An Online National Seminar titled ‘Socio-Political Philosophy of Prof. Daya Krishna’ was organized to Celebrate World Philosophy Day on 21 November 2024 by the Department of Philosophy and Department of Political Science, Post Graduate Government College, Sector-46, Chandigarh in association with Daya Krishna Academic Foundation (DKAF), Shantiniketan(WB) sponsored by Centre for Positive Philosophy and Interdisciplinary Studies (CPPIS) Pehowa, Kurukshetra.
The Seminar aimed to illuminate the profound contributions of Prof. Daya Krishna, one of India’s most eminent philosophers, whose works continue to inspire critical engagement with contemporary socio-political issues. The seminar convened academicians, scholars, and students from diverse disciplines to engage in reflective discussions on Prof. Krishna’s philosophical framework and its applicability in addressing contemporary socio-political challenges.
Inaugural Ceremony
Prof. J.K. Sehgal, the Principal of Post Graduate Govt. College, Sector-46, Chandigarh gave the formal Welcome address to the guests and said that by celebrating World Philosophy Day each year on the third Thursday of November, UNESCO underlines the enduring value of philosophy for the development of human thought, for each culture, and for each individual. Philosophy is an inspiring discipline as well as an everyday practice that can transform societies. Philosophy stimulates intercultural dialogue by enabling to discover the diversity of the intellectual currents in the world. By awakening minds to the exercise of thinking and the reasoned confrontation of opinions, philosophy helps to build a more tolerant, more respectful society. It thus helps to understand and respond to major contemporary challenges by creating the intellectual conditions for change.
Keynote Speaker of the session Prof. Asha Mukherjee, Secretary, DKAF and Former Head &Professor, Department of Philosophy, Vishwa Bharti, Shantiniketan, WB spoke on the social-political philosophy of Prof. Daya Krishna. She said that Prof. Daya Krishna was a multifaceted philosopher who examined various aspects of life, challenging the division of thought into compartments. She said that although his inquiries spanned many philosophical areas, his work on political issues has drawn comparatively less attention. In Political Development: A Critical Perspective, he questioned the quest for universal validity in development, highlighting how reality’s dynamic nature complicates defining it as change, evolution, or progress. Prof Asha Mukherjee further highlighted the complexities that demand a deeper philosophical inquiry. She said Prof. Daya Krishna is a leading figure in the academic Indian philosophy of the 20th century. A creative writer, he shaped the debates between Indian and Western philosophy during that period and the relation between contemporaneity and tradition for Sanskrit philosophies.
This session was presided over by Prof. K. L. Sharma, President, DKAF and Former Head and Professor, Department of Philosophy, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur. He spoke about Prof Daya Krishna as a hardcore philosopher. He shared his interaction with the late philosopher. He highlighted the social-centric approach emphasizing the importance of questioning traditional norms and promoting a dynamic, dialogical approach to understanding society. Rooted in critical engagement with Indian philosophical traditions, he advocated for blending classical ideas with contemporary concerns, encouraging inclusive discourses that challenge orthodoxy.
Dr. G.C. Sethi, HoD (Political Science) delivered the vote of thanks for the session.
Academic Session I
In the first technical session, Mr. Lallan Singh Baghel (Assistant Professor, Department of Philosophy, Panjab University, Chandigarh) was the chairperson and Dr. Alok Tondon (Independent Researcher & Philosopher, Former Fellow of ICSSR and ICPR, New Delhi) delivered his talk on “Daya Krishna on Understanding Civilisations and their Encounters”. He delved into Daya Krishna’s works and highlighted the issues of civilization. He said that Daya Krishna critically examined Indian and Western civilizations, exploring their philosophical and socio-cultural foundations. He emphasized Indian civilization's pluralism and spiritual focus, contrasting it with the West's materialism and scientific rationality. Rejecting rigid dichotomies, he highlighted the strengths and limitations of both, advocating for mutual dialogue and a synthesis to address global challenges. Daya Krishna urged rethinking Indian traditions to make them relevant while critiquing Western models for lacking holistic perspectives, promoting an open-ended discourse bridging civilizations.
