(2010- 2011) English - Indian Council of Philosophical Research

32 Head,
Department of Philosophy
North Bengal University
Dt. Darjeeling- 734 013
20,000 The Future of Philosophy—Prof.
Nirmalya Narayan Chakraborty
(18.11.2010)
Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT, Kanpur
Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, lIT Kanpur organized the one day programme for
celebration of World Philosophy Day. The programme held on 09 November 2010 on the topic “
How and where Navya-Nyaya techniques entered Vyakarana” and speaker was Prof. Malhar Kulkarni,
Department of HSS, lIT Bombay. Prof. Malhar Kulkarni while delivering his lecture spoke upon one
of the important features of post 13th century Indian Philosophy and the influence of Navya-Nyaya
system on other schools of thought. He stated Raghunatha and Gangesa, the two Navya-Nyaya
philosophers brought about a revolution in the field of Nyaya which spread into other disciplines
such as Mimamsa, Vedanta, Alankara and Vyakarana. This talk also addressed these issues with
special focus on Vyakarana, Grammar. it also highlighted the importance of this influence from
the point of view of Computational Lingusitics. The entire academic staff of IIT Kanpur; Dept.
of philosophy, Christ College, Kanpur; Department of philosophy, DAV college, Kanpur attended
the programme. Approximately 50 scholars attended the programme.
Department of Cultural Studies, Tezpur University
The Department of Cultural Studies, Tezpur University organized a special programme as a part of
World Philosophy Day to mark the birth anniversary of Socrates, the great philosopher, on the 19 th
of November 2010. Prof. Ranjit Kumar Dev Goswami, renowned scholar, critic and formerly Head
of the Department of English, Gauhati University, delivered two lectures on the theme ‘Relevance
of the Socratic Method in Contemporary Indian Society: The Role of Teachers and Students’.
Attended by research scholars, students and faculties of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences
of Tezpur University, the meeting was chaired by Prof S.K. Dutta, Dean, School of Humanities
and Social Sciences. Welcoming the gathering Prof P.J. Mahanta, Head of the Department of
Cultural Studies, gave an outline of the programme under the joint auspices of the Indian Council
of Philosophical Research and the Department. In his lectures Professor Goswami dwelt on the
spirit of relentless questioning that was encouraged by Socrates more than two thousand years ago.
Talking about the influence of thinkers like Parmenides and Heraclitus on Socrates, Prof Goswarni
threw light on the relevance of Socrates in contemporary times, particularly the heterogeneous
conditions prevailing in the country where the need of the hour is openness to divergent views.
Citing examples from the present educational system of the country, Prof. Goswami highlighted the
continuing relevance of the Socratic ideals. The lectures were followed by an interactive session in
which the faculty and the students actively participated. Dr Parasmoni Dutta, Assistant Professor,
Department of Cultural Studies, proposed the vote of thanks.
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