CHANDIGARH- November 5, 2008: The proceedings of ‘Professor Prem Nath Memorial Lectures’ 2008 started with auspicious ceremony – lightening of the lamp. Professor V.T. Sebastian, Chairperson of the Department of Philosophy offered welcome address and he highlighted the academic achievements of the Philosophy Department in the last 50 years span of time as one of the oldest department in the history of Panjab University.
Professor R.C.Sobti, Vice-Chancellor inaugurated the function as a ‘Guest of Honour’ and also spoke about the year long various events and celebrations of the Department which is going to complete its 50 years of academic excellence in the arenas of philosophy and its multi-disciplinary approaches towards the humanities and social sciences. On this occasion, Professor Sobti also acknowledged the contributions of late Professor Prem Nath in the making of the Department as a founder faculty of the Department and said that a lecture in his remembrance is something like living his dream and vision in years to come.
Professor Mirinal Miri released a book entitled, ‘Foundations of Indian Social Life’ edited by edited by Professor V.T. Sebastian and Professor Geeta Manaktala published by Book Surge Publishers, North Carolina, USA.
Professor Mrinal Miri, Former Vice-Chancellor, NEHU and former Director, IIAS, Shimla delivered the lecture on "Education, Value and the Art’ in Gandhi Bhawan, Panjab University Campus. Professor Miri, a renowned philosopher and educationist, expanded and elaborated the concept of value and need of rethinking about the values in the present educational system. He emphasized there are two set of the values, first constitutes those values, are true beyond the time and space such as honesty, justice and being good human being. These values can be realized in practice only through the institutions of high learning that begins with school and goes to university system and here we try to build up more democratic institutions and humanist society at large. In the elaboration of second set of values, he said in contemporary times though our society is facing number of challenges at different levels, therefore, there is a continuous need to redesign and rethink the educational values in the light- of globalization, inequalities and injustices faced by individual, groups and society at large.
Professor S.K.Kuklkarni, former Dean of University Instruction, Panjab University, presided over the function and appreciated the insights of Professor Mrinal Miri’s lecture and its importance to the high academic critical learning. Professor Veena Kapoor co-ordinated the programme and Professor Asha Maudgil proposed vote of thanks.
The lecture was followed by a vibrant discussion in which the students, research and teachers from various disciplines actively participated according to the Chairperson, Dept. of Philosophy.