icpr newsletter 3 (1-7) - Indian Council of Philosophical Research

ICPROctoberNewsletter2008 - March 2009Indian Council of Philosophical Research, Academic Centre, LucknowPublished by the Member-Secretary, ICPR, 36, Tughlakabad Institutional Area, Mehrauli-Badarpur Road, (Near Batra Hospital),New Delhi-62, Tel : 29964753, 29964754 Fax: 29964750. E-mail : icpr@del2.vsnl.net.in Website: www.icpr.inLayout, Design and Printing by Datagraph Creations Pvt. Ltd., Tel : 27221409, 47019171 Fax : 47091473Indian Council of Philosophical ResearchDarshan Bhawan36 Tughlakabad Institutional AreaNew Delhi - 110062

From Member-Secretary's Deskam indeed pleased to present the current issue ofthe ICPR Newsletter which marks the return ofIseveral of ICPR projects and programmes withincreased zeal and vigour. The present ICPR administrationhas brought about significant changes in certainprogrammes like the International Philosophy Day andmaking the periodical lectures reach out to a largenumber of colleges in the country where philosophy istaught. On seminar front, we are taking enough care tohave better quality control in the papers presented anddeliberations conducted.Another area which needs significant quality control isthe Publication wing and the publication of scholarlyarticles in JICPR. Even though on the JICPR front, wehave achieved some sort of success in bringing out allthe pending volumes, in the publication of books, wehave a long way to go. We are not getting adequatenumber of scholarly books for publication and throughthis Newsletter, I request the philosophical fraternity tosend us their scholarly manuscripts for considerationfor publication.During this period of report, Professor J.N. Mohanty,the well known philosopher was nominated for the LifeTime Achievement Award for the year 2008-2009. Incollaboration with the Centre for Advanced Researchin Phenomenology, USA, we organized an InternationalConference on Phenomenology, Globalizationand Indian Philosophy during January 5-8, 2009. Theseminar was organized with well known participantsfrom India and abroad who have contributed mainly tothe field of phenomenology.Another IIAS-ICPR collaborative National Workshopon “National Integration and Identity–Violence” washeld at North Eastern Hill University, Shillong duringMarch 20-23, 2009 under the Directorship of ProfessorMrinal Miri to especially highlight the problemsencountered in North Eastern States. The Workshopwas a sequel to the one we organised at IIAS, Shimlawhere the features had been put across and discussedthreadbare. It is proposed to take this as a NationalProject and work out the problems and prospects ofIntegration and Violence largely encountered in thecountry.It gives me special pleasure to announce that cataloguingof the library collection at the Academic Centre,Lucknow is complete and soon the library books can besearched through the website. The online database andthe information it contains would be available to allwho are interested in looking into our library accumulation.I am confident that this step will make itsignificantly easier for the scholars to locate materialrelevant to their work and will facilitate interaction withscholars world-wide.One more important announcement: the U.P. Governmenthas already allotted a building for the AcademicCentre and its library and efforts are on to get a piece ofland to build the Academic Centre to make it fullyfunctional as it was at the Butler Palace. I would likehere to offer my thanks to the Government of UttarPradesh and especially to Shri Mukesh K. Meshram andShri M.P. Mishra, the Vice-Chairman and Secretary,Lucknow Development Authority, respectively forconsidering our requirement and alloting a piece ofland for the Academic Centre. It is quite an encouragingprospect that very soon we will have a place for theAcademic Centre.Finally, the three year term of the present Council iscoming to an end by the end of March. I have nowords to thank all the Members of the Council,Governing Body and Research Project Committee whohave provided us enthusiastic support to make ICPRmore active, meaningful, purposive and futuristic.G. MishraMember Secretary

Chairman's AddressViolence: A Philosophical Rendezvous(Extracts from the Keynote address given at the National Workshop on Identity-violence heldduring 20-23 March 2009 at North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong)Professor K. Ramakrishna Rao, Chairman, ICPR deliveringthe Keynote AddressPhilosophy in the classical Indian tradition is more thantheory and speculation about who we are and our placeand destiny in the universe. It is no less concerned withapplying knowledge to enhance human potential andimprove human condition. In order to do this it hasbecome necessarily holistic appropriately drawingfrom all relevant disciplines. While other subject areaslike physics and paleontology divided knowledge intoseparate segments, philosophy took a syntheticapproach to combine facts from different segments togenerate wisdom aimed at transforming the person andthe society. Philosophy in India is never removed fromlife; rather it is intimately involved with it, whether itpreached renunciation or participation in the socialprocess.Regrettably, it is the Western conception of philosophywith which we have become familiar during the colonialperiod that tended to make philosophy as taught in ouruniversities and colleges just theory bereft of applicationand social relevance. Perhaps this is the reason whyif there is any original philosophy in India during thisperiod it originated outside the academia in the thoughtand actions of people like Sri Aurobindo and MahatmaGandhi. Therefore, it seems to me that we give a newlook to Indian philosophy in order to understand andappreciate its relevance to life and living in the presentcontext and in the process make creative contributionstowards meeting the intellectual challenges of thenation.With this in mind, the ICPR prepared a series ofresearch projects for funding on a large scale. A blueprintfor this was unveiled at the workshops we heldfirst at ICPR, Delhi and later at IIAS, Shimla where wediscussed issues relating to national identity. Thisexercise is now followed up by more detailed discussionof some of the issues that came up at the workshopin Shimla. The present national seminar onidentity-violence is one of them. It is being appropriatelyheld in Shillong. Northeast India has been a majortheatre playing identity-violence. Identity violence hasbeen a thorn in the flesh of Indian polity, which thephilosophical community can hardly overlook. Thepressing problem of violence is as much intellectuallychallenging as it is politically demanding. The problemgoes beyond the borders of the country and is now apanhuman problem.India is the land of ahimsa. In twentieth century, thepolitical leadership of the country gave the world apotent instrument of nonviolence for social action,1

