Techvaganza’ fest begins, ignites innovation and talent at NIT Srinagar

Director flags off bike rally of BIS to Kargil

Sustainability of institutions relies on innovation and creativity: Dir

Srinagar, Oct 10: The two-day annual techno-cultural fest, ‘Techvaganza,’ kicked off at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar on Thursday. The event showcased the creativity and talent of students from across the Kashmir valley, with participants demonstrating their skills through a variety of programs.

The inaugural event was presided over by Director NIT Srinagar, Prof. A Ravinder Nath, who was Chief Guest on the occasion. It was graced by the presence of all Deans, Registrar Prof. Atikur Rehman, DSW and Chairman of Techvaganza Prof. Abdul Liman, all HOD’s, HOC’s, Director & Head, BIS JKBO Tilak Raj, and faculty and administrative staff of NIT Srinagar.

Dr. Malik Pervez Ahmad is acting as Convener, Dr. Iqra Altaf Gilani as Coordinator, while Dr. Dinesh Kumar Rajendran and Dr. Janani L are the Co-coordinators of the two-day event.

In his key address, Director NIT Srinagar, Prof. A Ravinder Nath said that sustainability of institutions relies on innovation and creativity. Tomorrow, in the vision of a developed India 2047 and even under the NEP 2020, there is a strong focus on creativity, he said.

Prof. Nath said in the future, students may attend institutions for learning but also study and take exams online, while coming to the institute to turn ideas into reality and for hands-on training. Our focus must shift towards creating environments where students can experiment, collaborate, and bring their creative ideas to life, he said.

“There are over 2 million cars lying unused in garages, even though they have not touched the road. Each year, new models are introduced, while outdated ones are discarded. Today’s students belong to the Alpha generation, and soon the Beta generation will follow, while the teachers may belong to generations X, Y, or Z,” he added.

Prof. A Ravinder Nath further stressed the need to address practices that harm the environment, urging everyone to minimize their usage of such products. We must focus on recycling and reducing waste to make a meaningful contribution to the environment,” he added.

The Director of NIT Srinagar, along with Registrar Prof. Rehman, jointly flagged off a bike rally organized by BIS J&K from the NIT Srinagar campus towards Kargil. The rally was aimed to raise awareness about the importance of standards in ensuring safety and quality, particularly in the most challenging environments.

On the occasion, Registrar Prof. Atikur Rehman said the two-day tech fest was aimed to provide a vibrant platform to students of the campus. “Such fests are not only a great way for students to showcase their skills but also an opportunity to learn from peers, industry experts, and the latest technological advancements,” he said.

Prof. Rehman said that Techvaganza promises an electrifying experience for all the attendees. This event has earned a reputation as a premier tech fest in the region. During the two-day event a wide range of workshops, seminars, and training sessions are being organized by experts in various fields, he added.

While welcoming the participants in Techvaganza 2024, DSW and Chairperson of Student Gymkhana, Prof. Abdul Liman said that this annual celebration of creativity, technology and innovation at NIT Srinagar has grown year by year. It has not become a platform for technical competence but also a symbol of collective commitment to shape a brighter future, he said.

              “The theme of this year’s fest is Greener Innovation – Engineering a Sustainable World!” which focuses on how engineering and technology can contribute to a more sustainable, environmentally friendly future. “Greener innovation is a call to action, urging us to think beyond conventional solutions and adopt practices that promote sustainability,” he added.

Director & Head, BIS JKBO Tilak Raj said that the bike rally from Srinagar to Siachen base camp is aimed to reach. From there, the riders will proceed to Hundurmaan village, the last village of India, to raise awareness about BIS standards and their crucial role in ensuring safety and quality, even in the toughest environments, among local communities, he said.

Mr Raj also said that BIS has also signed a MoU with NIT Srinagar two years ago. In coming months, we are also planning a special lecture series at the Institute, he added.

Convener of the two-day fest, Dr. Malik Pervez Ahmad said this event is like a festival fof NIT Srinagar, and there’s a palpable sense of joy and enthusiasm among the students, making it a truly successful occasion.

“The students have dedicated the past three months to organizing the event, putting in tremendous effort and hard work. Every brick they have laid, every idea they’ve shared, and every drop of sweat has come together to make this a grand success. The coordination and networking among the students have been exceptional,” Dr. Malik added.

Earlier Coordinator of the event, Dr. Iqra Altaf Gilani delivered the welcome address and stated that the annual Techvaganza’ fest celebrates innovation, creativity and technological excellence. In the present day as we are facing environmental challenges, the role of technology and innovations in driving sustainable solutions has never been more critical.

“Techvaganza has been a beacon of hope, a platform for students, faculty members and partners to showcase their technical creativity. This year our focus is more on greener technologies, which we can give to our future as well,” he said.

Dr. Iqra further said that that over the next 2 days, NIT Srinagar’s campus will be vibrant with cutting-edge events including first of its kind Drone Soccer, workshops, Mortal Kombat,Talk on AI, competitions, and exhibitions, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, and Web Development to thrilling coding competitions and hackathons sessions.

“This year, our theme is sustainability. We are committed to making our event as eco-friendly as possible” she said.

A formal vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. Janani L. On behalf of the organizing committee, she expressed her gratitude to Director NIT Srinagar, Prof. A. Ravinder Nath; Registrar Prof. Rehman; HODs; Deans; and HoCs for their support in organizing such a large-scale event. 

She also extended special thanks to DSW Prof. Abdul Liman, Dean of Academic Affairs Dr. Mohammad Shafi Mir, Director of BIS JK Mr. Tilak Raj, and other esteemed guests for making a successful inaugural event.