Social science congress comes to a close at PU

CHANDIGARH: Chandigarh Social Science Congress (CHASSCONG)-2018 concluded today with bringing out potentialities for Panjab University in creating a unique environment of jettisoning categories and compartmentalisation in favour of the expanded engagement for academia with lived experiences and social processes.

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 16

Chandigarh Social Science Congress (CHASSCONG)-2018 concluded today with bringing out potentialities for Panjab University in creating a unique environment of jettisoning categories and compartmentalisation in favour of the expanded engagement for academia with lived experiences and social processes.

“The congress has proved that the nature and prevalence of citizenship is an intricate, tortuous web, negotiated by citizens and institutions in conciliatory or fractious manner in equal measures. However, the best way is to address and research on such an area which necessitates that the dynamics of engagement are interdisciplinary as well as multifarious. Mixed methodology and drawing from a vast constellation of theory, epistemology will bear richer results,” said Prof Akshay Kumar, coordinator of CHASSCONG.

The second day of the event took off with parallel sessions held at different venues in the university. These sessions held at the departments of English and Cultural Studies, Sociology, Public Administration, and History were chaired by Prof Ranvir Singh, Prof Archana K Singh, Prof Sherry Sabarwal and Prof Anju Suri, respectively.

“The sessions covered a richly diverse ground as deliberations related to the citizenship discourse were aired amid participants and audiences from several disciplines. Papers presented in these sessions ranged from citizenship’s engagement with ideas of discipline, terrorism, humour, mental illness, disability, activism, suicide, immigration and digital media,” said Prof Pampa Mukherjee, co-coordinator of CHASSCONG.

The fifth session was chaired by OP Mishra, DIG, Prisons, Chandigarh, with plenary speakers — Kishalay Bhattacharjee, former NDTV journalist, Prof Vibha Arora from the Delhi IIT and Prof Ritajyoti Bandyopadhyay from IISER, Mohali.

Bandyopadhyay carried the session forward by speaking on ‘Obstruction: counter pedestrianism and trajectories of an infrastructure public’.

The valedictory address was presented by Prof Peter Ronald DeSouza of the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies. He spoke on ‘Diversity, democratic conundrums and liberal political theory’ discussing the nature and potentials of democratic experience.

PU Vice-Chancellor Anil Grover appreciated the academic endeavour and consolidated his encouragement for the event by asking for the detailed report of the event’s planning, milestones, and feedback for future to be published in the guest column of the sciences. He urged the organisers to further facilitate such events.