Women's Studies Centre holds seminar on "Women, Conflict and Society"
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 19 2025: A 1-Day National Seminar on "Women, Conflict and Society (NSWCS2025)" was successfully conducted today at the Department of Sociology, Manipur University, Canchipur.

The seminar, organised by the Women's Studies Centre, Manipur University, aimed to generate critical academic dialogue on the multifaceted intersections between gender, conflict, violence, resilience, and social transformation, with particular emphasis on Northeast India and Manipur.

As per a release issued by Manipur University, the inaugural session of the seminar was graced by dignitaris, including Dr M Lilee, Director, Women's Studies Centre, Manipur University; Prof L Memcha, Dean, School of Social Sciences, Manipur University; Prof Rajendra Kshetri, former Head, Department of Sociology, Manipur University; and Prof Ajailiu Niumai, Head, Centre for the Study of Social Inclusion, University of Hyderabad.

In her keynote address, Prof Ajailiu Niumai offered a nuanced sociological perspective on women's agency, structural violence, and conflict transformation.

She also highlighted both possibilities and limits of gendered agency in a conflict-affected frontier.

Prof L Memcha emphasised the importance of the Women's Studies Centre by stating that such centre's stand at the intersection of academia and social engagements.

Dr Lilee juxtaposed the symbolic high status of women in Indian society and the sufferings of women as shown in various government reports.

The seminar featured four parallel technical sessions, conducted in both offline and online modes.

Technical Session I (offline) was moderated by Prof N Tejmani Singh of the Department of Commerce, Manipur University.

The session focused on women's roles in peacebuilding, displacement, poverty, labour participation, patriarchy, and digital financial risks in Manipur.

Empirically grounded papers highlighted women's lived experiences during ethnic conflicts, relief camp interventions, and sociocultural negotiations.

Technical Session II (online) brought together scholars from different regions of India to deliberate on feminist theory, social media discourse, inheritance rights, livelihood disruptions, and empowerment narratives.

The session was moderated by Dr Rajni Bala, Head, Department of Sociology, BUC College.

Batala, Punjab.

Technical Sessions III and IV (offline) addressed diverse themes such as gendered displacement, trauma and resilience, women's entrepreneurship, incarceration, cultural production, environmental degradation, disability, domestic violence, and grassroots environmental resistance, particularly in contexts like the Loktak Lake.

Several papers provided critical insights into how women act simultaneously as victims, survivors, and agents of change in conflict-ridden societies.

The technical sessions III and IV were moderated by Prof L Prabhakar Singh, Director, MIMS, Manipur University and Dr M Lilee respectively.

Around 100 delegates, invitees, and scholars participated in the seminar.

Around 40 papers (single and joint authored) were presented in the seminar.

Certificates were also distributed in the valedictory session.

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