while we philosophers remained silent spectators. Thetime is ripe for us now to play our role and address theissues of violence. The first step involves understandingviolence from a multidisciplinary perspective todevelop a unified theory that would have social relevanceand policy implications to contain it.Whether or not we acknowledge it, violence is aubiquitous and pervasive phenomenon that profoundlyaffects our lives in different contexts and indifferent ways. Violence is a complex concept. It ismultidimensional stretching itself into a variety ofdisciplines. It may have its roots in evolution; but it isthe socio-cultural factors that nourish or contain it.Violence is behavior with biological, psychological andecological underpinnings. It manifests in thoughts,words and deeds. The victims of violence may be self,family or others that include humans, animals or nature.It can be instigated by an individual or a group. Tocomplicate further, violence may be seen as legal andsanctioned or condemned as criminal. Thus one isconfronted at once with numerous questions. With thevarieties of forms it takes, having different sources andcauses, different categories of agents and victims andperforming different functions, violence is so complexand complicated an area to navigate by specialistdisciplines. The complexity and multidimensionality ofviolence make it particularly suitable for a syntheticphilosophical study. Philosophers could weave theoriesfrom the facts collected by other disciplines, whichotherwise remain fragment and piecemeal, and presentthem as part of a policy outfit. This would indeed be anambitious undertaking; and philosophers are notknown to be timid to face issues of such fundamentalimportance.Violence has been around humankind for as long as wecan remember; but the forms of violence, causes forviolence and functions of violence varied over time. Wehave come to understand and to a degree live withcriminal violence as in rape and murder, politicalviolence as in war and social unrest, and economic andsocial violence as seen in exploitation and exclusion ofcertain segments of society. However, such acts ofviolence as in suicide bombing that inflict horror andstrife on unsuspecting innocent people and involvemurder and massacre of fellow citizens as well as selfkillingare more difficult to comprehend and makesense of. Therefore, old paradigms and theories are nolonger appear adequate to explain current acts ofviolence. Indeed the very concept of violence has cometo be extra-ordinarily ambiguous with different meaningsread into it and varying definitions proposed.Therefore, some conceptual clarity is called for in orderthat we may have meaningful discussion of violence;and this is a task tailor made for philosophers to tackle.Varieties of ViolenceWhat is violence? Websters English Dictionary on my deskhas seven distinct meanings of violence. Basically, itrefers to “roughness in action”, a “physical force usedso as to injure or damage.” Another meaning is “unjustuse of force or power.” Yet, in another sense violencerefers to “distortion of meaning.” Oxford EnglishDictionary offers a more restrictive definition that it isthe “exercise of physical force so as to inflict injury onor damage to persons or property.” It is clear that thereare several variables, some explicit and others not soexplicit, that govern violence and consequently whatconstitutes violence becomes a matter of considerabledebate and a consensual definition more difficult toarrive at. If violence, as we find in another edition ofOxford English Dictionary, is “behaviour involvingphysical force intended to hurt, damage, or kill,” then,how about psychological violence such as verbal assaultor “tongue-lashing” that has unmistakable effects onthe victims.Again, does social injustice constitute a form ofviolence? Structural violence as distinguished frombehavioral violence is an important category that hasreceived increasing attention in recent years. Genderdiscrimination and the atrocities against the dalits andweaker sections of our society are examples of structuralviolence. Tim Jacoby stresses not only the key roleof structured violence, but he also calls attention tosome other nuances of violence. He writes: “Violencemay thus be psychological as well as physical, it may becontained within rewards and not simply punishments,and it may be present even though someone is not hurtand there is no subject-to-object relationship. It mayalso emerge from non-violent intentions, be latent aswell as manifest and include many of the results of theinternational system's normal operation. Exerted at thelevel of the structure and not simply the individualbehaviour of aggression and warfare, violence may beregarded as present whenever damage is done to aperson's potential” (Jacoby, 2008, p.49). Gandhiji alsotakes violence in a more inclusive sense. The very firsttime “violence” occurs in his collected works, it is“violence of conscience” (vol.8, p.46).Is violence always other-directed? If so, how about selfinflictedharm as in suicide? Violence is said to refer toperson or her property. Apparently, the victim ofviolence is thus the person, who is the center and the2

focus. Then, what do we make of harm done to otherspecies of life and the destruction of nature. Do thoseacts constitute violence?No less important is the question whether violence isinnate in human nature or whether it is a learned formof behavior. Is violence an inescapable part of humaninteraction? Alternatively, is violence a selectiveresponse acquired by individuals during the process ofsocialization?There are further twists and complications to thediscussion. Violence may be personal or collective, as itmay be carried out by individuals, groups or states.Again the victims of violence can be individual persons,social groups or nations at war. Violence may beattributed directly to an act such as physically assaultingsome one or it may be seen as an effect attributedindirectly to an act by an individual or an institution, forexample, contributing to pollution causing harm andinjury to community. Thus violence may be physical orpsychological, overt or covert, direct or indirect,collective or the individual-enacted, intentionallyinflicted or caused by negligence.Further, some forms of violence are socially or legallysanctioned as in the case of war and social uprising,whereas others are abhorred as evil and condemned asimmoral. The question arises whether violence isinherently an act of evil and its avoidance a moralimperative. If so, there is then the ethical conundrum,which is implied in the paradox of punishment thatinvolves violence as retribution to violence. As SydneyHook (2006) puts it: “If violent action against man iswrong, is it any less wrong to use violent action againstthe men who practise it? (p.265).If, however, violence is legitimate under certain conditions,is it the case that violence, like force, is valueneutraland that whether violence is good or evil is afunction of the use to which it is put? Similar questionsarise when we consider lawfulness and legal legitimacyof violence. Can we define violence strictly in terms ofunlawful actions? Or can one offer a definition entirelyin behavioral terms without recourse to law, morality orpolitical legitimacy. Also, because of the vast territoryand the various connotations the concept “violence”covers, should we use it in a well-defined restrictedsense or would it be more fruitful to have a moreinclusive connotation of violence?Identity-ViolenceWe restrict ourselves at this seminar with identityviolence. Identity violence is a special kind of groupviolence. It is perpetuated by one group againstanother. The victim as well as the victimizing person isa surrogate of the group and he has no identity of hisown except that of the group. In other words, theindividual becomes amorphous and lost in the group.The fostered group identity is not merely descriptivebut also prescriptive as well. Inasmuch as the individualis lost in the collectivity of the group her other identitiesevaporate and the group identity becomes notmerely salient and fundamental but solidifies itself andgets frozen into a “uniquely hardened category”, to usethe expression of Amartya Sen (2006). Losing the coreself with its multiple and many facet natural identities,the person becomes possessed as it were and actshysterically. This appears to be the single most significantsyndrome that characterizes identity-violence ofdestructive kind, a growing menace to the civil society.Thus, the dynamics of identity-violence appear to besomewhat different from other kinds of violence.Group identities grow themselves binding memberswithin the group and at the same time setting othersapart as outgroup/s. There is nothing wrong orpathological about it. It is ubiquitous ever since humansjoined in cooperative endeavors to promote commongood. However, feeding on in-group and out-grouppolarizations, identities have the potential for conflict.In fact, they are conflict-prone in all competitivesocieties. Identity conflicts like other conflicts need tobe resolved. In group conflicts, violence is an optionfor such a resolution. Thus identity-violence is theproduct of a process that includes identity formationleading to identity conflict and resulting in identityviolence. Recognizing the fact that identities need notlead to conflicts and conflicts do not necessarilyinvolve violence let us try to understand the threecrucial concepts (i) identity, (ii) conflict, and (iii)violence. Such an understanding may help to focus on(a) the sources of identity conflict and the circumstancesleading to violence and (b) the possible meansof preventing and controlling such violence.Group IdentityWe have discussed at some length in our workshop inShimla last year the concept “identity” in its varioususages (Rao, 2007). Identity is basically of two kindspersonal and social/group. The person constantlynavigates through this bidimensional matrix. At apersonal psychological level, as we noted, identityconsists in one's self-image; it is the sense of selfsamenessthat gives unity and continuity to the personsituated in ever changing contexts, experiencing an3

