A significant milestone in sustainable innovation was achieved with the inauguration of VATIKA: The Biophilic Studio at the IIT Kharagpur Research Park. The event was graced by Dr. Amit Patra, Director of IIT Kharagpur, along with Dr. Rintu Banerjee, Deputy Director, and Dr. Khanindra Pathak, Professor-in-Charge of the Research Park. This inauguration marked the first Biophilic Studio of its kind in the country, ushering in a new era of biophilic design principles within academic and innovation ecosystems.
“Our Kharagpur campus faces a challenge as it isn’t located in a metro city. This research park in New Town is a bridge between the campus and industry,” said Prof. Amit Patra, appreciating the eco-friendly theme of the studio. “Our education system teaches that which is outside but we must also learn that which is within. And this is something we can do by strengthening our bond with nature, he added.
Inaugural Ceremony: A Spiritual and Intellectual Beginning
The inauguration began with a spiritual curtain-raiser ceremony, led by Shri Sourabh J. Sarkar, the Founder of KarmYog for the 21st Century. He conducted the Prakriti Jagaran Yatra, accompanied by the KarmYog team and a host of other attendees. This auspicious ceremony set the tone for the day, which was filled with intellectual exchange and discussions on the transformative potential of biophilic design.
Panel Discussions: Insights into Biophilic Innovation
The inauguration featured a distinguished panel of thought leaders from academia, industry, and governance, who shared their insights on biophilic innovation and sustainability. Dr. Khanindra Pathak opened the session with his experiences in bio-reclamation through vetiver system technology and rapid forest regeneration using the Miyawaki method. He stressed the importance of integrating natural elements into innovation ecosystems to foster sustainability.
Shri Sourabh J. Sarkar, Founder of KarmYog for 21st Century shared the vision of the Biophilic Movement, aiming to establish a million Vatikas (Learning Gardens or Biophilic Studios) to bring nature closer to communities. “The IIT Vatika is the eighth of its kind and Karmyog’s target is an ambitious million. “The idea is to cover the entire country where each studio serves 300-400 households of a locality. Each will generate employment for 10-15 staff, who will help record videos as well as tend to the plants and sell them. It has the potential to employ 15 million people,” Sarkar said. Karmyog makes vatikas of different sizes. There’s a compact one at the Adyapeath temple, one coming up at a mosque by the parliament in New Delhi and a five acre one in Bihar. And they are eco-friendly at a whole new level. “Usually, bamboo is termite-treated with chemicals but we use the traditional method of bamboo preservation. Instead of transporting it from Assam by truck, we are having them float through the Ganga and reach in two or three months. This way it gets naturally seasoned,” Sarkar said.
Speaking on the idea of the studio, Prof. Rintu Banerjee, Deputy Director of IIT Kharagpur delivered the keynote address, discussing her pioneering research on enhancing lactic acid production from food waste and exploring the impact of sound, particularly Rabindra Sangeet, on microbial efficiency during fermentation. Her talk highlighted the fascinating intersection of arts and science in promoting sustainability,“I once heard of a surgeon who never failed in surgery and credited it to playing Rabindrasangeet in the operation theatre. We tried the same. We played different kinds of music for microbial growth and found that its productivity indeed increased. We are happy to share that Rabindrasangeet, particularly the song Ektuku chhoa lage, had the best result,” she said, drawing applause from the audience. “We are excited and are still researching why this happens, but we are certain that sound has a positive effect on us.”
“Our research park is meant to generate new ideas. We want our engineers to create a biophilic world, not concrete jungles. We may even develop biophilic accommodation for research scholars here,” said Prof. Khanindra Pathak, Professor-in-charge, IIT Kharagpur Research Park.
Other speakers included Prof. Brajesh Kumar Dubey, Chairperson of the School of Water Resources, who discussed the critical role of natural elements in reducing carbon footprints, said that as engineers, their job was to build structures and products that mimic nature. “Sadly, many buildings today are beautiful but lack natural lighting.” Dr. Swapan Chakraborty, Visionary Pediatrician and Founder of Shishu Sanjivan Hospital, emphasized the need to reconnect children with nature to combat health challenges posed by modern lifestyles. “Six out of 10 patients today have breathing problems and it is because they are not exposed outdoors. They need to roll in the dirt and get drenched in the rain. This Vatika will give them exposure,” said the Labony Estate-based doctor, who arranged for the Vatika at Adyapeath.
Shri Vineet Kumar Goyal, an IPS officer and Distinguished Alumnus, explored the parallels between law enforcement and nature, advocating for collaboration and adaptability in addressing public challenges. Prof. B.C. Ghosh, a retired professor from the Agriculture Department, highlighted innovative practices like rooftop gardening and organic farming as solutions to urban pollution and rural nutrition. “Why should we buy ketchup made in China when we can grow tomatoes in our terrace?” he said.
Dr. Vijay Bharati, IAS, Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology and Biotechnology, Govt. of West Bengal, echoed these themes, emphasizing sustainable agricultural practices and environmental innovation within the state. The session concluded with reflections from Dr. Amit Patra, who underscored the profound impact of biophilic practices and shared an anecdote about the success of agricultural innovations at IIT Kharagpur, culminating in a beautiful rendition of a song and verse by Tagore.
VATIKA – The Biophilic Studio: A Hub for Integral Well-being
Following the panel discussions, Dr. Amit Patra officially inaugurated the Biophilic Studio: A Hub for Integral Well-being at IIT Kharagpur Research Park. The inaugural podcast, featuring a conversation between Dr. Patra and Shri Sourabh J. Sarkar, focused on the theme of “Technology for Self-Exploration and Integral Well-being.” This podcast was streamed live from VATIKA, symbolizing the studio’s role as a platform for innovative dialogue and interdisciplinary collaboration.
The event attracted participation from eminent faculty members, alumni, and representatives from organizations like TCS, Techno-India, and the Army Institute of Management. VATIKA is set to become a beacon of sustainability, innovation, and learning, fostering a deeper connection between humanity and nature.
The Biophilic Multimedia Studio aims to amplify the outreach of IIT Kharagpur’s academicians, entrepreneurs, professionals, and innovators. This transformative platform will focus on content creation, collaborative discussions, and multimedia dissemination, showcasing groundbreaking research, entrepreneurial ventures, and innovative practices. By enhancing the visibility of the IIT Kharagpur Research Park ecosystem, VATIKA will foster global connections and inspire biophilia-driven solutions across various disciplines.
In summary, the inauguration of VATIKA represents a new chapter in the quest for sustainable innovation, establishing IIT Kharagpur as a hub for biophilic design, interdisciplinary collaboration, and integral well-being. Through its focus on nature-based solutions, VATIKA is poised to lead the way in fostering a deeper connection between humanity and the environment.
Media Coverage:
Edited By : Poulami Mondal, Digital & Creative Media Executive (Creative Writer)
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