‘Transcending the Obvious: Explorations of Contemporary India’-a bravura set off

The lecture series ‘Transcending the Obvious: Explorations of Contemporary India’ organized by Institute of Professional Studies, University of Allahabad was instigated on 28, March, 2011. The program started with acknowledgment vocalization by Prof. G.K Rai, Director, Institute of Professional Studies, University of Allahabad who elucidated about the lecture series. He also said that in one year at least six lectures would be kick off to link the world of knowledge with the moral of the institute. As he sought not to fabricate one dimensional professionals but who is hard skill professional having sociological familiarity. Further Prof. Rai introduced the inaugural lecturer Prof. Anand Kumar of Jawahar Lal Nehru University. He uttered that he is familiar with Prof. Kumar from more than twenty years. Additional he said that our visitor is not only understanding the society but also serving in altering the world. He is from a family who was having associations with Jai Prakash Narayan. He is backer of Samajwadi philosophy. He supported new courses and worked for advancement of education. He is the only individual who was President of Student Union of Banaras Hindu University furthermore Jawahar Lal University too. He even defeated the prominent communist leader Prakash Karat. Subsequent to this Prof Rai defunct afterward invited Prof. Anand Kumar to commence his inaugural lecture of the series on People, Power and the Paradigm Shift.

After that the plinth was taken in excess by Prof Anand Kumar to begin his lecture. He started by addressing Prof Rai as a gentleman who pioneered novel courses. He also articulated that he is happy to give lecture in a university which from the time of independence movement set the agenda for the nation. In his official lecture he started by expressing that all countries having VETO power are coming towards for collaboration on different structure with our country. By voting our nation showed the potential of our land which is too not there in our neighboring states. The relationship pattern between people and the new paradigm in India, the past two decades have been very significant from the point of view of both economic development and political change. For example Mayawati a dalit lady who has more than times became Chief Minister of the biggest state of our country.

Further in the middle part of his lecture he assumed that Market-induced global competition has been successful in creating a stable and growing economy, which has also influenced poverty reduction and increased political agency in several ways. However, success in enhancing the growth rate is set next to failure of the paradigm in terms of making a major impact on the economics. sociology, geography and politics of poverty. The dynamics of the paradigm shift have been accompanied by several deficits, mainly in relation to legitimacy, development, democracy and governance. This combination of success and failure has created a social setting for a new trajectory of politics since the 1990s, and has been at the root of several new trends in political mobilization of the poor and in policy making. Protests and activism has taken in political mobilization of the poor and in policy making. Protests and activism has taken the following forms: use of electoral power to change the political regime; party-based activism; civil society movements to resist programmes and projects seen as contrary to the interests of the poor; tribal-, class- and caste-based conflicts; and local and national resistance movements.

In the last segment of his lecture Prof. Kumar supposed that Meanwhile, in this policy sphere, this period has been marked by a shift from benign neglect to rapid enactment of a set of basic capacity building rights to check destitution and disenchantment among those seen as the losers in the economic reforms. There has been a new emphasis on policies being inclusive, through the rights-based approach of the citizenship entitlements. This means also addressing the needs of marginalized millions of women, the STs, the SCs, the most backward sections of the Hindus and Muslims and the other faith communities. Every movie cannot be a big hit like Dabangg. In spite of green revolution the 30% of our country populace are not relieved. A bihari labor outside his state is very famous because of its low demands. Social Activist like Medha Patkar does not have mass support. ‘Coalition imperatives’ in government at central and state levels are certainly a disturbingly new feature in India’s postcolonial polity. Meanwhile, the growing reach and significance of democratic protest movements and extremist extra-constitutional challenges around issues of the poor and poverty are equally critical for a country that was until very recently appreciated for its rapid advance towards relatively peaceful parliamentary democracy. He ended his lecture by thanking Prof. G.K Rai for inviting him to give an inaugural lecture of the series and asked the listeners to ask questions.

Furthermore some listeners present raised numerous questions focusing on the importance of English as a language, Democracy is feudal and its effect on economic front and role of Media. In answering the following questions pot on the front of Prof. Kumar articulated on fresh expression “Robinhood Syndrome”. All chief ministers who are advocating stopping student union are consequence of those unions only. The only former attainment is that they were student leaders. The respects for the student union and political parties have vanished. Those who are alongside reservation can glimpse the example of South Africa. He supplementary uttered that he is strictly against Tibet policy of the China. Once a Chinese ambassador visited his university the Chinese said that he like that how Indians are free to go any where he wants. Also the media of India criticize all policies of the political parties and the government which does not prevail in his country. Last but not least answering the question Prof expressed that after the expose of Radia Tapes this has proved that Media Persons who through out the day ask different question in and against the policies of the government and lobby for the port polio in the ministries. The examination under the enormous tyrant Hitlar revealed that ‘Media is business’ is proper. Ground reality of the nation would be known by a student of Allahabad University not a student of Amity University.

After this question-answer session the series moved towards its finish with the vocalization by the President of the session Prof. V.C Pande of University of Allahabad who not only praised Prof Kumar but also articulated that this is a magnificent beginning to the lecture series. And in inaugural lecture most of the prime issues were covered. The congregation ended with the ending lexis by Prof G.K Rai giving vote of thanks. Exclusive of the three Professors i.e. Prof. G.K Rai Director Institute of Professional Studies, University of Allahabad ,Prof Anand Kumar Coordinator Global Studies Programme, Jawahar Lal University and Prof. V.C Pande Professor, University of Allahabad other important listeners present includes Dr. Prashant Agrawal, Dr. Ajay Jaitley, Dhananjai Chopra, Gopal Ranjan with the entire teaching staff of Institute of Professional Studies and some selected students of Center of Media Studies  who became fraction of the illustrious lecture gathering.

Prateek Pathak

Student

B.A in Media Studies

University of Allahabad