Background

Organic Chemistry is an important branch of chemical sciences that has made significant contributions to our daily lives ranging from the discovery of drugs to advanced technologies such as organic conductors and OLEDS in materials of the future. Apart from being challenging from the viewpoint of construction of molecules and materials, it certainly is the fountain-head of many important industries such as pharmaceuticals, polymers, agro-chemicals, dyes, explosives, perfumery chemicals and a host of other fine chemicals and biochemicals. These industries are indispensable for the production of food, clothing, transport and housing and also our country’s defense and health programs.

Needless to mention, changing times and emerging goals require that Organic Chemistry research in India be exposed to key advances in basic science, interfacial research areas and applied technologies. This would require that the country produces and nurtures first-rate dedicated organic chemists who are committed to ensure quality of chemical research and that their training is at par with the best laboratories in the world. One important approach to this daunting task is through the provision of an interactive platform, in the form of a conference/symposium, where latest advances in Organic Chemistry and related interfacial areas can be discussed and deliberated upon at regular intervals. It is expected that such an endeavor will benefit our active researchers from academic institutions and cultivate a bridging relationship between academia and industry and stimulate new avenues of research cooperation. Such a scenario gains further momentum from India’s quest for high competitiveness in science and technology in view of industrial globalization, liberalization of the Indian economy, its relentless march towards becoming an intellectual powerhouse.

Although seminars and symposia on different aspects of Organic Chemistry are being held in our country from time to time, there was a need for an organization, which can plan and organize symposia/seminars on a regular basis in Organic Chemistry and related inter-disciplinary areas which are likely to influence and shape research over next few decades. To realize these objectives, some of the most distinguished organic chemists of our country constituted the creation of a public charitable trust for public benefit and educational purpose, which was named as “National Organic Symposium Trust” and was registered at Madras on 21st January 1983. Funds were collected from the Government and industries to facilitate the activities. The first Board of Trustees was (late) Dr. T R Govindachari, Dr. S C Bhattacharya, Dr. Sukh Dev, Dr. S Swaminathan, and Dr. Nitya Anand. The overall management of the affairs of the Trust shall vest with the Trustees who shall constitute the Governing Body. The Governing Body shall entrust all executive functions with regard to organizing symposia, seminars, conferences, etc., to a council. The members of the council are relatively younger and very active in research and enjoy widespread reputation.

The first NOST sponsored Organic Chemistry conference (OCC) was held at Hassan in Karnataka during December 4-8, 1988 under the chairmanship of Professor Goverdhan Mehta. Since then, there had been conferences at regular intervals at different places in the country.