The Indian Institute of Advanced Study inaugurated its Diamond Jubilee Week on October 11, 2026, at the historic Rashtrapati Niwas campus in Shimla, according to a report by ANI News. The opening day included a special lecture by Padma Shri Prof Raghuvendra Tanwar, chairman of the Indian Council of Historical Research, on the historicity of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. ANI News reported that the institute also released a book titled Rethinking History of Punjab in the Indian Civilisational Context, edited by former IIAS fellow Professor Ravinder Singh, during the inaugural events.
A report from The Tribune stated that the IIAS Digitised Rare Manuscripts Library Portal was launched on the same day by Prof Reicha Tanwar, a former director of the Women Studies Research Centre at Kurukshetra University. The portal aims to broaden access to rare historical documents for both scholars and the public through digital means. The institute’s announcement highlighted this initiative as a key component of the celebrations marking 60 years of academic work.
The Tribune further reported that Padma Shri Shovana Narayan, a renowned Kathak dancer, inaugurated an art exhibition titled Bharatiya Forms, Expressions and Consciousness featuring works by artist Nisha Jaiswal. A separate gallery displaying pieces created during an IIAS Art Camp inspired by Kangra miniature painting traditions was also opened to visitors. These displays form part of the cultural programme designed to connect artistic expression with scholarly themes.
The institute’s official history notes that the IIAS Society was registered on October 6, 1964, with formal inauguration by President Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan on October 20, 1965, at the former Viceregal Lodge. A 2015 retrospective in The Tribune indicated that the institute nearly faced closure in 1979 following a government review but was restructured and preserved as a centre for multidisciplinary research in humanities and social sciences. IIAS records place the optimum number of fellows at around 50, with current offerings including National Fellowships, Tagore Fellowships and Regular Fellowships spanning up to two years.
According to ANI News, the five-day programme from October 11 to 15 features additional lectures, including one by archaeologist Prof Vasant Shinde on October 12 about the evolution of the Bharatiya Knowledge System with reference to Rakhigarhi findings. A session on Vande Mataram by Akhilesh Jha is set for October 13. The institute has kept the book fair open daily from 11 am to 7 pm with publications from national and international houses.
IIAS officials have made entry to the book fair and exhibition areas free for the public throughout the event, waiving regular ticketing requirements, The Tribune reported. Himachal Pradesh Governor Kavinder Gupta is scheduled to attend the closing ceremony on October 15, according to event announcements. The public programme seeks to engage scholars, artists, publishers and residents in dialogue linking advanced research to broader cultural topics.