unending continuum of multiple changes in her being.It is because of the continuing change that characterizesthe living person, the notion of identity becomessalient and relevant to human condition. It makes ahuman being a unique person in the midst of the everchanging and evanescent episodes of existence. Groupidentity consists in the categorization of people asbelonging to particular groups based on such factors ascaste and gender, religion and region. These factors areinvolved in the process of socialization which help toenhance one's self-image beyond herself. Often groupidentities serve as motivating factors that bind peopleto further their cause. Personal identity may be uniquein some sense, according to some theorists; but accordingto yet others it is also subject to change. However, itis a truism that a person experiences multiple identitiesin various roles she plays and the different masks sheputs on in her interaction with others. Identity is notalways given. We often search for identity and find it toenhance our self-image and power.Each person is a mosaic of multiple identities. Theynormally blend harmoniously leaving no trace ofconflict. Occasionally there may arise identity conflicts,which unless quickly resolved may render the person/groupdysfunctional. Inasmuch as a person playsmultiple roles and is situated in varying contexts, shenot merely enjoys multiple identities, but they become apart of her self. However, at a given time a particularidentity may become salient. It does not follow thatthere is just one single stable and all encompassingidentity at a given time. It is neither practical nor evendesirable. When one considers group identity, it isobvious that identity is not a fixed and immutablecharacteristic. Rather it is socially situated and contextdriven. Social identities are double-edged. Whilefacilitating group formations and adding to intragroupcoherence on the one hand, they also precipitate on theother hand intergroup dissensions and tensions, fosternegative stereotyping of outgroups and promoteprejudice against them. Thus they unite people as wellas separate them; and conflict and cooperation coexisthere. Cooperation is practiced within the group; andcompetition and conflict are directed at the out-group.The dynamics of group identities are different fromthose of personal identity. In the following we primarilydeal with group identities without minimizing the factthat in the final analysis it is the individual who isinvolved. Polarization is an important ingredient inidentity formation. The “we” and “they” divide isintrinsically prone to conflict. Identity conflicts areusually confined to a single state. However, as is thecase with Mumbai massacres, they also cross nationalboundaries. This is seen to occur more frequently withthe advent of globalization. Identity conflicts do notalways lead to violence and social upheaval. They couldbe effectively contained by and channeled throughinstitutional mechanisms. Again, identity conflicts arenot necessarily evil. They could trigger positive actionfor a more just, inclusive, and equitable society. However,with violence, identity conflicts could prove to bedestructive. Identity-violence tends to lead to greaterinter-group conflict and retributive violence. It is notmerely economically detrimental, but has great socialcosts.In pluralistic societies like ours, where people bindthemselves in various groups based on a variety ofcategories such as religion, region, language, caste andclass there are always opportunities for fomentingpolarization of groups and precipitating conflictsamong them. Such conflicts, as Lewis Coser (1956)pointed out many years ago can be socially beneficial ordestructive. He calls the former the “realistic conflicts”distinguished from “non-realistic conflicts.” The latterare those that involve non-realizable contentions thatare of fundamental nature such as values consideredsacred. Whereas realistic conflicts relate to negotiabledifference where compromise is possible. Cosersuggests that non-realistic conflicts are likely to lead toviolence.The progression of identity formation into identityviolence may be depicted in the following way.Identity Identity Movement IdentityPolitics Identity-Violence.Following Neil Smelser (2007), we may draw a generalizedframework for understanding how group identitiescould grow into conflict and lead to violence. Therecan be no identity-violence without the formation ofidentities. As identities become salient they gainmomentum and are transformed into identity movements.Identity movements are often treated in moralistterms to refer to those by the oppressed, downtroddenand victimized groups. However, identity movementsby the victimizing groups are not unknown andnonexistent. The following factors are known to fuelidentity movements: (1) the salience of identity in theminds of the group members, the extent to which theirlives are tied to the in-group identity; (2) the perceptionthat invoking the identity is beneficial and of advantage;(3) manifest conflict with the out-group; (4)4

