Analyzing Dhirubhai Seth’s work “Satta Aur Samaj” (05.11.2011)

Critique Ferozepur Chapter and Philosophical Society organized a Seminar on the first two chapters of the Book 'Satta Aur Samaj' by Dhirubhai Seth, presented and edited by Abhay Kumar Dubey of CSDS at the college campus. In the Seminar chaired by Rubina of B.A. first year Amandeep, Amritpal, Jagpreet, and Amanjot discussed the issues relating to “Caste System, Class Creation and Politics", "Dalit Question and Non Dalit Society”, discussed by Dhirubhai Seth and Abhay Kumar Dubey, with around 300 students of the department. The reading of the first two chapters was circulated before three weeks to around fifty students of the department.
Aamandeep said that Caste is important issue, which at election times projected as an important symbol for the vote bank politics in the country. But it important to underline and understand what is caste and why after so much of protest against the caste system by social reformers and activists, still it continues to be an inseparable identity and idea in society. Amandeep said that Dhirubhai has minutely explored the issues of caste, class and politics in a comprehensive way. His views that social science is still one step ahead in understanding caste than political theorists who might have different opinions, is certainly interesting. Amandeep sharing account of Satta Aur Samaj said that another important questions which needs philosophical exploration is that Is caste a mere action oriented phenomena or does it moves around ‘power’, ‘dominance’.
Amritpal said that social reform movements or ‘unorthodox’ religious movements like Jainism, Buddhism and Bhakti movement did made a little impact on the caste questions and there have been conversions in thoughts from time to time but still effective caste groups kept their dominance till date. Taking the discourse to the contemporary issues regarding caste Amritpal raised certain questions. How to do away with caste? Can we really do away with caste? She said that when ever we go to a doctor we never see the caste of the doctor. When ever we go to attend a class in college, we never find a caste based class. As educated youths we openly declare that we do not believe in caste system. But the moment there is talk of reservation in education or matrimony in the family the issue of caste comes on the floor. Every Saturday and Sunday we find ourselves divided in the matrimonial published in the news papers. Do we not see the hierarchy, a feeling of superiority, inferiority? How do we look at this whole issue? There cannot be definite answers but one thing which comes up is, is a line of divide which underlines the whole caste issue in the urban societies as well as rural. It is in this context that we can also see and read the two faces of caste in ‘Satta Aur Samaj’. Jagpreet and Amanjot also raised the issues of Politics of Resevation, Evolution of the new middleclass and other issues on Brahminism to Manuism of the book with the participants. Amanjot also raised questions of how to understand dalit discourse and issues. On one hand there are writings on dalit by non dalit writers and on the other hand there are writings by dalit writers themselves so how to respond and understand the two is also significant. Amanjot raised the views of Gandhi and Ambedkar on the dalit discourse and it led to a hot discussion where there were some in Gandhi’s favour and some on Ambedkar. Jagpreet appreciated the views by Dhirubhai and Abhay kumar Dubey in the text. The speakers on behalf of Critique and Philosophical Society extended their thanks to dhirubhai for sending the book a year back and also suggested Dhirubhai and Abhay Kumar Dubay to read a book by Darshan ‘Ratn’ Ravan “Ambedkar Se Vimukh Safai Kamgar Samaj: Upekshit, Karaan Aur Mukti”. In the end there were significant questions raised by the participants which followed in fiery discussion.

Questions of Ethnic Violence and Challenges Before Multicultural Ethos (6.08.2011)

“Recent innocent teenager’s killings at Oslo (Norway) have sparked again the questions of ethnic violence in the world. It seems that the murderer is not the only person responsible for the brutal crime but the ideology and the people who believe in ethnic superiority, discrimination and violence, equally, share a bigger role in the violence and crime against humanity” Said, Daljit Ami, a renowned Punjabi documentary film maker and former deputy editor of Punjabi Tribune Newspaper, in the seminar organized on Questions of Ethnic Violence and Challenges Before Multicultural Ethos by Critique Ferozepur Chapter and Philosophical Society: a students discussion forum of the college. Daljit Ami highlighted and briefed the students that Ethnicity as concept need to be explored and one has to question as to what is ethnic? What are the notions of Ethnic? How ethnic violence emerges as a process. He said, “In every day life many of us celebrate our birth in a particular caste, clan, society, region and religion without understanding their meaning. The thought of ‘self’ and ‘other’ continuously gets constructed and these ‘notions’ slowly and gradually evolve a politics which lead to communal or ethnic hatred and violence in societies. The time has come when the youth of the country has to critically question and reflect on these notions before making judgements.

