A Journey of Six Decades–From Faith to Fulfilment. Presidential Address: IAPS Diamond Jubilee Year

Ladies and Gentlemen, Sixty years ago, pediatric surgery in India was an act of faith. A few visionary surgeons believed that every child deserved a surgeon trained just for them – even when there were no departments, no recognition, and barely any support. From the ancient wisdom of Sushruta Samhita, which described congenital anomalies millennia ago, to the establishment of the first pediatric surgery departments in the 1960s, our journey reflects India’s evolution – from scattered beginnings to a structured superspecialty. The founding of the Pediatric Surgery Section of the Association of Surgeons of India in 1965, its recognition in 1966, and eventual transformation into the autonomous Indian Association of Pediatric Surgeons in 1994 were defining milestones. Each decade since has added new strength – academic programs, subchapters, fellowships, and an enduring commitment to the children of Bharat. OUR VISION – ALIGNED WITH VIKSIT BHARAT 2047 The Diamond Jubilee of IAPS in 2025 is not only a celebration of the past, but also a renewal of our vision – that every child in India should have access to safe, timely, and specialized surgical care. We have aligned our mission with the national goal of Viksit Bharat 2047. Birth defects and congenital anomalies account for nearly 10% of India’s infant mortality. Addressing them is central to building a healthier nation. Our advocacy has reached the highest levels of governance. We have written to the Hon’ble Prime Minister and engaged with the Ministry of Health, NITI Aayog, ICMR, IRDAI, and the Finance Ministry. We have urged for: Dedicated pediatric surgical units in all medical colleges and districts Inclusion of pediatric surgery under NHM funding Insurance eligibility for all children with birth defects Establishment of Integrated Mother–Child Superspecialty Institutes across states. These actions embody our pledge that no child should be denied surgery for lack of trained hands or institutional support. ACTIONS AND TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGES The years 2023–2025 represent a transformative era for IAPS – an era of innovation, inclusion, and impact. Financial strength and transparency: We achieved record self-reliance, adding over 50% to our lifetime corpus apart from record financial support to JIAPS Digital empowerment: The IAPS Zee App started last year has digitally connected every member – uniting conferences, fellowships, registries, elections, quizzes, and databases on one platform, featured upgrades this year keeping pace with members requests Academic expansion: Over 20 YUVA Fellowships were executed, including overseas collaborations such as the IAPS–Cincinnati fellowship Revival of sections: Dormant chapters like SPTS were revived, and RIPSS and APSO re-energized. PESI and SPU grew stronger than ever, leading advances in endoscopic and urologic surgery Educational, academic, and professional programs: Initiatives such as IAPS Kindle, Abhimanyu, Trailblazer, NextGen Series, and Intelligence Augmentation in Pediatric Surgery have bridged generations and introduced AI and digital tools into pediatric surgical education Textbook and publications: The IAPS Textbook of Pediatric Surgery, 2ndEdition – conceived and completed in just nine months – stands as a testimony to India’s academic strength and unity of purpose [Figure 1] Figure 1: Release of the 2nd Edition of IAPS Textbook of Pediatric Surgery, Puri, 2025 Youth and YUVA leadership – Our Future, Our Pride: Our YUVA members are the heartbeat of IAPS. The first IAPS-YUVACON created an ecosystem where young pediatric surgeons were not just participants, but policy contributors. The YUVA Conclave in Mumbai 2025 unveiled extraordinary talent – future leaders such as Dr Tanmay Motiwala, Dr Abirami Krithiga, Dr Vidya Bengaluru, and many others. Their energy ensures that the next 60 years of IAPS will be even more innovative, inclusive, and inspiring [Figure 2] Figure 2: YUVACON 2025, Mumbai Social media campaign in 2024–2025: The strategic approach adopted by my team during Pediatric Surgery Day and Week led to a big stride in our campaign style and impact, educating the society and benefitting children of India suffering from Birth defects and surgical issues, with a record view of more than ten lakh citizens through multilingual social media campaigns JIAPS: Our journal, JIAPS, symbolizes the intellectual strength of our fraternity. Under the dynamic leadership of Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Rasik S. Shah, JIAPS has achieved new heights of visibility, quality, and punctuality. The JIAPS Scholarium and Abhigyan initiatives have fostered mentorship and critical scientific thinking across the country. Our gratitude extends to every reviewer, author, and reader who sustains this flagship of Indian pediatric surgical scholarship Felicitation of unsung Heroes: The diamond jubilee celebration marks a turning point in the history of the IAPS. This milestone gave us the lifetime privilege to felicitate the unsung heroes of pediatric surgery – the senior stalwarts and pathbreakers from every corner of the country who silently shaped our specialty with their dedication, compassion, and excellence. These charismatic pediatric surgeons, although often away from the limelight, were the true architects of our growth. Their selfless service in regions, small towns, or remote regions helped IAPS create a strong and lasting impact on society. As we honored them, we also honored the spirit of Indian pediatric surgery itself – humble, humane, and heroic [Figure 3] Figure 3: Diamond Jubilee Award Function, Puri, 2025 Record number of FIAPS were awarded between 2023 and 2025 reaching up to 57 awardees, which reflects the proactive role of the IAPS in promoting excellence and at the same time strengthening the IAPS. These changes have transformed IAPS into a digitally empowered, financially strong, academically vibrant, and socially responsible organization – a true stride toward bringing pride to Modern Pediatric Surgery. No transformation is possible without teamwork. I am deeply grateful to the Executive Committee of IAPS (2023–2025) for their sincerity, creativity, and dedication [Figure 4]. I thank my predecessor Dr Ramesh Babu and my blessed Secretary General Prof Vikesh Agrawal for being instrumental in this vision and implementation, along with the energetic executive committee of the IAPS. Each member has contributed immensely – from organizing landmark conferences such as SPUCON, PESICON, YUVACON, APSOCON, SPTSCON, and various state chapter conferences for their tremendous efforts toward the society and children of India.Figure 4: Executive committee of the IAPS during IAPSCON 2024, RishikeshTogether, we have built not just programs – but pride, purpose, and partnership. Finally, I express heartfelt appreciation and blessings to our Secretary General, Dr. Vikesh Agrawal, whose unwavering commitment, organizational vision, and quiet perseverance have powered many of these achievements. His ability to convert ideas into action and action into outcomes has set a new benchmark for leadership within IAPS [Figure 5].Figure 5: IAPS Office BearersFrom the pioneering efforts of our founders to today’s empowered association, IAPS has remained faithful to one timeless truth – that every child deserves a chance to live, heal, and thrive. As we celebrate our Diamond Jubilee, let us rededicate ourselves to the children of Bharat – to equity in surgical care, to excellence in training, and to empathy in every touch. May IAPS continue to illuminate the path of service, science, and humanity for generations to come. Jai Bharat, Jai IAPS