TERI Founders' Day
21st Darbari Seth Memorial Lecture & First Rajendra Kumar Pachauri Remembrance Event
On 23th August 2022 | 01:30 PM - 05:45 PM
About Darbari Seth Memorial Lecture
The annual lecture series was initiated by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) in 2002 in the memory of the institute's visionary founder and noted technocrat-industrialist, Darbari S. Seth. Under his guidance, TERI saw a meteoric rise and emerged as one of the leading knowledge institutions in the field of sustainability and climate change. This year will mark 101st Birth Anniversary of Mr. Seth. To honour TERI’s founder, like every year, the founder day will include a Presidential Address and Memorial Lecture.
Mr. Darbari Seth: The Man with the Midas Touch
Mr. Darbari Seth was a unique individual whose vision and drive earned him the title of 'the man with the Midas touch'. He was the builder of Tata Chemicals Limited. The Tata Chemicals plant is located in Mithapur, Gujarat - an extremely resource-poor region of the country. It was the genius of Mr Seth that conceptualized the process layout and design of this facility, using large quantities of sea water to produce chemicals that are of great value for several industrial activities in the country.
At some stage, he was the Chairman of 14 companies including outstanding performers such as Tata Chemicals of course, Tata Tea, Consolidated Coffee, Excel Industries, and Rallis India Limited, among others. As and when these companies were brought under his charge at various stages, he turned them around to generate record profits and reach peak levels of performance.
From transforming an arid land to create Gangotri at Mithpaur, Mr. Darbari inspired all around him through his distinguished persona to carve the path for a bright and sustainable future. A champion of energy conservation and environment preservation, Mr Seth in 1974 established TERl (The Tata Energy Research Institute) which was renamed as The Energy and Resources Institute in 2003. Under his chairmanship, TERI emerged as one of the world’s pre-eminent think tanks and research institutions in the area of energy, climate change and sustainability.
Mr Suman Bery
Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog, Government of India
Dr Alka Mittal
Chairman & Managing Director, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited
Past Speakers
Last year, the Presidential Address was delivered by Mr. Bhupender Yadav, Hon’ble Minister for Environment, Forest & Climate Change; and Hon’ble Minister for Labour & Employment Affairs and the 20th Darbari Seth Memorial Lecture was delivered by Dr. Praveer Sinha, CEO & Managing Director, Tata Power Company Limited. Since it was the Centenary Edition, two prominent business leaders who worked with Mr. Seth closely also gave the Centenary Special Address. These included Mr R K Krishna Kumar, Trustee, Tata Trusts (Centenary Special Address) and Mr G. Narayana, Chairman Emeritus, Excel Industries Limited (Centenary Special Address). Many eminent luminaries and stalwarts from India and abroad, including Mr. António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations N R Narayana Murthy, Sam Pitroda, Anand G Mahindra, Mukesh D Ambani, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Arvind Subramanian, and Fatih Birol, have delivered the lecture since its inception.
About Rajendra Kumar Pachauri Remembrance Event
The annual remembrance series will be initiated by TERI in 2022 in the memory of Dr Rajendra Kumar Pachauri who was the First Director General of TERI. The annual event will be a part of the TERI’s annual founders’ day. Under the leadership of Dr Pachauri, TERI transformed from being a small fledgling to a leading international voice in areas of applied sciences, policy analysis, advocacy, education programmes, rural energy provisioning, rating systems and technology development.
Dr RK Pachauri: A Visionary Leader and Institution Builder
Dr RK Pachauri played a pioneering role in institution building and the growth of TERI. He has been a global crusader against climate change. Dr Pachauri’s untiring perseverance led to creation of initiatives and institutions that are unique and looked up by all in the sustainability space.
Dr Pachauri led TERI towards new research areas and channels of outreach in the field of energy, economy and environment supported by independent funding agencies, bilateral and multilateral agencies, and government bodies. TERI was the first organization in the developing world to voice the issue of Climate Change.
As the Chairman of IPCC, his leadership contributed to the issue of human-caused climate change becoming recognized as a matter of vital global concern, In 2007, he received the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of IPCC, along with former U.S. Vice President Al Gore. Dr Pachauri’s illustrious career was decorated with several awards including Padma Vibhushan (2008) – Second highest civilian award of the Republic of India, Officier De La Légion D'Honneur, France (2008), Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star, Japan and Order of The White Rose, Finland (2010).
Dr Erik Solheim
Green Politician, Diplomat, and Peace Negotiator
Prof. Padmanabhan Balaram
GBiochemist and Padma Bhushan and TWAS Prize Awardee
Ms Philo Magdalene
Youth Mentor, Protect Our Planet (POP)Movement