Webinar on understanding epidemics, pandemics in history

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 3

The Department of History, Guru Nanak Dev University, organised a webinar on “Understanding Epidemics and Pandemics in History and Society” here on Sunday.

Prof Amandeep Bal, HoD, in her introduction delineated the visitation of diseases across the world history and underlined the need to discuss social and economic consequences of pandemics in general and Covid 19 in particular.

In his keynote address, Prof Sukhdev Singh Sohal emphasised the ecology of disease, rapidity and virulence of pandemics in history. He discussed historical experience and making of social and medical perceptions about disease. Fatalism, superstition and stigma affected the social relations. The rise of the ‘clinic’ changed medical perception and enriched medical profession. There was a need to broaden the domain of social sciences through integrating chemical and biological knowledge to social sciences.

Assistant professor Dr Ruby Bala explained the ravages of plague in India during 1896 to 1918. She also spoke on the pandemic of influenza that caused the death of millions in India. She showed slides of vaccination camps, quarantine notices, dresses of the medical staff and difficulties of the people.

Assistant professor Dr Raj Kumar narrated the plight of Punjabi soldiers in World War I in the trenches, which were full of infection. He showed slides of miseries and narrated the stories the soldiers wrote back to their family members during the war.

Prof Jagroop Singh Sekhon of the Department of Political Science mentioned the plight of migrant labourers, limitations of medical support infrastructure causing untold miseries to people. He underlined the importance of the lockdown in controlling the spread of Covid-19. He rooted for the public health system.

Prof Sarbjot Behl, Dean, Academic Affairs, Guru Nanak Dev University, in his concluding remarks underlined the need for creating a vibrant health system and social awareness about sanitation and health. More than 150 across India and other countries interacted during the session. Dr Harneet Kaur and Dr Saifali Chauhan, assistant professors, coordinated the webinar.