IIAS Chairperson inaugurates Nursery Plant Sale Counter to promote Environmental Awareness and Green Practices

Shimla: In a significant eco-friendly initiative, Professor Shashiprabha Kumar, Chairperson, Indian Institute of Advanced Study, inaugurated the IIAS Nursery Plant Sale Counter near the Sunset View Café within the Institute’s historic campus at Rashtrapati Niwas, Shimla. The event was attended by Professor Himanshu Kumar Chaturvedi, Director, IIAS, along with officers, faculty, staff members, and scholars of the Institute.

The newly inaugurated counter will make available a wide range of ornamental, medicinal, and indigenous plant species cultivated within the Institute’s nursery. These include seasonal flowering plants, shade-giving trees, and native Himalayan flora that thrive in the local ecosystem. The initiative aims to connect the Institute’s botanical and horticultural richness with the wider community, thereby promoting awareness of environmental sustainability and ecological responsibility.

Speaking on the occasion, Professor Shashiprabha Kumar highlighted the Institute’s commitment to environmental stewardship, stating that:  “The Indian Institute of Advanced Study has always been a space where knowledge, culture, and nature coexist harmoniously. The inauguration of this plant sale counter reflects the Institute’s larger vision of promoting ecological awareness and sustainable living among the community.”

In his remarks, Professor Himanshu Kumar Chaturvedi, Director, IIAS, emphasized that environmental consciousness is integral to the Institute’s academic and cultural ethos. He stated:

“The Institute is not only a centre of intellectual excellence but also a custodian of environmental values. The Nursery Counter is a small yet significant step towards engaging society in the shared responsibility of nurturing nature. Every plant that finds a new home from this nursery is a contribution to our collective ecological future.”

The IIAS nursery, maintained by the Institute’s horticulture division, is known for its scientific cultivation of local and ornamental plant varieties. It plays a vital role in maintaining the green cover of the heritage campus and contributes to research on Himalayan flora and sustainable landscaping. The new plant sale counter will serve as a public interface for citizens interested in adopting environment-friendly practices and will also encourage educational institutions and visitors to take part in conservation efforts.

The inauguration was followed by an interaction with visitors and scholars, who appreciated this green initiative of the Institute.