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.