Academic Session II
Dr. Ambuj Sharma (Head, Department of Philosophy, Post Graduate Govt. College, Sector-11, Chandigarh, chaired the second session, and Dr. Manish Sharma, Assistant Professor, Department of Philosophy, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra co-chaired the session. The following list of papers was presented during this session:
1. Manish Sharma, Assistant Professor, Department of Philosophy, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra on ‘दया कृष्ण के चिंतन में ज्ञानमिमंसा के परिप्रेक्ष्य में सामाजिक-राजनीतिक दर्शन का अन्वेषण’
2. Omisha Dwivedi, a scholar from the Centre for Philosophy, Jawaharlal Nehru University on ‘Can Daya Krishna be considered as a Process Philosopher?’
3. Poonam Khanna, Assistant Professor, Navyug Arts and Commerce College, Jabalpur (MP) on “प्रोफेसर दया कृष्ण के सामाजिक और राजनैतिक दर्शन सम्बन्धी विचार”
4. Anuj Kumar Mishra, Research Scholar, Lucknow University, Lucknow on “ दयाकृष्ण के अनुसार भारतीय परम्परा में कर्म की अवधारणा एवं नैतिक स्वतन्त्रता ”
5. Indrakashi Ranga, Research Scholar, Maharaja Ganga Singh University, Bikaner Presented A Research Paper On “Dayakrishna Conception Of Philosophy: Some Reflections”
6. Faheem Ud Din Dar, Assistant Professor, Department of Philosophy and Deputy Controller of Examinations, Rama Devi Women’s University, Bhubaneshwar on ‘Daya Krishna’s Notion of Philosophy: Some Reflections.’
7. Yamini Bhutani, Research Scholar, Department of Philosophy, Panjab University, Chandigarh on ‘Daya Krishna’s Philosophical Framework: A Foundation for Therapeutic Intervention’.
8 . Sachin Jaswal, Research Scholar, Department of Philosophy, Panjab University, Chandigarh on ‘Daya Krishna’s Concept of Knowledge.’
9. Nayeem Ahmad Mir, Research Scholar, Department of Philosophy, Panjab University, Chandigarh on ‘Rethinking Daya Krishna’s Nature of Philosophy: Some Reflections.’
10. Syed Junaid Ahmad Hamdani, Research Scholar, Department of Philosophy, Panjab University, Chandigarh on ‘Daya Krishna’s Philosophy and Cosmopolitanism: Some Reflections.’
Valedictory Session
Dr. Pankaj Srivastava, Chairperson, Department of Philosophy, Panjab University, Chandigarh delivered his Valedictory speech on the topic, “Daya Krishna’s Reflections on Indian Civilization: A Philosophical Analysis”. He spoke that Daya Krishna as one of the most noteworthy figures in modern Indian philosophy, known for his critical re-evaluation of traditional philosophical paradigms in the context of contemporary issues. Following the Indian argumentative tradition, his reflections on Indian philosophies critically revisited their assumptions, practices, and foundations to make sense of Indian civilization. He reflected on the critical approach of Daya Krishna that questioned the dogmatic adherence to tradition and sought to reformulate Indian philosophical thought, advocating for a rational, progressive, and socially relevant philosophy.
The session was chaired by Dr. Gobinda Chandra Sethi, HoD (Political Science). The result of the essay competition on “Wellbeing in Urban Living” was also declared at the end of the session.
Dr. Desh Raj Sirswal, Convener of the seminar, proposed the formal Vote of Thanks. Mrs. Anuradha Mittal (Dean), Prof. Sneh Harshinder Sharma (Vice-Principal), Ms. Jyoti, Dr. Ch. Anupama, Dr. Sumit Gill, Ms. Manisha (Mathematics Deptt.), and more than 100 faculty members, research scholars from various institutions of Chandigarh and outside participated in this online seminar.
The seminar successfully celebrated World Philosophy Day by honoring the legacy of Prof. Daya Krishna. It provided a meaningful platform for discussing how philosophy can contribute to socio-political transformation. The organizers expressed their commitment to continuing such initiatives to promote philosophical inquiry and dialogue.
Report submitted by
Dr. Desh Raj Sirswal
Assistant Professor (Philosophy),
Post Graduate Govt. College,
Sector-46, Chandigarh
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