Latest Event Held:
25th Annual/10th International Science Fiction Virtual Conference was on December 07, 2025 at 12.00 hours IST. Details are provided under the menu “Conferences”: Please find the Brochure, Program list and the link for watching the video/s of the full event.
Regional Offices
IASFS Bangalore being the Registered Head Quarters of Indian Association for Science Fiction Studies has now established fully authorized authenticated regional office at Pune, Maharashtra state, India until further notifications. It is functioning from June 1, 2025 for the convinences of the aspirants.
IASFS Pune is headed by the Director Mr. Raghavendra Vanjari and being backed up by IASFS Salem, Tamil Nadu with its head – the Executive-Secretary Ms. Hemalatha S and IASFS Gauhati, with its head the Executive Secretary Ms. Neha Jain. Please find their contact details under the website menu: About Us.
Seeding for the Growth of Indian Science Fiction
Tthe menu Tributaries provides the details.
Report: Workshop on “How to Become Competent with AI?”
Browse the menu: Tributaries:
Vemana Institute of Technology, Koramangala, Bangalore in association with R & D of GRID had organized a workshop for Engineering students on the above theme on 14.06.2025 at the host College. A brief report is attached for the benefit of the researchers.
Professor Sara Pini, Italy, is in need of your contribution:
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Next Conference:
Our attempts during the past two years in approaching a few of the host institutions who could organize the offline conference in the states of Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Gujarat, and West Bengal were proved futile.
Hope and Optimism are our Science Fiction Mantras which have never failed so far. We are proposing to organize the 26th Annual/ 11th International Conference Science Fiction Offline Conference shortly at Cuddaluru Tamil Nadu. Please watch for the date in this section.
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24th Annual/9th International Science Fiction Virtual Conference
Conference held on Sunday 17.11.2024:18.30 hours IST and Monday 18.11.2024:17.50-22.00 hours (IST) over Zoom Cloud Recurring Meetings.
All files & video links of the conference are availible under the menu head: Conferences.
LOCUS November 2024 issue has published our past conference report which is made available under the menu “Conferences”.
23rd Annual/8th International Indian Science Fiction Virtual Conference
Date: Held on Sunday July 21, 2024. The theme: Spotlight on Professor Jayant V Narlikar’s Works.
IASFS extends thanks to the registered participants, invited guest speaker, paper presenters, chairpersons, life members, executive committee members, members of the advisory board, and observers who had partaken in the 23rd Annual/8th International Science Fiction Virtual Conference held on Sunday July 21, 2024.
We are highly indebted to the doyen of Indian SF Professor JV Narlikar for his message, Romanian SF writer Mr. George Dimitriu for his guest lecture, Astronaut, Astro-Physicist & SF writer Dr. Ashish Mahabal for the keynote address, Mr. Ayesha Era Natarasan & Dr. Barnali Chetia for chairing their respective sessions.
Please browse the menu conferences to access the link for the entire event videos – Part 1 & Part 2 (Hint: Sign into one’s own Gmail account for hassle-free accessibility).
23rd Annual/8th International Indian Science Fiction Virtual Conference
Date: Sunday July 21, 2024. The theme: Spotlight on Professor Jayant V Narlikar’s Works.
Please find the Program list:
Please find the updated Brochure Version 2.00 below for details:
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British National Science Fiction Convention Levitation 24/Eastercon 24 was held from March 29 to April 1, 2024. at Telford, UK. “Guest of Honour” talk is made available in text format: menu “Library”.
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Silver Jubilee
Having established on 02.01.1998 the association has completed 25 years now.
This is to express our humble gratitude to you (authors, critics, columnists, media persons, publishers, editors, research scholars, organizing committee members, members of the advisory committee,paper presenters, chairpersons, self-authored story readers, anchor persons, chief guests, distinguished invited guests, guest speakers, panelists, moderators, host organizing institutions, heads of the departments, research supervisors,members of the technical team, collaborating institutions, sci-fi fans, participants, performers, supporting staff, members of the house keeping force, life members, conveners, coordinators, reporters, lensmen, supporters and well wishers) who have nurtured the association till this day.
