Annual International Conference-2021 at RGU, Arunachal
Date - 11th October 2021

Annual International Conference-2021 at RGU, Arunachal

COMMEMORATING GANDHI ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE-2021 BEGINS AT RGU

A two-day ‘Annual International Conference on Contextualizing Gandhi in the Paradigms of Literature, Culture and Social Transformation’ began today at Rajiv Gandhi University in online mode. The programme is jointly organized by the Departments of English and Social Work, this two-day International Conference is part of the University’s celebration of the 152nd Birth Anniversary of the Father of the Nation.

Prior to it, the Department of English had organized a five-day online Lecture Series on Mahatma Gandhi from the 4th to the 8th of October 2021. Competitions encouraging youth participation like Essay Competition on the theme, ‘Relevance of Gandhi in the making of New India’ by Department of English and Skit as well as Poster Making on Life, Ideas and Ideals of Mahatma Gandhi by Department of Social Work are also part of the week-long celebrations.

The Inaugural session was Chaired by the Hon’ble Vice Chancellor of RGU, Prof. Saket Kushwaha and the Keynote Address was delivered by Prof. Sanjai Bhatt, who is the founding President of National Association of Professional Social Workers in India (NAPSWI) and former Head, Delhi School of Social Work (DSSW), University of Delhi.

The Registrar of the University, Dr. N. T. Rikam, the Dean of Faculty of Languages, Prof. Oken Lego, Jt. Registrar (Aca. & Conf.), Dr. David Pertin, Prof. Gollanapalli Prasad, Chief Trustee, Gandhi-King Foundation, Hyderabad and a host of other eminent personalities were present during the Inaugural Session.

Prof. Saket kushwaha during his presidential remarks to inaugural session called upon the participants to realize the true meaning of honesty in personal and professional lives. He focused that Gandhiji always suggested being non-hypocritical and if we can realize that in our lives most of our issues will be taken care.

Keynote Speaker and Veteran Social Worker Prof. Bhatt asked for the audience to realize the importance of social capital and family which is getting neglected in our blind rush to material pursuits which the Bapu always warned as source of all evils. Registrar, Dr. N.T. Rikam highlighted the significance of recalling the life and lessons as critical to building value system for younger generations, which Joint Registrar (academic & conference), Dr. David Pertin emphasized on core principles of Gandhian philosophy as being Holistic, Inclusive and Empathetic.

The Inaugural Session was followed by three Technical Sessions in which around 12 participants from different parts of the country presented their research papers on Mahatma Gandhi. The programme will conclude on 12th October, 2021 with announcement of awards for best paper presenters as well as other competitions. Prof. Bhagawat Nayak, Head, Department of English has been the Organizing President while Dr. Ravi Ranjan Kumar, Head i/c, Social Work together with Dr. Prachand Narayn Piraji, Assistant Professor, English have been Convenors who also served as master of ceremony during the inaugural session.

Dr. Dhriti Sundar Gupta, Assistant Professor, English moderated the first technical session while other sessions were moderated by Dr. Kaushalendra Pratap Singh, Social Work and Dr. Miazi Hazam, English. Prof. K.C. Mishra, Department of English chaired the final technical session.

Dr. Ravi Ranjan Kumar
Assistant Professor,
Department of Social Work,
Rajiv Gandhi (Central) University.
Arunachal Pradesh, INDIA.