India has had a long history of scientific temperament, as evidenced by the huge wealth of information enshrined in its ancient scriptures. ``We have reasons to believe that ancient India was the cradle of Mathematical sciences,' said Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray, the doyen of modern chemical science and technology in India. Acharya's critically acclaimed book 'A History of Hindu Chemistry'-details India’s scientific past and was in response to French Chemist Berthelot’s book on history of chemistry, which ignored the contribution of Indians in the field of Chemistry through the centuries. Despite being an academician and researcher, Acharya Ray established India’s first pharmaceutical industry, The Bengal Chemicals with the mission to establish a swadeshi enterprise and give employment to Indians. There are many facets to understand about the life of Acharya Ray and this conference wishes to provide a platform to revisit the contributions of P C Ray, who worked tirelessly to revive our scientific tradition in the pre-independence British era.

The International Conference, to be held in University of Delhi, is expected to be one of the largest gatherings of scientists and researchers in India, with participants discussing and debating the contributions and various aspects about the Father of Modern Indian Chemistry in India, Prafulla Chandra Ray. Aligned with the 161st birth anniversary of Acharya P C Ray, who was born on August 2, 1861, the conference is dedicated to him to celebrate his immense contributions. The conference will discuss his role as a chemist, teacher, freedom fighter, industrialist and philanthropist. Acharya Ray is the role model for the scientific community, serving as a source of inspiration and guidance for the next generation. Now when the country is celebrating " Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav '' to commemorate 75 years of independence and the glorious history of its people, culture and achievements, it is a felicitous time to acknowledge the contributions of India in the field of chemistry from the earliest times. It is also fortuitous that at the same time, Ministry of Education, Government of India is updating its education system from traditional concept of 80 's to the 21st Century under the National Education Policy 2020 which “proposes the revision and revamping of all aspects of the education structure, including its regulation and governance.