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Your contribution will duly be acknowledged.
IASFS requests you to provide the following details to make a catalogue/ready reckoner for posterity to enable the researchers, publishers, text book committee members, cartoonist and movie maker to access the science fiction work you would be recommending.
IASFS is committed to state that making catalogue is not for any commercial purpose but initially for accessibility to recommend them to prescribe them as text for different courses for the professions.
It could be in any language; it could be a short story, novelette, novel, critical analysis, article, a review, a dissertation, thesis, research proposal, project report, a news item, a report, and others.
In this regard, the recommended literature or visual media material may be possibly classified by you for ease. They could be recommended for prescribing them for study for relevant branches of engineering, medicine, law, agriculture, literature, languages, media & mass communication, science, technology, myth, fantasy, horror, romance, humanities, social sciences, aviation, feminism, colonialism, space travel. time travel, robotics, aliens, artificial intelligence and others.
Any writing/visual piece will have several ideas. The main idea is labelled as theme. If you find that the recommending things could be studied under various angles, please make another category under the heading and send us the material.
Please fill the details in the prescribed tabular columns and mail to aaiissffss1@gmail.com; on or before 31.12.2023 and oblige.
| Sl.no | Text/Visuals | 3.Branch of Knowledge | 4. Subject | 5. Theme |
| 6. Language | 7. category short story/novel/… | 8. length in words/printed pages | 9. Original Title | 10. Meaning in English |
| 11. author/with co-author | 12. copyright status | 13. softcopy /hardcopy | 14. link/publisher/details of publication | 15. How to access the book/story/ visuals/ whom to contact -details |
| 16. Reason for your recommendation | 17. Your name, address, contact details for further correspondences | 18. Additional information if any | 19. Remarks if any | Date of posting the mail. |
For IASFS – Dr. Srinarahari
23rd Annual/8th International Science Fiction Conference (Normal mode/Offline)
Scheduled dates of the Conference: February 15th & 16th, 2024.
Cancelled:
The scheduled 23rd Annual/8th International Science Fiction Offline conference on February 15th & 16th, 2024 is cancelled by the collaborative host organizer the PG Department of English, SGTBK College, Sri Anandpur Sahib, Punjab (India) “due to” their “certain reasons”. The convener of the conference Dr. Gurpreet Kaur has informed IASFS over mail on November 29, 2023.
IASFS will intimate to you all the alternative venue, host, dates and every other detail as soon as possible.
IASFS celebrates 2023-24 as the Silver Jubilee year!
A number of attractions are reported on the new menu: Tributaries.
Added a new section: Motherboard.
International Events:
British National Science Fiction Convention was held from March 29 to April 1, 2024 as Levitation/Eastercon24.
Please click on the following link to access to know more about the upcoming international event:
IASFS congratulates:
- Mr. Dip Ghosh for having represented India at the 81st Worldcon held at Chengdu and partook in a number of sessions dealing with varied themes.
- Dr. Ranjan Garge Retired Principal, Science & SF writer, Aurangabad for having awarded for his outstanding achievement in science popularization by Indian Physics Association, Department of Physics, Savitribai Phule University, Pune, Maharashtra State.
- The IPA had awarded AP Deshpande, Dr. Jayant V Narlikar and Mr. Subodh Jawadekar for their outstanding contribution to the field of science communication in the past.
- IASFS congratulates Dr. Shantala for bagging the Dr. Girijamma Award for her 3019 AD Science Fiction novel which scientifically predicts the life, ambience and the sea changes in our Universe in a span of 1000 years from now!
- Shwetha Taneja’s THEY MADE WHAT? THEY FOUND WHAT/ has been longlsited in another award (Multiple awards)- Valley of Words Award (Best Author in young adult category).
