Manoj Godara, CHANDIGARH, November 30: The department of political science, on behalf of Academic Staff College, Panjab University started a refresher course in Social Sciences for assistant professors on the campus here today.
In his inaugural lecture today, Prof Bhupinder Brar, DUI, Panjab University emphasised on the critical need for the budding social scientists to undertake social research at the micro level. Referring to the economic and political transitions that have taken place in India recently bringing the country on the global agenda, Prof Brar urged the participants to develop Indian social theories exploring the diverse and complex empirical realities of India without copying the western theoretical and explanatory frameworks. Theoretical frameworks like nationalist, Marxist and post-modernist presenting grand theories are passé now and need to be adapted to capture emerging Indian realities. Natural advantage of interdisciplinary approach was another important factor, Prof Brar pointed out. Professor Sanajy Chaturvedi, SAP Coordinator and Dr. Ronki Ram, Chairperson, Dept of Political Science also spoke on the occasion.
The uniqueness of the course to be concluded on December 20 lies in the diverse social science disciplines, forty eight participant teachers belong to. The outstation resource persons for the forthcoming three week programme would include, among others, Professors Gopal Guru, M N Thakur, Amit Prakash, Sudha Pai, P S Judge, Gurpreet Mahajan, Ujjwal Singh, Surinder Jodhka, K Sivaramakrishnan and Anupama Roy. Professor Ashutosh Kumar is coordinating the course. The theme of the course is ˜Social Sciences in India: Emerging Trends”. The lectures to be delivered during the course would focus on the critical societal issues concerning contemporary India which has been in a process of transition.