opportunity factors that help gain momentum and (5)the perceived capacity of the group vis-à-vis the others(Smelser, 2007).Many of our identities remain dormant. We are bynature individualistic and tend to act alone. Groupidentities need to be mobilized to become salient. Theeffort at mobilization is enhanced by identity politics.Identity politics go beyond self-identification. Theyinvolve concerted political effort to push the identityforward, often providing a body of thought whichforms the base for political action. Identity politicstakes advantage of the occurrence of significant eventssuch as a major victimization of the group or precipitateopportunities that give hope of success. It is helpedby the emergence of leaders who are able to collectivelymobilize the group for action. Also, the response of theauthorities has significant effect on identity politics.The most important and less understood is the transitionof identity movement into identity-violence.According to Tilly (2001) there are three competingapproaches to understand this. First approach focuseson understanding the factors within individuals/groupsprone to violence. The second approachexplores the instrumentality of violence to achieve thedesired goal. The third approach relates to the culturalaspects that promote violent action.Identity and ConflictLike identity, conflict may be personal (within theindividual) or between individuals or between groups.Individuals experience identity conflicts because ofintrapersonal psychic incompatibilities. When incompatiblegoals, motivations and habits manifest thenthere arises personal identity conflict within. Interpersonalincompatibility of goals leads to interpersonalconflicts and intergroup rivalries. Group incompatibilitiesprecipitate group conflicts that may result in socialupheavals, civil unrest and even wars. Our concern hereis with interpersonal and intergroup conflicts, which wemay not distinguish at this time, without ignoring thefact the dynamics involved may in some cases different.Interpersonal conflicts do not arise in isolation or whenindividuals cooperate with each other. They arise when(a) they are in competition with each other and (b) thereis incompatibility of goals sought. Again, these dependon the perception of the incompatibility on the part ofthe actors. When the individual/group attempts toachieve the goals, then the conflict becomes manifest.Thus following Mitchell (1981) we may trace theprogress of incompatibility of goals between twogroups into manifest conflict between them in thefollowing way.Incompatible Goals Perception of GoalIncompatibility Action to Reach the ConflictingGoals Conflict (Expressed / Suppressed)Existence of incompatible goals between individualsand or groups is the necessary pre-condition ofconflicts. It characterizes a nascent conflict situation.When there is actual perception of the incompatibilityby the relevant person/group, there is latent conflictwhich becomes manifest when the individual/groupengages in behavior to achieve conflicting goals.Manifest conflict may be expressed or suppressed.Now, as mentioned, conflict is not necessarily a badthing. Even group conflicts are not evil. Conflictscould lead to bonding and greater cohesion not onlyamong the members of the group but also betweengroups. This happens if the conflicting groups couldagree on an overall framework in which the apparentincompatibility is resolved. In fact progress in humanhistory may be seen as a continuous saga of conflictsand their resolution. This appears to be the case fromthe days of spears and arrows to current show ofintercontinental ballistic missiles.Some Questions to Be AddressedIn the world of ubiquitous inequalities, conflicts arenatural and unavoidable. They are labeled differentlybecause their origins are different and the consequencesare not uniform. The intensities of conflictsvary enormously; and the levels of manifestations arewidely divergent. All this makes it difficult to preciselydefine conflict and analyze it in terms of sustainablecategories for discussion. However, it would be helpfulto make a fundamental distinction between conflictsthat would have potentially beneficial outcomes andthose that are likely to have disastrous consequences. Isit possible to describe their characteristics so that stepsmay be taken to identify them at an early stage?Our present focus is on the destructive kind. Conflictsthat lead to collective violence are the ones that arepotentially dangerous. How does collective violencecome about? Is it something attributable to local actorswho suffer from “narcissism of violence”, organizedby “avaricious conflict entrepreneurs” (Collier et al.,2003)? Is violence native to some, for whom “torture isexciting, raping is fun, and looting is profitable”(Jacoby, 2008)? On the other hand, is violence a learnt5

ehavior that is prompted by structural factors ratherthan innate in human condition?Is violence any more than aggression? How we maymeasure violence and its destructive potential? What isthe evolutionary role of violence? What light doesevolutionary psychology throw on violence and how itmay be controlled and contained? There is someevidence linking neurotoxins with violence. Ban onleaded gasoline, for example, seems to have lowered therate of violent crime in the US since 1991. Is there anybiological basis of violent behavior?There are some societies that suffer no violence. Whatcan we learn from them? The so called nonviolentsocieties are subject of research by psychologists,anthropologists and other social scientists (Fromm,1973; Briggs, 1970; Montagu, 1978). Some of thesenonviolent societies studied include the Semai Senoi ofMalaysia (Fry, 1992) the Eskimos of Canada (Briggs,1970) and Buddhists of Ladakh (Gielen and Chirico-Rosenberg, 1993). May we conclude from these that thesocietal ethos is a dominant contributor for the prevalenceor lack of violence?Are violence and nonviolence mutually exclusive? Or isthere any overlap between the two?Social identity theorists tell us that group identityformation promotes in-group binding and cohesionand at the same time it precipitates out-group antagonism.Are there ways that enhance in-group bindingsans out-group antagonism?In the light of the above analysis of violence in general,we may raise the following specific questions in thecontext of identity-violence (I-V). Is I-V primarilypsychological or structural? If both, what are theirrelative roles? What are the basic forms of I-V? Whatare the basic sources and who are the primary agents ofI-V? What functions does I-V serve? Are there anyother viable alternatives to resolve identity conflicts?How can we prevent I-V?Indian philosophers as the inheritors of Gandhiji'slegacy of nonviolent social action have a specialresponsibility to examine the legitimacy and efficacy ofthe practice of nonviolence to contain violence. Whatis the Gandhian perspective of identity-violence? Whatare the possible Gandhian strategies of social actionthat could conceivably contain and limit identityviolence?It is my hope that this seminar on identity-violence inShillong will shed significant light on these issues andstimulate further research.ReferencesBriggs, J.L. (1970). Never in anger: Portrait of an Eskimofamily. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.Collier, P., V.L. Elliot, H. Hegre, A. Hoeffler, M.Reynal-Querol, & N. Sambanis (2003). Breaking theconflict trap: Civil war and development policy (Washington,DC: World Bank and Oxford University Press).Coser, L. (1956). The Functions of social conflict. NewYork: Free Press.Fromm, E. (1973). The anatomy of human destructiveness.Greenwich, CT: Fawcett.Fry, D.P. (1992). “Respect for the rights of others ispeace”: Learning aggression versus non-aggressionamong the Zapotec. American Anthropologist, 94 (3), 621-639.Gandhi, M.K. (2001). The collected works of MahatmaGandhi. Second revised edition. New Delhi: PublicationsDivision, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting,Government of India. 100 volumes.Gielen, U.P., and Chirico-Rosenberg, D. (1993).Traditional Buddhist Ladakh and the ethos of peace.International Journal of Group Tensions, 23 (1), 5-23.Hook, S. (2006). Encyclopaedia of the Social Sciences (Ed.Edwin R.A. Seligman). New Delhi: Cosmo Publications.Jacoby, T. (2008). Understanding conflict and violence:Theoretical and interdisciplinary approaches. London:Routledge.Mitchell, C. R. (1981). The structure of international conflict.Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire, and London:The Macmillan Press Ltd.Montagu, A. (Ed.). (1978). Learning non-aggression. Theexperience of non-literate societies. New York: OxfordUniversity Press.Rao, K.R. (2007). Magical synthesis: Meditating on themandala of Indian identity, National Workshop onNational Integration and Multiple Identities, IndianInstitute of Advanced Studies, Shimla, 15 September2007.Sen, A. (2006), Identity and violence: The Illusion of destiny.Allen Lane (Penguin Books) New Delhi.Smelser, N. J. (2007). The faces of terrorism : social andpsychological dimensions. Princeton, N.J. : PrincetonUniversity Press.Tilly, C. (2001): “Public violence,” International Encyclopediaof the Behavioral and Social Sciences (Amsterdam:Elsevier) Vol. 24, 16206-16211.6