- Mr. Dinker Charak for the new venture: https://notionpress.com/read/the-neutrinos-are-coming-and-other-stories;
- Mr. Harish Goyal for having bagged one of the prestigious awards: Indian Magic Award 2022!
- Dr.Ranjan Garge multi-talented SF author is accredited the most prestigious award “Mentor for Entrepreneurship Development” by City & Guild London Institute.
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Ph.D awarded:
IASFS team congratulates Ms. Savita Devi Kushwala for her Dissertation on”Imagination and Realityin Hindi Science Fiction with special reference to the works of Devendra Mewadi, Arvind Mishra, Shukdev Prasad, Rajeev Ranjan Upadhyay, and Zeashan Zaidi.
Publication of SF Scholarly papers
IASFS has outsourced the task of publication of chosen Science Fiction scholarly papers of the latest conference. It is published by University Publication Division Sri Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, Kaaladi, Ernakulum District, Kerala State. The association thanks to the Chief Editor Dr. Sowmya Murugesh and her entire team for bringing out a science fiction special issue.
https://universitypublication.in/volume-1-issue-6-1-special-issue-science-fiction/
Awards:
Indian Physics Association, Pune has conferred the Chiplunkar Science Award to Dr. Ranjan Garge a retired Principal and Science and Science Fiction writer from Aurangabad for the year 2023. This prestigious award instittued for the outstanding achievement for Science Communications has been awarded to Dr. Jayant V Narlikar, Mr. Subhodh Jawadekar, and Mr. AP Deshpande during yesteryears.
IASFS congratulates Mr. Devendra Mewari for being awarded the Sahitya Academy Award under juvenile literature.
Another eminent hindi writer is Dr.Arvind Dubey received the honor of publishing Laut Auo Neeno by Vignyan Prasar Periodicals in Regional Language and Kutuhali in Kannada section also.
IASFS Congratulates Ms. Kalpna Kulshresta Leading Hindi Science Fiction Writer a resident of Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh for winning the Science Popularization for Children award for the prestigious “Jagpati Chaturvedi Award”. The award carries a cash prize of One Lakh Rupees and a citation to be received from the Honorable Chief Minister himself. We are proud that she is in our team.
Dr. Shanatala and Mrs. Sapna Katti are the recipients of the Science Reporter SF story competition.
Team IASFS congratulates Dr.Srinarahari the recipient of Education Excellence Award 2021 for award for Contribution to Education Community.
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Two Special Guest Lectures were delivered by Dr.Srinarahari.
Venue: Vellore Institute of Technology (Deemed University), Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
Dates: 2nd and 3rd of May 2023.
- For B.Tech students: Topic: The Road Not Taken: Science Fiction.
- For Ph.D scholars of various departments: Topic: Science Fiction’s Insight: Researchers’ Delight.
- IASFS is extremely happy to share a report of a day’s session which was written overnight and submitted by a student Mr. Yash Agrawal. IASFS encourages such activities carried out by students.
22nd Annual/7th International Virtual Conference of April 2023:
GOOD NEWS:
IASFS has organized the 22nd Annual/7th International Science Fiction Online Conference on April 8th & 9th, 2023.
Details are provided on the menu: Conference.
Browse the menu Conferences to get a comprehensive information about the conference including the videos of each session on YouTube by clicking on the links provided for your benefit.
