gen Nitin Gadkari, in his vote of thanks, acknowledged the contributions of architects, consultants, and all those who made the new campus a reality. These contributors were felicitated by Dr. Mashelkar during the ceremony.

The new PIC campus stands as a testament to the institution’s mission to foster intellectual dialogue and positive change in India and beyond.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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