The Department of Philosophy and the Department of Political Science of P.G. Govt. College, Sector-46, Chandigarh organised National Seminar on “Relevance of Philosophy of Nationalism of Sri Aurobindo in Contemporary India” on 14th October, 2022 sponsored by Indian Council of Philosophical Research (ICPR) New Delhi. Dr. Abha Sudarshan, the Principal of Post Graduate Govt. College, Sector-46, Chandigarh welcome the guests. She expressed her views on Sri Aurobindo as the first Indian political leader to use the word “Independence” instead of “Swaraj’ and who strongly believed that without political freedom, no real development is possible in India.
The inaugural session was presided over by Prof. Ramakant Angiras, Ex. Professor of Kalidas Chair, Panjab University, Chandigarh. He said nationalism for Sri Aurobindo had a spiritual aim: to recover Indian thought, Indian character, Indian perceptions, Indian energy, Indian greatness, and to solve the problems that perplex the world in an Indian spirit and from the Indian standpoint. Prof. Pampa Mukherjee, Department of Political Science, Panjab University delivered key-note address. In her address she said that Sri Aurobindo reminds Indians of the Indian vision of nation and nationalism. India’s freedom was seen by Sri Aurobindo in this larger context of the destiny of humanity. He saw India as the living embodiment of the highest spiritual knowledge, and the repository of the sublimest spiritual achievements of the human race.
A special issue on “Indian Law System: Searching Towards Justice in Socio-Economic and Political Perspective in Contemporary Era” of Milestone Education Review, Year 13 (1-2) October 2022 was released by the guests. In the end of the inaugural session, Dr. G.C. Sethi, HoD, Political Science delivered his vote of thanks.
In first technical session Dr. Shivani Sharma, Associate Professor, Department of Philosophy, Panjab University, Chandigarh was the chairperson and Dr. Kanwalpreet Kaur, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, D.A.V. College, Sector-10 D, Chandigarh co-chaired the session. Total five papers were presented on the socio-political philosophy of Sri Aurobindo in the session.
In second technical session Mr. Lallan Singh Baghel, Chairperson, Department of Philosophy, Panjab University, Sector-14, Chandigarh was the chairperson and Dr. Krishan Kumar, Assistant Professor (Political Science), Desh Bhagat University, Punjab co-chaired the session. Total five papers were presented on the educational and spiritual philosophy of Sri Aurobindo in the session.
Certificates were distributed in the valedictory session by the Principal to the participants of the seminar. Dr. Desh Raj, Convener of the seminar, proposed vote of thanks and pointed out that the present seminar is a significant step to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Sri Aurobindo and acquaint us with the basic themes of the philosophy of Sri Aurobindo through the experts. All the research papers and lectures delivered by the scholars were highly participative and the interaction between the delegates and speakers yielded a fruitful discussion. Dr. Rajesh Kumar (Dean), Dr. Baljit Singh (Vice-Principal) and more than 100 faculty members, and students from college and various other institutions from Chandigarh and outside participated in the seminar.