Locus July 2023 publishes Report of the IASFS 22nd Annual/7th International SF Conference:
Locus Magazine has published the Report of the IASFS Conference held during April 2023: Please click the link:
Proceedings of the 22nd Conference:
Dr. Purushothaman the chief editor of the Proceedings is going to upload the file here:
Presently, IASFS is happy to share with you the Cover Page here:
21st Conference:
TOP NEWS
- The link for the video of “Seminar on Science Fiction” hosted by Marathi Vidnyan Parishad Mumbai, as a part of the IASFS 21st Annual/6th International Science Fiction Conference of July 2022 is now available on YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/Ut_8d3i3gCI;
- The link for the video of “About the Conference” by Dr. Srinarahari is available on YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/6vMgcHIxZAw;
- The link for the video of “Recent Trends in Indian/South Asian Science Fiction”(panelists: Dr. Vandana Singh; Dr. Superno Banerjee; Mr. Dinker Charak and Mr. Sumit Kumar Bardan; Moderator: Mr. Gautham Shenoy) is available on YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/JdlRyi7yqMI;
- The link for the video of “Keynote Address” by Mr.Harish Goyal: https://drive.google.com/file/d/17HzVQHRj-kxRtFTpNdxPp05kt8w3ovwN/view?usp=sharing;
- E-certificates are being posted to participants’ email id. For further information please contact the convener of the conference: Dr. Kanagaselvam: +91 7373489495; drrkselvam@gmail.com; Professor.Balaji A Navle: E-certificate team head: drbanavle@gmail.com; +91 9860447457; +91 9284894447;
- Your positive suggestions to improve our programs in the future may kindly be mailed to: iasfsindia@gmail.com;
- 19th Evening session “Seminar on Science Fiction” video link is available. Courtesy: MaViPa, Mumbai.
- IASFS & 10 collaborators thank you for your active participation during the conference.
9. Youtube link for the morning session dated 20.07.2022: https://youtu.be/rb4hI3pUG8U;
10. YouTube link for the evening session dated 20.07.2022: https://youtu.be/2KL6ZoQXof4;
11. 19th Evening session: Google drive video link for the session “Seminar on Science Fiction” Courtesy: Marathi Vidnyan Parishad, Mumbai. This is under the process of editing and then we shall upload to YouTube and share the link here. As there was a huge demand for to watch by our viewers, we are providing the link here for you to access: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZVxc-BY2ieApKFa0V1Vcj_9-XXJ2SguE/view?usp=sharing;
12. YouTube link for 19th July 22 morning program could be accesed by clicking on this link: https://youtu.be/BVVUGwfzn-U;
13. AccessYouTube for Monday 18.07.2022 (IST) morning and evening programs: at 22.00 hours on 18.07.2022.
14. Access YouTube Link for 17th IASFS program today at 22.00 hours IST. 17.07.2022 Morning session: YouTube link for GLA University, Mathura – Inaugural function, keynote and panel discussion on Recent Trends in Indian/South-Asian SF- all in one: please click the link below: https://us06web.zoom.us/rec/share/kLA4ergSHRUz8XepFANshk9Ar3bEah97JZwcCukPuQNBLFGVyTGldUTr1OxVbpHI.PRdHLIvXh-0v1Ot9;
15. 17th Evening Video
Erratum: Please read GLA University, Mathura, Uttara Pradesh, India instead of Ganeshi Lal Agrawal University, Mathura where ever it appears.
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Books released:
I’m excited to announce my new novel for kids! It’s India’s first ecopunk, sci-fi adventure. Preorder now on Amazon and help this wacky sci-fi book become a bestseller: https://amzn.to/3phG5T3
ABOUT THE BOOK
Two siblings take help from their mother’s cranky, wacky robot to fight against all freaks of the waste. It’s a whizzing, fizzing sci-fi climate adventure which will inspire kids (and adults) of all ages to become climate warriors, innovate and protect our environment. In stocks in your favorite indie store in 2-3 weeks.
-Let’s fight all those garbage monsters together!- Shweta Taneja
Book Review of Man Beyond the Earth by Dr. Gokulananda Mahapatra:
24th birthday of IASFS celebrated!
Proceedings of the Zoom Cloud Meeting:
Indian Association for Science Ficiton Studies (R) had organized a Zoom Cloud Meeting with its fans and distinguished guests to celebrate its 24th birthday on on 02.01.2022 at 11.15 hours IST.