Speaking on the occasion Jatinder Mouhar, director of Punjabi film ‘Mitti’ spoke on the relevance of films in questioning the social problems. He said that Role of films is quite significant as its reach is higher than other mode of communication. Films generally sensitize its viewers about the issues it projects so there is a need to add documentary and other films which addresses social issues in the education curriculum for pedagogic exercises and discussions.

In the seminar Amandeep and Mandeep, undergraduate students of the college asked relevant questions to the resource persons. The session was presided by Prabhpreet and chaired by Amrit of the college.

Who is Afraid of Lok Pal Bill?

Critique ferozepur Chapter and Philosophical Society, a student’s discussion forum of the Dev Samaj College for Women organized a seminar on the theme “Who is Afraid of Lok Pal Bill?” Around four hundred students of the college actively participated and discussed at length the burning questions on the current Lok Pal Bill Debate. In the session chaired by college principal Dr. Madhu Prashar and Kamaljit Kaur of class B.A. first year, Swati, Deepali, Amrit, Richa and Cheenu expressed their solidarity with the Anna Hazare and Kiran Bedi team demanding a strong Lok Pal Bill at the centre. Swati speaking on the issue said that corruption is rampant in every domain, public or private. Largely there is no transparency and effective check at the work places which makes the things worse. Deepali informed the participants that “Seventy-seven per cent of Indians -- about 836 million people -- live on less than half a dollar a day in one of the world's hottest economies. She held corruption responsible for the current state. Richa and Cheenu also underlined various cases of corruption rampant in the country. Richa raised the case of Justice Nirmal Yadav and said that the trust of common people is broken if cases of corruption is reported in the higher judiciary. It is high time when an effective lok pal bill should be introduced and passed. Cheenu said that Prashant Bhushan and many others are constantly fighting for justice and transparency and with Anna Hazare leading the voices a strong Lok Pal Bill will get introduced. Amrit said that right to information is an effective tool against corruption but Lok Pal will add more power and check towards the problem. On the occasion Amandeep, Jagpreet, Ambuj Sharma, Rashpinder Singh and many others raised important questions.

Genetic Revolution and Human Rights: Exploring Moral and Social Aspects (28.03.2011)

The Biotechnological or the Genetic Revolution provides enormous possibilities to human development (nutrition, medicine, industry), while at the same time, creates social-ethical apprehensions due to the dangers to Human Rights that an improper use could generate. In this respect, Department of Philosophy organized a national seminar on ‘Genetic Revolution and Human Rights: Exploring Moral and Social Aspects’ sponsored by College Development Council, Panjab university. the seminars discussed and explore the nature of Human Rights and its various issues associated with the genetic revolution and beyond. Among the resource persons Umendra Dutt, Executive Director, KHETI VIRASAT MISSION JAITU, District-Faridkot, Punjab, Professor Shalina Mehta, Department of Anthropology, Panjab University, Chandigarh. Mr. C.H. Premani, Scientist F, Computer Technology, Institute of microbial Technology, Chandigarh. Dr Meena Dhanda, Reader in Philosophy and Cultural Politics, Leverhulme Research Fellow, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton, U.K., Lallan Singh Baghel, Assistant Professor, Department of Philosophy, Panjab University, Chandigarh., shared their wisdom with the facuty, students of the college and other participants from Faridkot, Muktsar area. Umendra Dutt presenting the Keynote address cautioned the participants about the hazards of inorganic farming and the increasing amount of the seeds of various crops which is leading to a competition and resulting in the exploitation of poor farmers and subsequently the people of the country. Professor Shalina Mehta very interestingly brought the issue of Cloning and its politics. Professor Meena Dhanda gave a multimedia presentation and raised the ethical and legal issues of Surrogate mother in the west and India. She discussed the issue at length underlining the impact of technology on Human life other human conditions and laws. Lallan Singh Baghel presented his paper on Cloning People: Rights and Beyond he tried to probe the limits of genetic engineering and its multiple implications for constructing a discourse of technology and its instrumentality thesis. He said that it revolves around 'power' and it has been used to reduce human freedom and manufactured a language of consensus about the very nature of science. He also gave a Greek Philosophic account of ‘Techne’ Technology from Platos Republic to illustrate the questions of the goals of technology. In the seminar many questions were raised by the faculty and students of the college particularly Amandeep Kaur of B.A. I year. Vote of thanks was extended by the coordinator of the Seminar, Dr. Ambuj Sharma.