21 Oct : Department of Sociology, University of Jammu organized a lecture which was delivered by Professor Ashok Kumar Kaul, Professor of Sociology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi and the programme was presided by Professor R.D Sharma, dean Academic affairs
In the welcome address Professor Abha Chauhan, Head Department of Sociology introduced the speaker to the audience in her note and welcomed the participants.
Professor Ashok Kumar Kaul while delivering lecture on “Pathology of Nationhood: A Case of Kashmir” traced the trajectory of Nationalism. He said that the world has mainly seen three types of nationalism i.e. European nationalism, American nationalism and Soviet socialistic nationalism but all these nationalism have declined with time. As far as Indian nationalism is concerned, it has evolved through a civilizational project but also has resulted in to fractured nativity where minorities and lower castes are excluded. While talking precisely about the Kasmiriat he said the efforts to evolve the same was made by the great king Lalitaditya and the same tempo was carried by Noor-ud-din. But the problem of estrangement among different sections of Kashmiri population aroused during cold war period; when Kashmir became the political as well as power centric issue to tackle Soviet socialism by America. He even said that throughout the history there was a parallel movement in the Valley between native and the outsider. Cultural ethos built up by Lalitaditya was again disturbed by Mughal invasion in the medieval ages. Again Kashmiriat was affected by one invasion after another and Britisher also played their role. The post independence period ultimately led to mystification and estrangement among the Kashmiri masses where it was believed that something better lie across the border and whole of the Kashmiri Muslim were led by this opinion. Pakistan also took the benefit of exploiting the situation and situation became bad to worse. While concluding the argument he said Kashmir is an ailing society and the ailing rest in history. The lecture was followed by cross questioning and most of the audience raised very relevant questions. Professor Rekha Choudhry while asking her question said that there is still a hope and optimism and people of Kashmir have lots of expectations from the Indian state. Prof Kaul replied that the hope is in the youth leadership and in democracy and development. Professor R.D Sharma, Dean of academic Affairs was of the opinion that the solution lies somewhere in cultural intermingling of Kashmiri youth with rest of India.
The session was concluded by the vote of thanks presented by Dr. Vishva Raksha, Associate Professor of the Department.
The programme was conducted by Ms. Sonika Sen, Research Scholar, Department of Sociology.
