December 16th, 2025 – Govardhan Ecovillage (GEV), in collaboration with IIT Bombay, IIT Kanpur, NIT Warangal and IGBC successfully hosted SAṆKET 2025 – Sustainability through Ancient Knowledge & Emerging Technologies, a landmark national conference that brought together India’s leading sustainability pioneers, researchers, and practitioners.Historic Gathering Celebrates India’s Sustainable Future; Govardhan Ecovillage & IIT Bombay Sign Strategic MoU for Capacity Building and On-Ground Research Implementation.
Held at the Victor Menezes Convention Centre (VMCC), IIT Bombay, the all-day conference under the theme “Unlocking Green Minds” drew over 240 attendees and featured 50+ research papers across three critical sustainability themes: Renewable Energy & Solar Technologies, Water Conservation & Management, and Sustainable Innovation rooted in Indian Knowledge Systems.
Conference Highlights
The conference featured keynote addresses and panel discussions from India’s most celebrated sustainability leaders, including:
- Gauranga Das, Director, Govardhan Ecovillage
- K. Ramasubramanian, Institute Chair Professor & Sanskrit Scholar, IIT Bombay
- Dr. Anuradda Ganesh, Clean Energy & Biomass Expert, IIT Madras
- Shri Subramanian Chidambaran, Chief Strategy Officer, Cummins India
- Shri Ranpal Singh, Tata Power, Energy Collaboration Leader
- Shri Vishwanath Srikantaiah, Rain Man of Bengaluru
- Plus expert panelists on heritage conservation, sustainable agriculture, and green energy with subject expert Prof Pennan Chinnasamy as moderator
Key outcomes:
- 50+ peer-reviewed research papers presented across parallel tracks
- Recognition of Best Papers and Posters in respective themes
- Tri-institutional certification awarded to all participants (GEV, GESH-IITB, KSS-IITK)
- Intensive panel discussions on integrating ancient wisdom with modern technological solutions
- Vibrant networking among academics, industry leaders, policymakers, and practitioners
Strategic Partnership: GEV & IIT Bombay MoU
In a significant development, Govardhan Ecovillage and IIT Bombay signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at advancing sustainability through collaborative capacity building, living lab creation, and on-ground breakthrough research implementation.
The partnership focuses on:
- Capacity Building: Joint training programs and workshops on sustainable technologies, water management, renewable energy, and agro-tech innovations
- Living Labs: Development of demonstration projects at GEV for testing and scaling sustainable solutions in real-world rural settings
- On-Ground Research Implementation: Translating academic research into practical, scalable solutions benefiting rural communities and supporting India’s sustainability goals
This strategic collaboration exemplifies SAṆKET 2025’s core vision: bridging India’s timeless wisdom traditions with cutting-edge scientific innovation to create lasting, community-centered sustainability solutions.
Conference Theme & Impact
Participants—ranging from researchers and students to entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and policymakers—engaged in meaningful dialogue on practical solutions for energy transitions, water security, rural entrepreneurship, and consciousness-driven sustainability.
Looking Ahead
The success of SAṆKET 2025 marks the beginning of a sustained movement to position India as a global leader in sustainability through the integration of ancient wisdom and modern innovation. The GEV-IITB partnership is expected to yield tangible outcomes in the coming months, including pilot projects, capacity-building initiatives, and peer-reviewed publications.
SAṆKET 2025 affirms the possibility of a conscious, sustainable, and regenerative future—one grounded in India’s timeless values and powered by technological excellence.
About SAṆKET 2025
SAṆKET 2025 was a national conference organized by Govardhan Ecovillage (GEV, Wada) in association with the Kotak School of Sustainability (IIT Kanpur), Green Energy & Sustainability Hub (GESH), IIT Bombay, NIT Warangal and Indian Green Building Council (IGBC).
