The 7th Regular Conference of PANE was successfully held at Manipur University, gathering physicists, researchers, academicians, and students from across the North East and other parts of India. The conference served as an important platform for discussion, idea exchange, and planning for the future activities of PANE.

Discussions during the conference highlighted the feasibility of implementing various suggestions put forward by participants, emphasizing the need for thorough deliberation at appropriate forums. It was agreed that the 8th PANE Conference scheduled for Mizoram University in 2012 would reserve one and a half hours for the General Body meeting on the final afternoon. This meeting aims to strengthen democratic participation and involve delegates, life members, and dignitaries in key decisions. Further plans include a theme-based workshop to be organised by Tezpur University in 2011, serving as an intermediate academic event between biennial conferences. The proposal to extend the Mizoram University conference to three days and ensure quality control through a peer review committee was also welcomed. The conference was marked by excellent hospitality and cultural richness. Two days of delicious lunches featured special Manipuri rice and Kheer, creating memorable culinary experiences. The humour and hospitality of Prof. C. Amuba Singh, a popular figure at the university, significantly boosted the morale of the organising team. A cultural programme on the evening of the concluding day showcased traditional Manipuri dance forms such as ‘Rasleela’ and the martial art ‘Thang Ta’—a traditional sword and spear technique and a source of pride for the youth of Manipur. The live performances received widespread admiration and appreciation from attendees, who described the experience as rare and heartwarming. The concluding night featured a gala party at the Hotel Classic, renowned for its top-quality service and cuisine. The event was lively, fostering convivial interactions and celebrating the success of the conference. While there was a bittersweet note of parting, anticipation for the next meeting in Mizoram University in 2012 was palpable.

Since its inception, PANE has organised a series of regional conferences and workshops to promote physics education and research in the North East. The key events to date include:

First regional conference at IIT Guwahati (October 1998)

Workshop on PG Physics Programmes at Tezpur University (April 1999)

Second regional conference at Cotton College, Guwahati (October 2000)

Third regional conference at Dibrugarh University (November 2002)

Fourth regional conference at Guru Charan College, Silchar (November 2004)

Workshop on reorienting undergraduate and postgraduate physics programmes (jointly by Gauhati University and Dibrugarh University, May 2005)

Workshop on Einstein’s Creativity and Recent Trends in Physics at Tezpur University (March 2005)

Fifth regional conference at Gauhati University (March 2007)

Sixth PANE conference at Tripura University (April 2009)

Seventh PANE conference at Manipur University (October 2010)

Theme-based workshop planned at Tezpur University (2011)

Eighth biennial conference scheduled at Mizoram University (2012)

Ninth biennial conference scheduled at NERIST, Arunachal Pradesh (2014)

Currently, PANE has a life membership of 75 members.

PANE has honoured several senior and distinguished physicists for their outstanding contributions:

Professor B. Choudhury (2000)

Professor G.C. Deka (deceased) (2000)

Professor K.D. Krori (2000)

Professor K.M. Pathak (2002)

Professor Kamal Kanta Baruah (2002)

Professor Ram Prasad Deuri (2002)

Professor Mukut Chaliha (2002)

Professor Narendra Nath Choudhury (deceased) (2002)

Professor H.L. Duorah (2004)

Professor Phani Bhusan Das (2004)

Professor Kanti Bhusan Sen (deceased) (2004)

Professor J. Hati Barua (2007)

Professor B.K. Barua (deceased) (2007)

Professor T.D. Goswami (2007)

Professor C. Amuba Singh (2010)

Professor H. Nandakumar Sharma (2010)

Professor A.K. Barbara (2010)

Notable keynote speeches delivered at past conferences include:

Hundred years of quantum mechanics – Prof. K.D. Krori (2000)

Some unsolved problems in Astronomy and Astrophysics – Prof. J.V. Narlikar (2002)

Search for unified theory – Prof. Asoke Sen, FRS (2004)

Use of Low Energy accelerators – Prof. Amit Roy (2007)

Thin Film technology – Prof. G.B. Talapatra (2009)

In this conference the keynote lecture was given on Physics of complex driven systems by Prof. A. Surajlal Sarma (2010).

This reflects the vibrant academic activity, rich cultural heritage, and collaborative spirit of the PANE community, highlighting the ongoing commitment to advancing physics education and research in the North Eastern region of India. The convener of the conference was Prof. Jekendra Singh.