am delighted to announce the nomination of thenew Editor of JICPR, Professor Mrinal Miri, whoIhas taken over as the Editor from January 2009 fora term of three years. It would be nothing but statingthe obvious to point out that Professor Miri is arenowned academic who has had a brilliant academiccareer and who has also made very significant contributionsto the field of analytic philosophy, particularly inthe areas of philosophy of mind and moral philosophy.His interests include philosophy of culture, the arts,education and the foundations of the social sciences.He was born in Shillong on August 1, 1940. His father,Mr. Mohi Chandra Miri was an officer in the forestservice and is well known as the person who put thenow famous Kaziranga National Park on the map ofthe world. His mother, Mrs. Indira Miri was a distinguishedEducationist and did pioneering work in theProfessor Mrinal Mirithen NEFA and the present Arunachal Pradesh and forher pioneering contribution to Education, she wasawarded the National Honour of Padmashree. Havinggone to various small town schools in Assam and otherplaces in North-East India to complete his primary andsecondary education, Miri went on to PresidencyCollege in Calcutta to pursue his B.A. (Hons.) degree inphilosophy and subsequently took his M.A. degree inphilosophy from the very prestigious St. Stephen'sCollege in Delhi. In 1964, Miri went to Cambridgewhere he took his Tripos (in philosophy) and then alsohis Ph.D. degree for his thesis, Personal Identity. Afterreturning to India, he taught at St. Stephen's Collegefrom 1970 to 1974. In 1974, he moved to Shillong toset up the department of philosophy in the newlyestablished central university (North Eastern HillOver to Professor Miri:The New Editor of JICPR7University). From 1993 to 1999, Miri served as theDirector of the Indian Institute of Advance Study,Shimla when he was also appointed Chairman of theIndian Council of Philosophical Research, Delhi for aterm of three years from 1994 to1997. He retired as theVice- Chancellor of NEHU in 2005. As a very welldeserved recognition of his valuable contributions tophilosophy, he was unanimously nominated as theNational Fellow of the Indian Council of PhilosophicalResearch for the years 2008-2009.Professor Miri has also made very significant contributionto our understanding of issues relating to tribalcultures. He is the author of several books and numerouspapers in professional journals in philosophy. Hehas also published widely in professional multidisciplinaryjournals. He has published several booksof which the latest is Identity and the Moral Life (OUP,2003). The list of books authored by Professor Miriinclude: Philosophy of Psychoanalysis, Indian Institute ofAdvanced Study, Shimla, 1997; Tribal India: Continuityand Change (Ed), Indian Institute of Advanced Study,Shimla, 1993; Five Essays on Kant (Ed), North EasternHill University, 1987. He is currently engaged in writinga book on Education and the Arts.Among his Research Articles on Philosophy we maymention here: "On Knowing Another Person", Journalof Value Inquiry 18 (1), (1984); "Self-Deception",Philosophy and Phenomenological Research 34 (4):576-585;(1974); "Memory and Personal Identity" Mind 82(January):1-21, (1973); "Persons and Their Bodies"Philosophical Studies 24 (6), (1973).Professor Miri has been a member of bodies like theUGC and ICSSR. Currently, he is a member of theCABE and CABC. He is also the recipient of severalawards including the Padma Bhushan for his contributionin the field of education and literature.Married to Sujata, a fellow philosopher and classmateduring their M.A. days in Delhi University, ProfessorMiri resides at Delhi and is occupied in many academicprojects on Philosophy and Education. With hisbecoming the Editor, we are absolutely certain that inhis expert hands the JICPR will bloom, become morevibrant and will continue to serve the Philosophicalcommunity in more meaningful ways than ever before.Godabarisha Mishra

