EAST ZONE CONFERENCE OF IADVL

It was conference time in Calcutta, the City of Joy. On 18^th and 19^th November 2000 in Science City, IADVL, WB State Branch has very succeessfully organized the second East Zone Conference, Dermazone 2000.

Dr. R.N. Datta first conceived the idea; Dr. Dwijen Gangopadhyay proposed and was accepted by all. The name DERMAZONE 2000 was suggested by Dr. Koushik Lahiri, which itself was able to create a sensation among all the members of this zone. During the preparatory phase for the first time in the history of our branch, we have successfully utilized the e-mail system. Our mailbox dermazone2000@indya.com was flooded with mails. Our joint organizing secretary Dr. Dwijen Gangopadhyay was always with us, with his suggestions, from Los Angeles, through Internet.

The conference was very well attended. Nearly 300 delegates from no less than 10 states of our country and from abroad conglomerated here in Calcutta. It was, so to say, a mini national conference. Delegates from neighbouring Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan also participated. We were very happy to have amongst us our National Secretary, Dr. Amar Kant Jha, Amar and Treasurer Dr. P.K. Roy who came with their team bypassing very busy schedule of their own.

The presence of Prof. R.K. Panja, M.P. and Mr. Rusi Modi as Inaugurator and Chief Guest respectively, added glamour to the conference.

The success of any conference lies on its scientific programme. Scientific Committee Chairman Prof. S.R. Sengupta and his Secretary Dr. Sandipan Dhar made the seamless texture of these programme possible due to an excellent work. Dr. B. Haldar guided them with effortless ease.

The conference was pulsating with vibrant scientific activities like paper presentations, interactive panel discussions, guest lecture sessions and all. Dr. K.N. Barua and Dr. M. Ramam were superb in their deliberations as Guest Speakers. The induction of Dr. Yuri Skripkin of Moscow had certainly added international flavour to the meet.

An absorbing Dermaquiz session by Dr. Koushik Lahiri and Dr. (Mrs.) Subhra Dhar kept the audience virtually spellbound.

The moment of our pride and glory came when Dr. B. Haldar clicked the mouse amidst thunderous applaud to inaugurate the website of our IJD, www.e-ijd.org.

In short, it was a stupendous success that has surely set a momentum to the dream of holding a National Conference here in Calcutta.