A National Conference on Science and Development at Jamia

The government’s Department of Science and Technology organized a two-day national conference on “Science in Society and Development: Nehru and Beyond” at Jamia Millia Islamia on 23 October 2013, in collaboration with the university’s Centre for Jawaharalal Nehru Studies.

A variety of latest issues on the relationship between science, technology and society the frontier areas of research in this field were discussed during the conference.

Over 30 well-known scholars and activists who have been working in this field from across the country were congregated in the conference. Some popular names among them are Prof. E. Haribabu (University of Hyderabad), educationist Prof. Anil Sadgopal, pioneering science activist and people science movement ideologue Dr. M.P. Parmeswaran (Kerala), retired scientist from Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and national awardee science writer Prof. Syamal Chakravarty (Calcutta University), astrophysicist and science writer Prof. Sabyasaachi Chatterji (Bangalore), Dr. Gauhar Raza -- the editor of Journal of Scientific Temper (Delhi), science educationist Prof. G. Nagarjuna (Mumbai), Prof. T. Jayaraman (TISS, Mumbai), IPR and science policy expert Prof. Dinesh Abrol (ISID and JNU Delhi), and many more.

Several papers by young researchers and scholars from different academic centers across the country were also discussed at the conference.

A total of 11 technical sessions covering topics like the Science and Modernity Debate, The Nuclear Debate, Agrarian Crisis and Science and Scientific Controversies in the Public Discourse, and Citizen and People’s Science was held.

Further, on receiving several requests, the Delhi University’s Zakir Husain College restaged the play, “Kabira Khada Bazaar Mein”, at the inauguration of the conference. The play staged in the direction of Surendra Sharma, an eminent theatre actor and director from the National School of Drama.

The play is a powerful drama that depicts the character and vision of Sant Kabir Das, a mystic poet and social reformer of the 16th century. It presents the religious orthodoxy, superstitions and state of oppression during Kabir’s time and his fearlessness and truth seeking temperament.