It was a matter of immense pride and honour to deliver the Presidential Oration at the Third Annual Conference of the Association of Robotic and Innovative Surgeons — the ARIS Robotic Surgery International Conference 2026 — held in Guwahati.

This year’s conference held special significance for me, as I had the privilege of serving both as the President of ARIS and the Congress Chairman. It was a demanding yet deeply fulfilling journey, made possible through the dedication and teamwork of an exceptional organising committee led by Prof. Swagata Khanna and Dr. Areendam Baruah. We were honoured to host the largest ARIS conference to date, and for all of us associated with the organisation, it truly felt like a homecoming, as ARIS was born in Guwahati.

Set amidst the serene surroundings of Mayfair Spring Valley Resort, the conference was designed to combine high-quality academic exchange with the warmth and hospitality of Assam. One of the major highlights of the conference was the signing of important Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with the Korean Association of Robotic Surgeons and the Society of Endoscopic and Laparoscopic Surgeons of Malaysia. Academic collaborations were also established with the Sri Aurobindo Institute of Medical Sciences under UGC and IRCAD India, further strengthening ARIS’s commitment to global academic partnerships and surgical innovation. Over three enriching days, the conference featured comprehensive academic sessions, live surgeries, and demonstrations of multiple robotic platforms under one roof, providing invaluable hands-on exposure and learning opportunities for delegates and young surgeons alike. A particularly proud moment was the convocation ceremony of 64 FARIS 2025 fellows, representing the next generation of robotic surgeons and future leaders in minimally invasive and robotic surgery.

I extend my sincere gratitude to all faculty members, delegates, partners, and organising teams whose efforts made this conference a grand success. ARIS continues to demonstrate that geography is no longer a limitation when minds are connected and technology leads the way.