Sociology National Conference: Subaltern Structures and the Power Relations in India

A very significant academic exercise which took place on our campus was the National Conference on “Subaltern Structures and the Power Relations in India” conducted in three days on 29, 30, 31, August 2016. The conference was conducted in seven academic sessions, one open session and a concluding session.

The inaugural session was conducted at 10 – 11.30 am on 29 August at the Rangasala on our Aksharam campus. Professor Joni C. Joseph, Head of the Department welcomed the gathering. Sri. K.Jayakumar IAS, the Vice-Chancellor of the Universisy chaired the session. Padmasree Professor T.K.Oomen, Emeritus Professor of the Jawaharlal Nehru University delivered the inaugural address. The learned scholar analysed the history of the subaltern structures in India and the deprivations they have been facing unabated. (The full text of the inaugural address in given in the forth coming journal of the Department “Sameeksha”). Fecitations were made by the Heads of the Department of the various disciplines and the Students Union Chairman. Kumari Ramsheena CA extended a vote of thanks.

Around 450 scholars from different Universities and Research institutions of our country participated in the conference. Around 200 were residential participants. Two panel session conducted on the inaugural day were exclusively meant for the presentations of the senior faculty members. The sessions were chaired by eminent scholars. In the open sessions conducted on the day, two woman social workers, one from Wayanad and the other from Idukki revealed their experiences with the down trodden groups of their respective neighbourhoods. The presentations were in the forms of oral history and narratives, particularly portraying the poor quality of life of woman members of dalit communities. In the evening a cultural programme was staged.

Five academic sessions spread over the second and third days discussed twenty five peer reviewed papers of young scholars. The scholars belonged to different academic disciplines. Naturally, the papers were dealing with diverse themes and following Methodologies ranging from philosophical to empirical.On the second day evening films dealing with dalit and environmental issues were screened in our theatre exclusively for the outside delegates.

The concluding session was conducted in the morning on the third day (on 31 August). Sri. K.A.Thajudeen made the welcome speech. In his presidential address on the occasion the Vice Chancellor Sri. K.Jayakumar expressed his appreciation for conducting the conference in a well organized manner. The validictory address was delivered by renowned Sociologist, Professor N. Jayaram, former Professor of TISS, Bombay. In the session Prof. Jayaram also released the report of the social survey conducted in Vettom Villag, by handing over it to Prof. N.P.Hafiz Mohammed, Head of the Department of Sociology, University of Calicut. Kumari Ramsheena, CA thanked all participants of the conference for their whole hearted co-operation.