The
Centre of Gandhian Studies organized a three day national Seminar on ‘Gandhi &
his Contemporaries’ on 18th, 19th & 20th March 2010.The Seminar was organized
in honor of Prof. Ashok Chousalkar. The Seminar was inaugurated by Hon Vice
Chancellor, Prof. N. J. Pawar. Prof K. Raghvendra Rao, former Professor,
Manglore University, delivered the key note address. Prof Ashok Chousalkar was
felicitated by Prof. Rao, & Mrs. Gauri Chousalkar was felicitated by Mrs.
Prabha Rao. Prof Chousalkar laid the foundation of the Centre of Gandhian
Studies in the year 2000 & has taken tremendous efforts towards the
development of the Centre. As a gesture of gratitude towards Dr. Chousalkar
the Centre organized the national Seminar. Dr. Chousalkar is due to retire on
31st March, 2010. In his inaugural address Prof. Pawar expressed his best
wishes to the Seminar. Prof Raghvendra Rao in his Key note address said that
the term contemporaries is a problematic term and it needs to be conceptually
clarified .We can break the term contemporaries in to three categories; first
the historical figures who shared the public place with Gandhi, the second is
the set of institutions and structures along with their ideological dynamics,
which shared the same historical space with Gandhi, the third category is the
masses who lived contemporaneously with Gandhi. ’Prof. Rao illustrated the
interrelation between Gandhi and his contemporaries such as Tagore, Ambedkar
,Nehru, the Communists ,the Socialists etc. Dr. Bharti Patil, Coordinator
,Centre of Gandhian Studies, welcomed the guests and explained the objectives
of the Seminar .Ms Madhuri Khot proposed vote of thanks.
In
the first technical session on ‘Alternative Politics’ Prof. Yashwant Sumant,
Pune University, presented his paper on Vinoba and Gandhi. Prof. Rajeshwari
Deshpande, Pune University, presented her paper on Jayprakash Narayan and
Gandhi. Prof.Raghvendra Rao chaired this session.In the second technical
session four papers were presented. Shri Kishor Bedkihal ,Dr Amita Kanegaonkar
and Vishwanath Bite presented their papers on Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru.
Ms.Chaitra Redkar presented paper titled ‘J.C.Kumarppa and Gandhi ’. Prof.
Yashwant Sumant presided over the session.
On
19th March, the first session of the Seminar began at 10.30 a.m. Mahatma
Gandhi and the Social Reform was the theme of this session. This session was
chaired by Dr.Ramdas Bhatkal .Prof. V.T.Patil and Dr. P.S.Kamble presented
their papers on Ambedkar and Gandhi. A very live discussion followed . The
next session was on Religion and Nationalism. Prof V.T.Patil chaired this
session. In this session Dr.Ramdas Bhatkal presented two papers ;Gandhi and
Savarkar and Swami Shradhananda and Gandhi. Dr. Rizwan Qaiser presented paper
on Maulana Azad and Gandhi, whereas Prof. F.H.Bennur presented paper on Barr.
Jinnah and Gandhi .Dr. Bharati Patil and Shri P.N.Chougule presented their
papers on Rabindranath Tagore and Gandhi.
On the third day, the session began at 10.30 a.m. Dr. Rizwan Qaiser Jamia
Melia Islamia chaired the session titled The Political Methods . Prof. Ashok
Chousalkar presented his paper on ‘S.A.Dange and Gandhi.’ Dr, Avnish Patil
presented his paper on ‘M.N.Roy and Gandhi.’ Prof.M.P.Patil presented paper on
‘Subhash Chandra Bose and Gandhi’. Ms. Monika Jain’s paper was on ‘Subhash and
Gandhi’. Prof. Subroto Mukherjee’s paper on ‘Revolutionaries and Gandhi’.
Prof.V. D. Malage presented his paper on Non-Brahmin Leaders and Gandhi.
In
the valedictory function Dr. Bharati Patil introduced & welcomed the guests.
Prof. Ashok Chousalkar chaired the session and Dr. Ramdas Bhatkal was the
chief guest. Few participants expressed their opinions about the seminar.Dr.
Amita Kanegaonkar proposed vote of thanks. Around 120 participants from all
over the country participated in seminar and engaged in fruitful discussion.