The activities of the Council during this period witheffect from October 2008 to March 2009 were in fullswing. The details under different schemes of theCouncil are given below.This year i.e. 2008-09, the Life Time AchievementAward in Philosophy has been conferred on ProfessorJ.N. Mohanty. The award was instituted by the Counciltwo years back as the Research Project Committee ofthe Council voiced the need for such an award for awell-known philosopher for his distinguished work inAwardICPR Life Time Achievement Award in Philosophy:Main EventsPhilosophy in India. The first award was conferred onProfessor K. Satchidananda Murty. The second awardwas given to late Professor Daya Krishna. This is thethird year and Professor J.N. Mohanty was selected by acommittee for his distinguished achievements inphilosophy. A Book Release function was organized by theCouncil on 12th November 2008. Hon'ble Ministerfor State, MHRD, Smt. D. Purandareshwari visitedthe Council's office and blessed the occasion withher gracious presence. The book, Hand Book ofIndian Psychology edited by Professor K.Ramakrishna Rao et al, was released. The publisherof the book, Ms. Annie Hazarika gave her views onthe production of the book on this occasion.Professor Rao talked about the contents of theProf. G. Mishra, Member Secretary, welcoming theHon'ble Minister of State (HRD), Smt. PurandeshwariHon'ble Minister releasing the book “Handbookof Indian Psychology” by K.R. Rao et al.Professor K. R. Rao, Chairman, ICPR felicitatingthe Hon'ble Minister with a shawl.Hon'ble Minister delivering the speech.8

Hon'ble Minister releasing the Profile ofthe Council.book. The function was presided over by ProfessorK. Ramakrishna Rao. The ICPR Profile for theyear 2008 was also released on this occasion. The Council had organized an InternationalConference on Phenomenology, Globalization andIndian Philosophy in collaboration with the Centrefor Advanced Research in Phenomenology, USAWelcome by Professor G. MishraProf. Srinivasa Rao speaking. Prof. J.N. Mohantyand Prof. Bina Gupta on the Dais.Professor J.N. Mohanty delivering theKeynote Addressduring January 5-8, 2009 at India InternationalCentre, New Delhi. The inaugural session waschaired by Professor K. Ramakrishna Rao, Chairman,ICPR. Professor G. Mishra, Member Secretary,ICPR welcomed the delegates to the Conference.The Keynote address was given by ProfessorJ.N. Mohanty, Professor of Philosophy, TempleUniversity, USA. Professor Bina Gupta proposedthe Vote of Thanks. There were 6 AcademicSessions; each session had two presentations withrespondents giving their comments on the papers.There were around 25 participants including fromabroad who shared their views on aspects of thetheme of the Conference. The National Workshop on “National Integrationand Identity-Violence” was organized by the IndianInstitute of Advanced Study, Shimla and the IndianCouncil of Philosophical Research, New Delhi atthe North Eastern Regional Centre of IndianCouncil of Social Science Research, NEHUCampus, Shillong during March 20-23, 2009. TheInaugural Function of the Workshop was held atthe old guest house auditorium and was chaired byProfessor Pramod Tandon, Vice-Chancellor,NEHU, Shillong. Professor Mrinal Miri, Directorof the Workshop welcomed the gathering and gavea thematic introduction of the Workshop. In hisintroduction, Professor Miri dealt with the conceptof violence and how identity-violence has recentlycreated problems in many parts of the world,especially in India.Professor K. Ramakrishna Rao delivered the KeyNote Address and spoke on “Identity ViolencePerspectives.” Professor Rao explained the conceptof violence by citing a number of cases of9

Professor K.R. Rao making his presentation.recent violent incidents in India with specialreference to identity politics. He spoke of groupidentity and how identity movement leads toidentity violence. He also discussed the implicationsand ramifications of such violence and theirdifferent causes besides dealing with the psychologicalstructure of violence as well as theGandhian ways of arresting violence. He concludedhis speech by pointing out how individualvalue is efficacious in containing violence at thelevels of the individual, group and society.Professor Pramod Tandon in his PresidentialAddress gave an exposition of the concept ofviolence and of the different ways in which we canaddress this problem. The Chief Guest of thefunction was Shri Ranjit Shekhar Mooshahary, HisExcellency the Governor of Meghalaya, who in hisbrilliant exposition gave the causes of identityviolence in a pluralistic set up like the one we havein this country. He pointed out the problems at agross-root level and referred to the fact that unlessthe economic needs of the people are taken care ofand equality is inculcated in the people's minds,violence cannot be meaningfully arrested. Quotingfrom a large number of contemporary authorities,His Excellency pointed out that there is an urgentneed to discuss this problem so that we may be ableto address the issues in the different regions of thiscountry ridden with identity violence. The InauguralFunction came to an end with a Vote of Thanksproposed by Professor G. Mishra, Member-Secretary, ICPR.The Workshop was topically divided into fivesessions. The First Session, held on March 21,2009, was on “Plurality Linguistic, Cultural andReligious and National Identity.” ProfessorMrinal Miri chaired this session during which fourProfessor Mrinal Miri, Director of the Seminar withDr. Azghar Ali Engineerpapers were presented. In this session, the highlightswere on pluralism and its effect on identitypolitics. Professor Gautam Biswas, Professor S.S.Rama Rao Pappu, Professor Rajesh Dev andProfessor Asghar Ali Engineer presented theirpapers and they evoked a good lot of discussionamong the participants.The broad topic of the Second Session was “Violence,Terrorism and Threat to National Life.”Professor G. Mishra chaired this session. Dealingwith various aspects of the theme of the session,Professor Madhuri Sondhi, Shri J.K. Tripathi andProfessor C.V. Raghavulu spoke on differentaspects of the topics evoking good participation.The Third Session of the Workshop held on 22ndMarch, 2009 was devoted to “Tribal India” and waschaired by Professor A.C. Bhagbati. ProfessorSujata Miri, Professor Ranju Dhamala, ProfessorPrasenjit Biswas, Professor T. Subba and ProfessorUdayan Mishra presented their papers discussingvarious aspects of Tribal India and Identity Politicswith special reference to North-Eastern states.The Fourth Session of the Workshop was devotedfor discussing “Tagore, Gandhi, Nehru andAmbedkar” and their contribution to the efforts ofachieving National Integration. The session waschaired by Professor S.S. Rama Rao Pappu. Therewere three papers presented by Professor MakrandParanjape, Professor Bindu Puri and Shri B.Venketeswara Rao. The well-known participants inthis session shed light on different aspects of thecontemporary thinking concerning NationalIntegration.The Fifth Session of the Workshop held on March23, 2009 was devoted to “Global Economic Unityand Cultural Autonomy; and Democracy, Individ-10