The celebration was in the form of arranging the release of two Science Fiction books: Silver Lining: An anthology of Indian SF short stories: Volume 1. The anthology is unique in accommodating stories in English, and Indian languages Hindi, Marathi and Telugu: Volume 1. The first book has the short stories authored by Dr.Ravi Kopparapu, USA; Seeema Kulkarni, Kaula Lumpur, Malaysia; Vohra, Diu & Daman; Dr.Sophia, Imphala, Manipur; Dr.Ranjan Garge, Aurangabad, MH, Dinakar Charak, Bangalore, Karnataka and Aadram Naik, Rajasthan. The anthology is edited by Drs. Sowmya Murukesh and Priyalekha. The introduction is penned by Dr. Srinarahari.
The second book Aliens Aur Palayith Manavatha is a Hindi SF novel by Harish Goyal, Ajmir, Rajasthan. Both the books were released by Dr.Sowmya Murukesh the Chief Editor, University Publication, Sri. Sankaracharya U of Sanskrit, Kalady, Kerala. For other details please visit: http://www.universitypublication.in;
2. This was followed by a discussion held with the esteemed members present under the chairmanship of Dr. Srinarahari during this virtual meeting regarding the planning for the 21st Annual/6th International SF conference on July 17,18 & 19, 2022. The days of the conference will be flexible if the menus for the event are more in number. The meeting was concluded with the following resolutions as proposals for future action:
a. To invite the organizations for collaboration and collectively organize the proposed conference.
b. Presently, it is planned to hold the conference on virtual mode but to hold the inauguration and valedictory functions on normal (offline) mode following all the covid 19 precautions like restricting the audience and guests to less than 20 in number in a large conference hall. Arrangements would be made for live streaming of the events.
c. To celebrate the Indian Science Fiction Day (Bharateeya Vaignyanik Katha Diwas) /Dr. Jayanth V Narlikar’s birthday on Tuesday, July 19, 2022 as a major event combied with valedictory function in the normal (offline) mode following the same rules applied for inauguration function.
d. The details of the Registration process and the planning for the proposed conference would be finalized with the willing collaborating institutions/companies/webmasters/sponsors/donors/philanthropists/academicians/Colleges/Universities/ Science departments/ members of the advisory board/board of directors and others during the ensuing proposed meeting with them.
e. To invite for the submission of an abstract (100 words) for all the paper presenters, guest speakers, the chairperson of proposed panel discussion sessions with a brief profile in a span of 30 days from the date of official announcement of the proposed event.
f. To submit the pre-recorded videos of the 10 minute paper presentations; guest lectures of 20 minutes; Special lectures/ Keynote address of 40 minutes duration in editable format in a span of 60 days of the official announcement of the event.
g. Subjected to the receipt of the videos within the stipulated dates, the duration of each language session slots like English, Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Assamese, Punjabi, Oriya, Gujarathi, Kannada, Urdu, Telugu, Malayalam and others. If the numbers are large, arrangements will be made for organizing parallel sessions.
h. To submit the full length papers in a span of 120 days from the date of official announcement.
i. Presently, univeristypublcation.in; is ready to proofread, suggest corrections needed to make it perfect, edit, monitor, and publish the accepted papers in e-book format with a nominal charge if an agreement is signed by the respective author (English and all other Indian languages under one umbrella).
j. The organizing committee wil have the options to give out what is best for the event from time to time with the approval Secretary- General of IASFS.
Indian Science Fiction Day (Bharatheeya Vignyan Katha Divas)
It is a matter of great pleasure that Dr. Jayant V Narlikar has consented to celebrate his birthday every year on July 19th as Indian Science Fiction Day/Bharatheeya Vignyan Katha Divas throughout India. IASFS thanks Mr. Ananth Panduranga Deshpande for taking intiative in finalizing process of proposing, acceptance and implementing the same. Now, it is our turn to plan the event for the day starting from July 19, 2022.
