Delegates with the Vigyan Jyoti torch of Indian Science Congress relay at AN College in Patna on Thursday. Picture by Ranjeet Kumar Dey

Patna, Dec. 22: More than 500 students, 100 teachers and an equal number of non-teaching employees of AN College today accorded a warm welcome to the Indian Science Congress torch relay.

The torch, Vigyan Jyoti (flame of science), which aims to instil scientific temperament in people, touched the state capital for the first time in its 99-year-old history.

The relay began its journey from Delhi on December 16. It passed through Agra, Kanpur and Lucknow en route to the state capital.

On January 2, the relay will reach Bhubaneswar, where the 99th Indian Science Congress would be held. Its theme is “Science and technology for inclusive innovation-role of women”.

Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology University would host the event between January 3 and January 7.

The students and the teachers of AN College had made special arrangements to receive the three-member Indian National Congress escort team. It reached an hour late than its scheduled 9.30am arrival but nobody seemed to mind, not even the college principal, Haridwar Singh. Students, teachers and a band party of National Service Scheme volunteers waited patiently.

“We are on cloud nine today. The prestigious Indian Science Congress torch relay has arrived in Patna and our college has been given the responsibility to do the honours. This is really one of the biggest achievements of our college,” said the principal.

“It will motivate us to contribute to the field of science and technology. I hope this torch relay helps kindle scientific temperament in my college students,” he added.

The women faculty members looked excited.

Rita Kumari, a faculty of the botany department, said: “To me, the best thing about the 99th Indian Science Congress is its theme — it justifies the cause of women’s empowerment.”

She also said: “We have been suppressed by men in society. People hardly talk about contributions made by women in their fields. Now, it’s time for this congress to pay women their due.”

Another teacher of the same department, Shabana Kareem, said: “There has been great interest and inclination of women in the field of social sciences.”

She added: “Hopefully, this national science congress will be a new beginning and it will encourage them to contribute towards scientific study more seriously than what they did in the past.”