February 28th, 2026
IITKGP Foundation
Renaissance 2.0: IIT Kharagpur’s Parliament of Enlightened Thoughts
Charts a Vision for Collaborative Prosperity
On 24 February 2026, the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur convened a historic global intellectual gathering titled Renaissance 2.0: Parliament of Enlightened Thoughts towards Collaborative Prosperity at the IIT Kharagpur Research Park in New Town, Kolkata, marking a signature event of the institute’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in partnership with The Boston Pledge on its Silver Jubilee. The event was described by the official press release as a landmark convergence aimed at catalysing a contemporary renaissance — inspired by the seminal Parliament of the World’s Religions that propelled Swami Vivekananda to global prominence — and advocating civilisational dialogue for the 21st century across government, academia, industry, science, technology, culture and spirituality.
The Parliament assembled eminent dignitaries and thought leaders from across sectors to deliberate on humanity’s shared future amid global volatility and rapid technological transformation. Chief among them were Dr Sukanta Majumdar, Union Minister of State for Education; Shri T.V. Narendran, Chairman of the Board of Governors of IIT Kharagpur; Prof. Suman Chakraborty, Director of IIT Kharagpur; Dr Partha S. Ghosh, Chairman of The Boston Pledge (USA); Prof. Madhusudan Chakraborty, former Director of IIT Bhubaneswar; Shri Harshvardhan Neotia, Chairman of Ambuja Neotia Group; Dr Asoke Deysarkar, President of the IIT Alumni Foundation (USA); Prof. Subrata Chattopadhyay, Emeritus Professor and Chair of Renaissance 2.0; and Padma Bhushan awardee Pt. Ajoy Chakraborty.
Renaissance 2.0 was anchored in four expansive plenary dialogues that sought to reimagine foundational pillars of civilisation. These included discussions on reimagining education to awaken the whole human being, rethinking economic constructs beyond traditional capitalism and socialism, guiding technological evolution through a framework of “Science with Soul”, and reawakening the spiritual vector toward One Humanity. Across these sessions, delegates emphasized that the structures which shaped the industrial and post-industrial eras must evolve to prioritise planetary sustainability, inclusive growth, ethical technological advancement and collective well-being.
Speakers underscored a shared commitment to move beyond zero-sum paradigms toward a “plus-sum” framework of cooperation, sustainability and collective good. As the inaugural edition concluded, participants affirmed their resolve to develop collaborative research initiatives, policy frameworks, and cross-sector partnerships that would translate enlightened thought into impactful global action — framing the Parliament not merely as an event, but as the beginning of a sustained movement toward collaborative prosperity and a renewed human future.
At a press interaction during the summit, IIT Kharagpur Director Prof. Suman Chakraborty reiterated that the event reflects the institute’s enduring commitment to shaping not just technological advancement but “the moral and intellectual compass of the 21st century.” He noted that celebrating the Platinum Jubilee entailed reaffirming a responsibility to integrate education, economy, technology and spirituality into a unified vision of collaborative prosperity — calling for institutions “that do not merely respond to change but consciously design it for the greater good of humanity.”
The Parliament of Enlightened Thoughts thus stood as both a commemorative highlight of IIT Kharagpur’s 75-year legacy and a forward-looking platform where diverse voices converged to explore how education, philosophy, culture and innovation might jointly shape the future contours of global civilisation.