TWO-DAY NATIONAL SEMINAR AT VIDYAJYOTI—FEB 17 & 18, 2012
Comments Off REPORT OF THE TWO-DAY NATIONAL SEMINAR AT VIDYAJYOTI
TWO DECADES OF NEW ECONOMIC POLICY – A VIEW FROM BELOW
FEBRUARY 17 &18, 2012
The New Economic Policy introduced in India by the government two decades ago have had far reaching implications for the nation’s life in all spheres. The faculty of Vidyajytoi with its contextual theological outlook thought it timely to have a new look at the entire gamut of the issues and concerns surrounding the NEP. This is the reason for organizing the two-day national seminar on Two Decades of New Economic Policy – A View from Below at Vidyajyoti.
In his keynote address, Dr. Banwari Lal Sharma, Chief Editor of Nai Azadi Udghosh briefly reviewed 20 years of NEP which he called Corporate Colonialism. Ms. Suma Josson, an eminent journalist and film maker presented a powerful and imaginative story titled ‘Sringeri S. Sringeri’, a parable on globalization. She also communicated the devastating effect of NEP on vulnerable sections of society through her movies ‘Niyamgiri, You Are Still Alive’, ‘I Want My Father Back’, and ‘The Seed Man’. Ms. Madhu Purnima Kiswar, Professor, Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, Delhi and Founder, Manushi reflected on her experience of the ground realities regarding the plight of the poor in different parts of the country.
The paper “India in the Post Reform Period – Issues and Challenges” by Prof. Victor Louis Anthuvan, Loyola Institute of Business Administration, Chennai had a great impact on the audience. Mr. J. John, Editor, Labour File presented a paper on “The New Economic Policy and Labour”. Prof. Amit Bhaduri, Professor Emeritus, JNU, New Delhi spoke on “NEP and Corporatisation of Economy”. The theology panel of Dr. John Chathanatt (ISI, New Delhi), Dr. Francis Minj (Tarunoday, Ranchi), Dr. Thomas Venad (Vidyajyoti, Delhi),and Dr. Maria Arul Raja (Arulkadal, Chennai)critiqued the NEP from ethico-moral, subaltern, scriptural, and theological perspectives.
The second day began with a shocking and challenging presentation of “Twenty Years after the Reforms: Rural Distress in an Age of Inequality” by Mr. P. Sainath, Rural Affairs Editor, The Hindu. There followed several theological sessions in which the entire faculty – professors and students of Vidyajyoti and its different regional centres – and other eminent guests reflected theologically upon the various issues and concerns that emerged during the different presentations and discussions, with Dr. A. Alangaram, Dr. Shalini, Dr. P.R. John, Dr. Mathew Jayant, and Dr. MilianusBeck as the moderators.
Dr. Poulose Mangai SJ, Dr. Thomas Venad SJ, Dr. Shalini Mulackal PBVM, Dr. S. Arokiasamy SJ, and Dr. Francis Gonsalves SJ (Principal) were the Coordinators of the National Seminar.
—Sch. Prince P. Clarance, SJ
