8th RST Forum

The 8th R.S. Tolia Forum, organized by SDFU on 11th December 2025 at the Doon Library & Research Centre, Dehradun, focused on the book titled “Dialogue: Uttarakhand @25 Looking Back Looking Forward”.

Uttarakhand @25: Looking Back, Looking Forward
The year marks a significant milestone as Uttarakhand completes 25 years of statehood. To commemorate this important occasion, a reflective and forward-looking initiative was conceived by Shri N. S. Napalchayal (IAS, Retd.), who, nearly eight months ago, invited leading domain experts to assess the state’s journey over the past decade and a half and to articulate a plausible roadmap for the future across key sectors.

This collective effort culminated in the publication of the book “Uttarakhand @25: Looking Back, Looking Forward”. Responding to the call, a distinguished group of 25 authors came together, dedicating extensive time and intellectual effort to document their experiences, evidence-based insights, policy perspectives, and actionable recommendations. The book has been meticulously edited through a collaborative process led by Shri N. S. Napalchayal (IAS, Retd.), Shri Ravi Shanker (IAS, Retd.), and Dr. Sudha Pandey, who worked closely on every contribution to ensure coherence, clarity, and depth. The publication was produced in record time by a dedicated team from the Doon Library and Research Center, under the leadership of Dr. B. K. Joshi.

The book was formally released on 30 November 2025 by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Uttarakhand. In many ways, Uttarakhand @25: Looking Back, Looking Forward serves as a sequel to the seminal volume “Fifteen Years of Uttarakhand”, edited by Dr. R. S. Tolia, which was released by the Hon’ble Governor Dr. K. K. Paul in 2016. Together, these works offer an invaluable institutional memory and a strategic vision for Uttarakhand’s continued development.