AMRITSAR: A 2nd National Women Conference on Women, Technology, & Tradition: Harmonizing Heritage with Progress was hosted by Khalsa College of Engineering and Technology, Amritsar (KCET), Ranjit Avenue to celebrate International Women’s Day. The event brought together distinguished academicians, researchers, and students from various institutions to discuss the evolving role of women in society. The conference focused on how women can intersect their roles in technology with the preservation of cultural traditions.
The conference commenced with shabad gayan followed by Floral Welcome of the Chief Guest Dr. Pamita Awasthi (Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, NIT Hamirpur; Nodal Officer, CM Start-up Project, Himachal Pradesh) and Keynote Speaker Advocate Ms. Harleen Kaur (Member Legal Services Authority, Sakhi One Stop Centre, Jalandhar) by Director Dr. Manju Bala. This was followed by Lamp Lighting and Saraswati Vandana. Dr. Manju Bala in welcome address welcomed the chief guest and Keynote speaker. In her address, Dr. Manju Bala emphasized the indispensable role of women in shaping families, communities, and civilizations. She acknowledged their contributions as educators, scientists, entrepreneurs, and caregivers, stressing how their dedication has driven societal progress. She noted that women’s unwavering commitment has ensured future generations inherit a world with greater opportunities and equality. She added that women have successfully preserved cultural values while embracing modern advancements.
The keynote speaker Advocate Ms. Harleen Kaur highlighted the historical journey of Indian feminism, emphasizing women's struggles and achievements in politics, education, and employment. Major challenges such as gender-based violence, discrimination, and wage disparity were discussed, along with the progress made in bridging these gaps. The role of women in STEM, entrepreneurship, and governance was celebrated, showcasing pioneers like Kalpana Chawla, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, and Falguni Nayar. The session also covered constitutional rights, legal protections, and government initiatives aimed at empowering women while preserving cultural traditions. The speaker concluded by stressing the need for continued efforts toward gender equality and societal progress.
In her address, Chief Guest, Dr. Pamita Awasthi, highlighted that women have continuously broken barriers in technology, engineering, and finance, demonstrating their ability to balance tradition with progress. She added, While significant strides have been made, the need for gender equality was stressed as a key factor in fostering societal and economic growth. It was stressed that empowering women leads to stronger communities and a more progressive nation. She said that empowerment comes with education and reflects in thoughts of the new generation. In the conference 50 research papers from various academicians, research scholars and students and delegates from different universities and colleges viz; Chief Khalsa Diwan, Guru Nanak Dev Hospital, Amritsar, Global Group of Institutes, Amritsar Group of Colleges, Manipal University, Jaipur and Khalsa College of Engg and Technology., were presented.
During the valedictory session Dedication Distinction Awards 2025 was awarded to various women recognize the tireless services of women academicians while supporting their families and their selfless dedication. Amongst the awardees were Dr. Tejinder Kaur (Assistant Professor, Department of Zoology, DAV University, Jalandhar), Jasdeep Kaur (Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Application, DAV Institute of Engineering and Technology, Jalandhar), Er, Tejinder Sharma (Associate Professor, Department of Computer Science, Amritsar Group of Institutes, Amritsar), Sandeep Kaur (HOD, Department of Applied Sciences, Mai Bhago Government Polytechnic College for Girls, Amritsar), . Anju Arora (TGT, Supervisor, DAV Public School, Lawrence Road, Amritsar) and Er. Loveleen Kaur (Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Khalsa College of Engineering and Technology, Amritsar). Along with this, The Spark of Dedication Award 2025 was given to Ms. Heena Bagla (Clerk, Accounts Department, Khalsa College of Engineering and Technology, Amritsar) for her exceptional commitment, efficiency, and dedication to her work.
The best oral presentation was awarded to the paper titled Leading the Way Forward presented by Gursahiba Kaur, Pooja Sharma and Dr. Jasleen Kaur. Two poster presentations were awarded as Best Poster Presentation viz: Paper titled The Innovation Paradox Women, Technology and the Political Game presented by Sangeeta Kumari, Dr. Ripin Kohli and Mokarram Shahban also paper titled Women in Coporate World: Progress, Challenges and Success Stories presented by Prabhjot Kaur, Naazpreet Kaur and Dr. Ripin Kohli.
The conference concluded on a powerful note, with all participants taking a collective pledge to uphold the values of equality, empowerment, and progress. A commitment was made to bridge the gap between tradition and modern advancements, ensuring that progress is achieved without compromising identity and values.
Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina (Honorary Secretary, Khalsa College Charitable Society) said such conferences serve as a platform for fostering meaningful discussions on women’s empowerment, equality, and progress. He stated that through such conferences women can share experiences, exchange knowledge, and explore opportunities in various fields. He highlighted the role of women in harmonizing tradition with technological advancements, stressing that their contributions in every sphere are shaping a more inclusive and progressive society. He further commended the participants for their dedication and commitment to driving change, encouraging them to continue striving for excellence while preserving cultural values. He applauded the efforts of Dr. Manju Bala and conveners of the Conference for the commendable efforts to make the national conference a success.