National Level (one day) Seminar proposal

“ Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi: A Reinterpretation on Sesquicentennial Birth

Anniversary”
Date: 04/03/2020
Venue: P.R Thakur Govt College, Thakurnagar

Concept note

“Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi: A Reinterpretation on Sesquicentennial Birth

Anniversary”

The notion of the Indian nation until partition primarily evoked the image of “Mother”, but after
independence as the so called mother got bifurcated into two separate entities, it became the need of
the hour to rely upon the guardianship of a “Father” who could discipline the directionless,
impoverished citizen of a newly independent country. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi became
synonymous to the idea of the Indian nation, popularly referred to as the “Mahatma”, or “Bapu”.

Many world leaders enlist Gandhi as one of the most significant inspiration to them in terms of the
ideas of peace, religious tolerance, leadership, amelioration of the downtrodden. Gandhi belongs to
the rare category of philosophers who advocated his own theory by practicing, applying them on
himself.
His ideals of peace, satyagraha, primary education, experiment on celibacy, non- violence, and
wearing Khadi cloth have emerged as popular rhetoric of “Gandhigiri”. His policies like
hungerstrike, passive political resistance are still used by the modern day protagonists of the world.

In India in recent time, Indian currency notes ensure the iconography of Gandhi is kept alive.
However, gradual increase of the incidents like religious intolerance, violence against women, and
violence against communities who are recognised by the government as downtrodden provokes
worry about the future of the unity of nation and state.
Therefore, the need arises to academically examine Gandhian theory situating it in the post-
globalised India. The question here arises wheather to explain and understand the current social
pathology through Gandhian lens or is it time for an alternative epistemology beyond the ones
provided by Gandhian theory.

In this context, P.R. Thakur Govt. College invites original research papers pertinent to Gandhi. The
topics are as follows, the themes mentioned here are only guidelines, and papers may not be strictly
limited to these:

Gandhian Philosophy of Peace and Non-violence

Gandhian ‘Satyagraha’
Gandhi on Primary Education
Gandhi on Economy
Gandhi and Village Swaraj
Nationalism: Gandhi vs Tagore
Gandhi and Experiments on Celibacy
Ideas on Untouchability: Gandhi vs Ambedkar
Gandhi and Literature
Gandhi’s ideas on modernity
Gandhian Environmentalism
Gandhi and Feminist Perspective
Gandhi beyond the idea of the “Father of the Nation”

IMPORTANT DATES

Submission of abstract: 12/01/2020.

Decision on acceptance: 14/01/2020
Date of submission of full paper: 30/01/2020(selected papers (through Blind review) will be
published as an edited book with ISBN).

Registration:
Registration is compulsory for all the participants except college/ university students. Participants
can make their payment through electronic fund transfer to the following bank account. Account
no.34951652907
Account name: P.R. Thakur Govt. College
Branch: Thakurnagar
IFSC code: SBIN0010419
A copy of transfer payment report generated or the scanned copy of the payment receipt should be
sent with registration form by email to ……….. for the confirmation of registration.

Registration fee:
Academicians: Rs 500
Research Scholars: Rs 300

For more details, contact: E-mail:

Mobile: 9831937870
9432066103