CHANDIGARH, March 18, 2008: The National Seminar organized by Department of Geography, Panjab University on ‘Socio-Economic and Political
Transformation of Dalits and the State in India: A Geographical Appraisal’ concluded today.
The plight of Dalits in Indian society received a poetic and literary flavor in the third technical session of the seminar. The political awakening and
assertiveness was discussed alongside their oppression and suppression. In the Panel Discussion that concluded the seminar, a case was made for
removal of the deep rooted discrimination against the Dalits and it was even suggested that the Indian history should be rewritten from different vantage
points to represent the view point of the underprivileged, including Dalits. The element of discrimination in India was lamented and it was stated that
the structure of inequity is damning and final. Globalization was also viewed as being disadvantageous to the Dalits and the poor. Prof. Gopal Krishan, Professor Emeritus, Department of Geography, Panjab University, Chandigarh, summarized the Panel Discussion by trying to visualize what the late Prof. R.P.S. Gosal would have said had he been a Panelist at this discussion. It may be recalled that this seminar was being held in memory of the professor who did considerable eminent work in this field. He stated that urbanization gives anonymity and economic emancipation to Dalits and in this sense serves to better their lot according to Dr. Karanjot Brar, Reader, Department of Geography, Panjab University,Chandigarh.