Following from Prof. Dr. Bikram Keshari Mishra
ICSSR-Sponsored Two-Day National Seminar
on
Reconstructing
Development and its Discontents in India: Problems,
Paradoxes and Possibilities
[14-15 November 2015]
Organized
By
DEPARTMENT
OF SOCIOLOGY
SCHOOL
OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
RAVENSHAW
UNIVERSITY
CUTTACK
About the University
Ravenshaw
University has been functioning since 15th November 2006 in Cuttack. The
University, an upgradation of Ravenshaw College (subsequently achieved the
status of autonomous college with CPE status by UGC and ‘A’ grade by NAAC), was
established in 1868, one of the oldest and largest colleges in India. With all
its scholastic achievements, the College had already established a distinct
intellectual vibration in the academic landscape of India and beyond. This
historic institution, in a sense, is one of the illustrious institutions in
India that started to foster the idea of modern education. The institution is
famous for nurturing the ideas - national unity and nationalism, promoting
social mobilization and gearing up the freedom struggle in the then Odisha –
that ignited the minds of thousands of individuals at several times. The
institution was also a great avenue for certain historic achievements of the
then Odisha: the Declaration of Orissa (present day Odisha) as a separate
province on the 1st April 1936,
inauguration of Odisha’s first legislative assembly till it’s shift to
Bhubaneswar, the state capital of Odisha, and the initiation of Utkal
University, which is currently functioning in Bhubaneswar. Recognizing its
great heritage, the Institution has been awarded as National Honour by the
Government of India through the issue of a commemorative stamp in 1978. This
much celebrated institution is rightly considered as one of the greatest
educational institutions that India has so far produced.
Prior
to its upgradation as a University, the institution had started its first
post-graduate teaching in 1922 especially in the subject of English. Currently,
the University has twenty-seven departments in several disciplines;
twenty-three departments are offering post-graduate programmes. The university
is also offering research programmes: M. Phil, Ph. D. and D. Litt. The Department of Sociology offers
B.A. (Hons), M.A., M.Phil. and Ph.D. programmes in Sociology. The department is
known for its both teaching and research activities in core as well as applied
areas of Sociology. The Department had successfully organized the 37th All
India Sociological Conference in December 2010, the annual event of Indian
Sociological Society.
About the Seminar
The trajectory of
development appears somewhat dialectical. According to Sachs (1997),
‘development is a perception which models reality, a myth which comforts
societies, and a fantasy which unleashes passions’. As a global discourse, the
initial dialogue on development began only during the second half of the 20th
century in order to envision, enunciate and emancipate the (de)colonized social
reality. The development dialogue has begun to unravel and identify multiple
dimensions – economic, cultural, social, political and human – in its journey
in order to attain its desired goals. No wonder, the academics, policymakers
and development practitioners tend to approach development through a number of
paradigms – modernization, dependency, basic needs, structural adjustment,
Washington Consensus, Millennium Development Goals, human-centred,
participatory, bottom-up and the contemporary one i.e. sustainable – in making
deeper sense of the issue. More specifically, soon after the Second World War,
scholars and practitioners have sought to study the causes of poverty and
so-called ‘underdevelopment’ in a more systematic and sustained way. These
days, the development discourse focuses mainly on poverty reduction and
improving ‘human development’ worldwide.
With little
ambiguity it can be said, in fulfilling the global agenda of ‘development’,
global institutions – World Bank, World Health Organization, International
Monetary Fund, the UN agencies and the like – tend to intensify the development
journey with their pro-active role. The processes of globalization,
liberalization and privatization have encompassed the world community in
general and continue to impinge upon levels of progress of every single nation.
India is no exception.
In consonance with
the world order, India has been chasing the goal of development in defense of
its Constitutional ethos of democracy, socialism and people’s welfare thereby
promoting social justice for all. From Sarva Siskhsya Aviyan (RTE), Mahatma Gandhi
National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), National Rural Health
Mission (NRHM), Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), Sukanya Samridhi Yojana
under Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Campaign, to Swachh Bharat Mission, Saansad
Adarsh Gram Yojana and the like, the country has introduced a plethora of
schemes and has been making all-out effort for accelerating development and
ensuring collective well-being. A thorough scrutiny of India’s Five Year Plans
best illustrates the manner in which development strategies in the fields of
education, polity, culture, environment, health, science and technology,
industry and communication have differed from time to time.
However, the very
pursuit of development in India is not free from its inherent paradox. At one
level, it enriches some people, empowers them and fosters their participation;
at another level, it results in
marginalization, exploitation, alienation and exclusion of others. Here is a
country where empowerment and enslavement, enrichment and exclusion exist side
by side. This renders development a contested terrain. There is often
resistance to the very practice of development. The growing dissent and protest
movements that keep appearing from time to time only represent the repressed
side of development. The cases of Nandigram (West Bengal) and Kalinga Nagar
(Odisha) are just tip of the iceberg. It appears the very process of
development is caught in its self-refuting paradox. It incorporates some people
and excludes others leading to their marginalization; it benefits one section
of people and penalizes other; it is accepted by one community and rejected by
another. This renders the very process of development ‘double-edged’. The
situation is best articulated by the argument of Arturo Escobar when he argues:
‘Development is the last and failed attempt to complete the Enlightenment in
Asia, Africa and Latin America . . . rather than search for development
alternatives, we need to speak of alternatives to development’ (Escobar 1995).
Development process is more known and debated for its discontents rather than
its positive effects. Hence, it calls for a critical review and re-thinking of
the process itself. It is in this context, the proposed national seminar finds
its relevance. The seminar represents a
modest endeavour to uncover development and its discontents in India with
specific reference to its various domains:
environment, health, tribe, gender, communication and the
marginalization. The seminar shall revolve around the following broad sub-themes:
Seminar Sub-Themes
The Paradigm of
Development: Concepts and Theories
Actors in
Development: Individuals, Communities, NGOs and Civil Societies
Development and the
Nature: Environment and Ecology
Development and the
Human Body: Public Health, Care and
Prevention
Democracy,
Development and Deprivation: Gender, SCs and STs
Media and
Development: Issues and Concern
Rethinking
Development: Plans, Policies and Programmes
However, papers
that may not fit in the above sub-themes but are reflective of the broad theme
of the seminar are also welcome.
Travel
and Accommodation
TA
will be provided to limited number of delegates only (not all). Organizers will
take care of accommodation for out-station participants only on prior
intimation (at least 15 days in advance of the seminar).
Deadlines to Remember
Last
date for Abstract Submission: October 15, 2015.
Acceptance
of Abstracts: October 16, 2015.
Submission
of Full Paper: October 31, 2015.
About Cuttack
Cuttack - the
cultural capital of Odisha - situated in its coastal track is one of the oldest
cities with its glorious history, heritage, unique culture and scenic beauty.
With the change of time, Cuttack has not failed in preserving its rich cultural
distinction. It is also known as the millennium city and considered as a scenic
peninsula surrounded by three rivers namely Mahanadi, Kathajodi and Kuakhai. There
are certain places worth visiting in and around Cuttack city, for instance Barabati,
Dhabaleswar, etc. Cuttack is just 30 km away from Bhubaneswar and is well
connected to the major cities of India by air, railway and bus.
Organizing Secretary
Dr. Bikram Keshari Mishra
Reader and Head
Department of
Sociology
Ravenshaw
University, Cuttack
Odisha – 753 003,
INDIA
Mobile: +91-9439849565,
09438246624
E-mail: bikramjnu@gmail.com
Website: ravenshawuniversity.ac.in
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