ual Freedom and Community Allegiances.” Thesession was chaired by Dr. B.B. Datta. There werefive papers presented by Dr. Sanjeeb Kakoti, Dr.Mangi Singh, Dr. Kympham Singh Nongkynreihand Dr. Balakrishnan.On the afternoon of March 23, 2009, the ValedictoryFunction was held under the Chairmanship ofProfessor K. Ramakrishna Rao, Chairman, ICPR.Professor Mrinal Miri made a brief summing up ofthe whole seminar proceedings. It was followed bya Valedictory Address by Sri B.N. Yugandhar,Member, Planning Commission, Government ofIndia. Professor Yugandhar in his speech spokeabout the relevance of this Workshop and appreciatedthe organizers for holding such deliberationswhich addressed the current problems of thecountry. Professor K. Ramakrishna Rao deliveredthe Presidential Address wherein he spelt out thedifferent projects and programmes of ICPR forpromoting philosophy, especially Applied Philosophy.The Workshop came to a successful conclusionwith a Vote of Thanks by Professor G. Mishra,Member-Secretary, ICPR.On the whole, the seminar was successful inaddressing many issues which had arisen out of theearlier Workshop at IIAS, Shimla with its focus onthe problems of North-Eastern States of thecountry. Professor G. Mishra expressed the hopethat this would be a continuing programme of theICPR and he further hoped that along with IIASthe next Workshop would be organized again insome place in the North East to continue with thein depth deliberations on National Integration andViolence related issues. A National Seminar on Transforming GenderRelations: Redefining Masculinity, Education andAgricultural Interventions was organized by ProfessorR. R. Verma during February 10-12, 2009 atLucknow. The Seminar was sponsored by ICPR.Oxfam, India collaborated and Saajhi Duniyaorganized the Conference.The inaugural function was chaired by Professor K.Ramakrishna Rao. In his presidential address heelaborated on the distinction between the biologicaldifference between men and women and thesocially constructed division of roles for men andwomen. He was of the view that these two werethe main causes of gender discrimination. Ms.Flavia Agnes inaugurated the Conference andtalked about the various forms of violence againstProfessor K. Ramakrishna Rao giving thePresidential Address. Prof. R.R. Verma,Director of the Seminar with others on the daisBook Releasewomen and the strategies to deal with them. Thetranslation of the autobiography of Flavia Agnes'My Story, Our Story' was released by Dr. UravashiButalia. There were three academic sessions on thethemes, Gender Equality and Education; Gender andMasculinity and Gender and Agriculture respectively.There were open discussions where all the participantscould participate. In the inaugural session,Prof. G. Mishra, Member Secretary,speaks on the seminar11

Session on: Dignitaries and the participantsProfessor R.R. Verma, on behalf of Saajhi Duniya,welcomed the guests and introduced the theme ofthe seminar and also introduced the guests.Professor G. Mishra, the Special Guest, talkedabout the priority areas of ICPR and explained thereasons behind the decision of the ICPR to holdseminar on applied subjects having relevance tosocial problems. In all the sessions excepting theinaugural, the main presentations and the leadingcomments by the main discussants were followedby a very keen discussion by the audience whichcomprised academics, activists and advocacyexperts.Refresher CourseThe Department of Philosophy, University of Delhi,organized from March 30, 2009 to April 19, 2009 an AllIndia Refresher Course on “Logic and Language:Eastern and Western” for Lecturers and ResearchScholars of Philosophy teaching and doing research indifferent colleges in India. The Refresher Course washeld without break, on Saturdays, Sundays and allgazetted holidays.The Department received a total of sixty four applicationsfrom eligible candidates from all over India andfifty seven were selected. Out of these, eighteen werefrom outside Delhi and thirty nine were from Delhi. Inaddition, several teachers and research scholars fromDelhi Colleges and Jawaharlal Nehru University alsoattended the sessions.The Refresher Course was planned in such a way thaton each day there were two lectures on “Logic Easternand Western” and two lectures on one or the otheraspect of “Philosophy of Language”, “AnalyticPhilosophy”. For 'Western Logic' Professor AmitabhaGupta of the Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai,was invited and Professor V.N. Jha, former Director ofInstitute of Advanced Study in Sanskrit, University ofPune, taught Indian Logic. Professor P.K.Mukhopadhyaya of Jadavpur University and ProfessorSrinivasa Rao of Banglore University delivered lecturesand the latter was present as Observer and Evaluatorthroughout the Refresher Course. Professors SrinivasaRao, Amitabha Gupta and V.N. Jha were the CoreFaculty of the Refresher Course.Each day of the Refresher Course was divided into foursessions—two in the forenoon and two in the afternoon.The participants were given reading material includingbooks like Kisor Kumar Chakrabarti's Classical IndianPhilosophy of Mind: The Nyaya Dualist Tradition, MotilalBanarsidas Publishers, 2001, Annambhatta'sProfessor Ashok Vohra, Director of the RefresherCourse addressing the participants andProfessor Mrinal Miri at the daisParticipants of the Refresher Course listeningto the lecture12

