The 27th Foundation Day of PANE was celebrated with great enthusiasm at Cotton University on April 7, 2025, marking a significant milestone for the organisation. The event featured a series of important highlights, including the Foundation Day Lecture, the launch of the PANE Journal of Physics (PJP), and the unveiling of the PANE Newsletter (Volume 6, Issue 1).
The day’s main event was the Foundation Day Lecture titled “Quantum Mechanics in Gravity”, presented by Prof. Soumitra Sengupta, Amal Kumar Raychaudhuri Chair Professor at the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS), Kolkata. Following the lecture, an engaging interactive session was held, allowing the audience to delve deeper into the subject and interact with the distinguished speaker.
Prof. Ramesh Ch. Deka, Vice Chancellor of Cotton University, served as the Chief Guest of the event. Prof. B. N. Goswami, a Fellow of PANE and a Fellow of each of the three science academies of India, was also present. The event was anchored by Dr. Pranab Jyoti Bhuyan, and key dignitaries present included Prof. N. Nimai Singh, President of PANE, Prof. J. J. Das, Head of the Physics Department at Cotton University, and Dr. Samrat Dey, General Secretary of PANE, who all addressed the audience.
The event also included the recognition of the top performers in the North East India Physics Talent Search (NEIPTS) 2024. The prizes were presented by Prof. Kushal Kalita, Executive President of PANE. The winners of the competition were Dibya Priyam Saharia, Ayudh Baruah, Bhargav Ranjan Das, Adi Dohutia, Diana Chongtham, Priyadashini Nongmaithem, Sourav Das, Prayas Madhur Gogoi, Wahengbam Yaiphaba Singh, Shlok Singh, and Mashiman Shinglai.
Additionally, several eminent physicists were felicitated for their significant contributions to physics teaching and research. These included Prof. Pabitra Borgohain, Prof. Barindra Kumar Sarma, Prof. Amarendra Rajput, and Prof. P. K. Boruah.
The event also featured a presentation on PANE’s achievements over the past financial year, which highlighted notable financial growth, membership expansion, the successful completion of the 14th PANE Regular Conference, and the publication of conference proceedings and books. Additionally, key amendments to the PANE constitution were discussed.
Other notable attendees included Dr. Ranjan Kalita, Treasurer of PANE; Dr. Nabendu Deb, Editor-in-Chief of PANE’s Newsletter; Mr. Parag Bhattacharya, who introduced the eminent physicists to be felicitated; Dr. Devabrat Mahanta, who introduced the speaker; Dr. Debojit Sarma, who chaired the Foundation Day Lecture; and Dr. Debajyoti Dutta, Editor of the PANE Journal of Physics.
A large number of students and faculty from various institutions across the Northeast participated in the event, both online and offline, making it a memorable occasion for the regional physics community.
The 26th Foundation Day of the PANE was observed on 6 April 2024 at the Department of Physics, B. Borooah College, Guwahati. The event, presided over by Prof. N. Nimai Singh, President of PANE, featured the formal handover of responsibilities from the outgoing Executive Committee to the newly elected team for the 2024–2026 term.
As part of the celebration, the Foundation Day Lecture was delivered by Prof. Jiban Jyoti Das of Cotton University on the topic: “Prospects for a Discovery-Class Accelerator for North-East”. The lecture highlighted future possibilities for advanced research infrastructure in the region.
The new PANE Executive Body (2024–2026) is as follows:
President: Prof. N. Nimai Singh, Manipur University (re-elected for a second term)
Executive President: Prof. Kushal Kalita, Gauhati University
Vice President (HQ): Dr. Manos Pratim Chakrapani Kalita, Gauhati University
Vice President: Prof. Syed Arshad Hussain, Tripura University
General Secretary: Dr. Samrat Dey, Pragjyotish College, Guwahati
Joint Secretary: Dr. Abhijeet Das, Assam University, Diphu Campus
Treasurer: Dr. Ranjan Kalita, Pragjyotish College, Guwahati
Editor-in-Chief (Newsletter): Dr. Nabendu Kr. Deb, Kamrup College, Assam
Publicity Secretary: Dr. Yajnya Sapkota, Dudhnoi College
State Representatives: To be nominated
The event marked a smooth transition of leadership and reaffirmed PANE’s ongoing commitment to strengthening physics education and research across the North-East.
PANE celebrated its 25th Foundation Day at Pragjyotish college, Guwahati, on 6th April, 2023. In this special occasion, the academy has invited Prashanta Kr. Panigrahi, the Director of IISER Kolkata, as the chief guest to deliver the Foundation Day talk. Dr. Ranjan Kalita, Physics Department, Pragjyotish College, has introduced the speaker. Prof. Panigrahi has delivered an excellent talk titled "Indian Contributions to Science and Technology: A brief walk down the memory lane" explaining the contribution of Indian scientists to science and technology. He also spoke on “Recent Awards in Quantum Information”. The session has been chaired by Prof. Debojit Sarma, Vice President, PANE. Earlier, Mr. Saumar Rajkhowa, the Head of Physics Department, Pragjyotish College, has welcomed the invited dignitaries while the Principal, Dr. Manoj Kr. Mahanta, has delivered the inaugural speech. Prof. A. Gohain Barua, the Executive President of PANE, has spoken about the history of PANE. Prof. Kushal Kalita, the General Secretary of PANE, has addressed the gathering and explained the aim and activities of PANE. Dr. Samrat Day, the Editor of PANE Newsletter and Joint Secretary of PANE, has spoken about the Newsletter which has got articles not only from across the world (from institutes of Northeast India to Fermilab, USA) but also from different age groups of physicists; the Newsletter has then been released by the dignitaries present in the dais. In the programme prof. Jayanata kr. Sarma, Tezpur University has been felicitated for translating “Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica” of Sir Isaac Newton to Assamese. Dr. Debajyoti Dutta, Publicity Secretary, PANE, has delivered the vote of thanks. The whole event has been anchored by Dr. Pranab Jyoti Bhuyan, Physics Department, Pragjyotish College. PANE members from Gauhati University, Tezpur University, Assam Don Bosco University, University of Science and Technology Meghalaya, Cotton University, different colleges of Assam and other institutions have attended the grand celebration. The celebration has ended with a group photo and refreshment for all.
The 24th foundation day of PANE was celebrated in the department of Physics of Gauhati University on 6th April 2022. The eminent nuclear physicist from Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai Prof. Indranil Majumdar has delivered the foundation day talk on “Studies in nuclear structure and Nucleosynthesis using proton beam”.