Samatvam- The Mindfulness Centre of Indian Institute of Management Bodh Gaya (IIMBG) hosted the 2nd International Research Conference on Mindfulness (IRCM) 2024, themed upon 'Mindfulness for Sustainable Business and Innovation', with great enthusiasm and scholarly engagement.

The event commenced with a serene atmosphere, marked by Vedic chants and the soulful rendition of Saraswati Vandana, invoking a sense of positivity and harmony. Prof. Vinita S Sahay, the esteemed Director of IIM Bodh Gaya, graced the occasion with her inaugural address, setting the tone for the intellectually stimulating deliberations that followed. She was joined by Convenors of the IRCM 2024, Dr Nidhi Mishra, Chairperson of Samatvam, and DrRemya Lathabhavan, Chairperson of Mental Health and Wellbeing, who shared insightful perspectives on the conference theme.

The highlight of the inaugural session was the presence of distinguished luminaries in the field of mindfulness, including Dr. Shalini Bahl, Dr. Jyoti Bachani, Dr. William Van Gordon, and Dr. Oleg Medvedev, as they adorned the event as keynote speakers. They shared profound insights into the transformative potential of mindfulness in fostering sustainable business practices and driving innovation in contemporary organizational landscapes. The conference received 187 submissions out of which 108 received letter of acceptance based on a rigorous peer review. We received 114 registrations from industry practitioners, academicians and research scholars from India and abroad. 

Subsequently, the conference transitioned into its session tracks, attracting over 120 participants-authors who presented their cutting-edge research papers to their respective Session Chairs. The authors belonged to noted institutions such as IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, IIM Kozhikode, IIM Mumbai, IIM Ranchi, IIM Amritsar, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Madras,  FMS Delhi, MDI Gurgaon, Thomas Jefferson University, Valparaiso University (US), University of Massachusetts Amherst, Gardner-Webb University, Department of Global Business, Musa Shino University, Amity University, Christ University, among others.

The sessions proved to be platforms for enriching exchanges, where novel ideas, notions and concepts pertaining to mindfulness and its applications in business and innovation were critically examined and deliberated upon.

As the day progressed, the cultural segment of the conference unfolded, featuring captivating performances by the talented students of the Cultural Committee of IIM Bodh Gaya. Through soulful singing, graceful dance performances, moving poetry recitations, and artistic expressions, students of IIM Bodh Gaya encapsulated the essence of mindfulness and made the evening an enjoyable and memorable affair for all attendees.

With the culmination of the cultural event, the first day of the two-day 2nd International Research Conference on Mindfulness 2024 came to a close, leaving participants inspired and invigorated for another day of scholarly discourse and exploration, scheduled from 8th to 10th February, 2024. The two days of IRCM 2024 were marked by 101 presentations, among which  60 were held  online and 41 Offline.

The conference, hosted by Samatvam- The Mindfulness Centre, stood as a testament to IIM Bodh Gaya's commitment to advancing knowledge and fostering mindfulness-driven approaches to sustainable business and innovation.