The School of Liberal Arts and Sciences (SOLAS), Presidency University, Bengaluru, organised a student conference on 22 October 2026 titled ‘Deciphering the Continuum of Factual Narrative: Indian Knowledge Systems, Culture, Contemporary and Psychological Inquiry’. Held in collaboration with the Journal of Dharma Studies (Springer), the conference brought together scholars, students and practitioners from across the country, both in person and online.

 

Inaugural Session: Two Voices, Two Journeys

 

The inaugural session featured two distinguished speakers.

 

Ms Medha Bhaskaran, microbiologist and author, spoke about her career in the food industry, the challenges of working abroad and the odd jobs she took up to gain first-hand experience of life. She recalled how, during Mrs Gandhi’s tenure, the decision to patent processes rather than products helped make medicines more affordable. Emphasising that good research rests on references and evidence, she explained how research-based inquiry inspired her to write her bestselling book on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Her message to students was clear: opportunities arise when one remains committed to research and inquiry-driven questions.

 

Lt Col Ankita Srivastava, veteran Army officer, author and TEDx speaker, structured her address around three words: struggle, survival and success. She spoke about the societal resistance she faced when she chose to join the Army, the criticism she encountered at every step and how she overcame each challenge. She also shared her experiences along the Indo-Pak border and during military operations, where survival meant, above all, staying alive.

 

Technical Sessions

 

More than 120 papers were presented across multiple technical sessions covering literature, sociology, marketing, psychology, research analysis and experimental approaches to knowledge. Participants joined from Delhi, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Coimbatore, Tiruchirappalli, Andhra Pradesh, Mysuru and Chennai, among other locations, reflecting the conference’s broad national reach.

 

Valedictory Session

 

The conference concluded with the presentation of Best Presentation certificates to participants from MAHE, REVA University, Christ University, De Paul College, Bengaluru, and Presidency University. The valedictory session offered a thoughtful psychological perspective: the past should not be revisited merely to dwell on it, but to understand it and reflect upon it with intellectual responsibility.

 

SOLAS extends its gratitude to the guest speakers, the Journal of Dharma Studies, all presenters and participants, and the faculty members and student volunteers whose contributions made the conference a success.