Kuthuhali
Kuthuhali is a newly emerged Kannada Science Magazine in Kannada. Dr. Kollegal Sharma formerly a senior scientist in CFTRI, Mysore, Karnataka, who plays a keyrole in the field of popularizing science and a renowned Science communicator (Jaana sudhi) has invited the authors to send unpublished Science Fiction short stories in Kannada limited to 1000 words. The stories could be sent to: kutuhalikannada@gmail.com; for publication in an SF exclusive special issue.
The New year 2022 January issue is released and one can find a Science Fiction story entitled “Sojiga” by Dr.Srinarahari. Thanks for encouraging the genre. The entire magazine is a model for every upcoming magazines.
Treasure of Indian Science Fiction:
New Horizon: New Release:
Superno Banerjee: Indian Science Fiction: Patterns, History and Hybridity. Cardiff, UK: University of Wales Press. (2020)
Sami Ahamed Khan: Star Warriors of the Modern Raj: Materiality, Mythology and Technology of Indian Science Fiction: U of Wales P; June 2021;
Tarun K Saint (Ed).,The Gollancz Book of South Asian Science Fiction; Vol 2; Hachetteindia:2021;
Dr. Shantala; 3019 AD: My Lang Books Digital Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore, 2021 (Language: Kannada);
Dr. Ranjan Garge: Mangal Kujabhujala: Creations Publications, Aurangabad, 2020; (Language: Marathi);
Mentalist Harish Yadav: Magic and Mentalism in Science Fiction; Namyapresss.com; Delhi: 2021;
Arvind Mishra: The Space Cuckoo and other Stories (Anthology of Indian Science Fiction Stories; original Hindi; Translated to English: Kshama Gautham; Forward: Darias Luca Hupov. 2021)
Sharad Puranik: Pasanth Aahe Mulgi (Marathi); the Ninth Science Fiction Anthlogy of the author is published: Dec 1, 2021.
Released: Silver Lining: An Anthology of Indian Science Fiction Stories in English, Hindi, Marathi, Telugu by various authors from all the parts of India like EAST, West, North, South and also from Malaysia to the USA; Unique publication: Editors: Drs. Sowmya Murukesh & Priyalekha; Introduction: Dr.Srinarahari; University publications, Kerala; https://universitypublication.in;
Five New books will be released from Kalpabiswa during December 2021: 1. Asisapta/Cursed Blade by Sumit Bardan; 2. Ankiter Budbud/Ankit’s Bubble by Yashodhara Ray Chowdhari; 3. Kankabati Kalpabignyan lekhani/Anthology of Women SF translated from Bengali; 4. Kalpabiswas Uponyas Parba/Selected Novels from Kalpabishwa; 5. Grohantarer Agantuk/ Visitors from Space- Russian SF translated to Bengali.
Please note that the above mentioned books are available from: kalpabishwabooks.com;
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Contemporary Anthology of Indian Science Fiction Short Stories:
IASFS has collected Unpublished Contemporary Science Fiction Short Stories which are in English, Hindi, Marathi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada from the Indian Science Fiction authors from EAST, WEST, NORTH, SOUTH, CENTER parts of India as well as from offshore one from East that is, Malaysia, and West from the USA- a unique coverage in hybrid language mode. The upcoming anthology is under publication from University publication, Kerala.
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SF Anthology by Marathi Vidnyan Parishad, Mumbai
Mr. AP Deshpande over a latest communique has requested to send the best English science fiction short story of the authors for the upcoming anthology to be published by Marathi Vidnyan Parishad, Mumbai.
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IASFS Events Held
SF Research Scholars Meet:
The main objective of Indian Association for Science Fiction Studies is to encourage Research in the field of SF and to provide avenues for the researchers to carry on qualitative research in the field.
In this direction, the association had organized a series of online events during the December 2021- January 2022.
The scholars during this event have spoken individually and presented their proposal for research; updated the progress done in their research; plausible solutions to unsolved questions by individual researchers were also discussed in the group.
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Indian Association for Science Fiction Studies® 