NIT Raipur organizes book launch on ‘Reimagining Health’

Raipur ( Team Newsbuddy): National Institute of Technology (NIT) Raipur organized the launch of the book “Reimagining Health” written by Dr. Anurag Prabhakar Mairal, an alumnus of NIT Raipur, and Sonali Sundari Shivhare. The event was graced by Dr. N.V. Ramana Rao, Director, NIT Raipur, Dr. Alok Agarwal, Dean, AIIMS Raipur, Dr. Piyush Kant Pandey, Vice Chancellor, Amity University Raipur, Dr. Sameer Bajpai, Dr. Shrish Verma, and Dr. S. Sanyal. Dr. Anurag Mairal, Author of “Reimagining Health: Inspiring stories of innovators at the intersection of Health and Technology”, Dr. Mairal’s family, Faculty Members, Staff, Scholars and Students were also present at the event. Dr. Megha Agrawal, herself an alum of NIT Raipur, a Stanford India Biodesign alum, and an adjunct professor at Luxembourg Business School, conducted the event.

Dr. N.V. Ramana Rao inaugurated the event by highlighting the pivotal role of innovation and collaboration in addressing global healthcare challenges. He welcomed Dr. Anurag Mairal to his alma mater and delivered an insightful talk on his contribution in MedTech and pharmaceutical innovation, including collaborative R&D efforts with the US, China, and his work as Director, Global Outreach Programs at Stanford Byers Center for Biodesign, Stanford University. Dr. Rao then launched Dr. Mairal’s book, which highlights inspiring stories of individuals who have made significant contributions to holistic health, lifestyle-centered care, and innovative technological solutions.

In his remarks, Dr. Mairal emphasized the need to integrate air, water, soil, and animal health into the broader framework of human well-being, urging a unified approach that combines traditional and Western models to reimagine healthcare. He reflected on the importance of learning from failures and sacrifices in the pursuit of innovation, particularly in addressing challenges like pandemics and vaccine development. He also highlighted the significance of fostering interdisciplinary research and data-driven decision-making, themes prominently featured in his book. Expressing his gratitude, he thanked all the educators who had shaped his journey and his alma mater, NIT Raipur, for providing the foundation for his success. He shared that the purpose behind writing the book was to inspire future generations by sharing the stories of innovators, encouraging them to contribute to making the world a healthier and better place and narrated a chapter of the book to the audience.

In his comments following the chapter reading, Dr. Alok Agarwal emphasized that health is not merely the absence of disease but a holistic state of overall well-being. Dr. Pandey expressed pride in the accomplishments of Dr. Mairal and lauded his efforts in inspiring innovators.

This was followed by a Q&A session with the highly engaged audience, including students and faculty members of NIT Raipur and Chhattisgarh’s innovation community. As an example, a PhD scholar from the Department of Chemical Engineering asked for advice on role of research in to plant pathogens. Sameer Srivastava, a 2nd-year Biotechnology student, asked Dr. Mairal about maintaining perseverance in pursuing higher studies when most NIT students aim for immediate placement. In response, Dr. Mairal shared a story about his encounter with the Prime Minister, and his discussion on crucial role of innovators in shaping India’s future. He stressed the importance of focusing on skill development and creating rather than seeking jobs. The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. Sameer Bajpai.