Tarksamgraha and detailed plan of lectures by the CoreFaculty. The Core Faculty also gave home work andexercises for practice. The home work was regularlyevaluated and discussed with the individual participantsby the Core Faculty.Professor Amitabha Gupta finished his course on'Western Logic' in twenty lectures and Professor V.N.Jha finished the teaching of Annambhatta'sTarksamgraha in thirteen lectures. Four additionallectures were delivered by Professor R.C. Das onSentential Logic and its Modal extensions. In Indian andWestern Logic, Professor Mukhopadhyaya deliveredfour lectures. Professor S.S. Deshpande delivered aseries of two lectures on 'Deontic Logic'.Professor Srinivasa Rao in his five lectures discussedthe Vedantic approach to language as opposed to theNyaya-Vaisesika approaches. Professor GodabarishaMishra in his lecture discussed the 'Advaitic notion oflanguage'. Professor Tandra Patnaik in her four lecturesSeminarsdiscussed Bhartrihari's theory of sentence meaning,conditions of sentence meaning, relation betweenintention and meaning. Ujjwala Jha in her two lecturesdiscussed 'Mimamsa's philosophy of language'.Professor Bijoy Boruah in his three lectures discussedthe role of language in the description of mentalnotions. Professor Vijay Tankha delivered threelectures on the Greek theory of language. Professor P.K.Mohapatra delivered four lectures on analyticalphilosophy especially earlier and later Wittgenstein.Professor Sanil V. delivered a series of three lectures onthe notion of 'text' in post-modern philosophy. Hespecially related it with Rama Chandra Gandhi'sthought on language. Professor Amitabh Guptadelivered lectures on post-Wittgensteinian thinkers likeDavidson, Putnam and Quine among others. Dr.Kanchana Mahadevan in her lectures discussedStructuralist, Post-structuralist and Deconstructionistapproach to language.The Council conducted Seminars and sponsored fewuniversities in different parts of the country. Fewdetails of the Seminars as reported by the SeminarDirectors are given below: A National Seminar was organized by Institute ofGandhian Thought and Peace Studies, Universityof Allahabad on Exclusion/Inclusion and GandhianStrategies under the directorship of Professor M.P.Dube during October 2-3, 2008. Shri T.N.Chaturvedi former Governor, Karnataka was theChief Guest on the occasion. There were fourtechnical sessions in the seminar in which manyscholars from Political Science, Public Administration,Sociology, Law and Gandhian Studies Departmentsparticipated. The Valedictory Session on thetheme 'Relevance of Gandhism in Modern Times' hadsome significant presentations by ProfessorRamjee Singh, Professor R.P. Mishra and Shri P.Barthwal. There were interesting discussions anddeliberations to make the event more and morelively and beneficial. A two-day National Seminar was organized by theDepartment of Economics, Andhra University onHuman Development and Social Exclusion on 6-7October 2008 in honour of Professor K.S. Chalamby Professor D. Pulla Rao. The seminar was aremarkable one in view of the fact that there weremore than 230 papers on various aspects on thetheme of the seminar. A book Perspectives onEconomic Development and Social Change was releasedduring this occasion. K.J. Somaiya Centre for Studies for Jainism incollaboration with Jain Visva-Bharati, Ladnun,Rajasthan organized a two-day National Seminaron Spectrum of Jainism in Southern India on 20-21October 2008. The Seminar began with thewelcome address of Shri V. Ranganathan, Secretaryof Somaiya Trust and introduction of the theme byDr. Kokila Shah. In his Keynote address, Dr.Hampa Nagarajiah traced the evolution of JainismWelcome Address by Shri V. Raganathan,Dr. Geeta Mehta and others on the dais.13

Audience at the seminar on Jainism.in Southern India. The inauguration was followedby an illuminating speech by Dr. Sagarmal Jain onYapani Sect of Southern India. There were 4 academicsessions with different presentations on thecontribution of Jainas to the society and culture ofSouth India. The Valedictory Session had manyimportant addresses by scholars. Dr. Geeta Mehta,Director of the Seminar, expressed her gratitude toall the participants who contributed to the seminar. The 83rd Session of the Indian PhilosophicalCongress was held at the Department of GandhianPhilosophy and Peace Research Centre, GujaratVidyapeet, Ahmedabad during October 22-25,2008. The session witnessed a galaxy of 254delegates attending the session. There were 6endowment lectures and speeches by the GeneralPresident and Sectional Presidents. 2 symposia onSocial Equality and Democracy, Gandhi's concept ofSarvadharma Sambhava were arranged. There wasalso an important and unique session on Demonstrationof Yogic Method. A colloquium was held onGandhi on Peace and Ahimsa. There were five differentsectional meetings and 140 papers were read bythe participants. A book on From the Files of Statesmanwas released by Professor Ramjee Singh. Aspecial lecture was delivered by Professor KireetJoshi. The organizers arranged a visit for theparticipants to the Sabarmati Ashram. In all, thissession was academically fruitful to the scholarsand the delegates as well. The 25th Session of Maharashtra TattvagyanParishad was held at Shivaji University, Kolhapurfrom 6-8, November 2008 under the Directorshipof Smt. Gauri Bhagwat, Executive President ofMTP and Dr. J.R. Debhole, Chief Coordinator ofthe Adhiveshan. The Inaugural function had ShriB.G. Kolsepatil (Ex-Judge, Mumbai High Court) asthe Chief Guest. The main theme of the sessionwas bringing out the meaning of the Philosophy ofRebellion. On the next day, there were three sessions.In the morning session papers were presentedby Dr. Archana Degaonkar, Dr. MeenalKatarnikar, Dr. Sharad Deshpande and Dr.Shubhada Joshi on the theme “Methods of Philosophy”and in the afternoon there were 35 individualpapers. On the third day, there was students'Essay-cum-Elocution Competition. Thus, thethree day sessions were a great success. The 53rd Session of the Akhil Bharatiya DarshanParishad was held during 8-10 November 2008 atGurukul Kangri University, Haridwar under thedirectorship of Dr. Ambika Dutta Sharma. In theinaugural session, Professor S.P. Dubey, Chairmanof All India Philosophy Association, Professor S.R.Bhatt and Professor G. Mishra, Member Secretary,ICPR addressed the participants. Professor JaydevVedalankar was felicitated on this occasion. Therewere two prizes awarded to Dr. Sarita Kumari andDr. Avinash Kumar Srivastava for their essays andtwo Professors, Geeta Rani Agarwal and Dr.Sandhya Sati for their publications. Two othereminent scholars, namely, Dr. D.N. Yadav and Dr.K.C. Pandey received awards for their books. Dr.Deepak Ranjan and Dr. Karuna Sharma were alsogiven awards. There were 325 scholars present.Professor U.S. Bisht was thanked by the organizersfor his excellent arrangements made during thissession. A National Seminar on Hermeneutics of Philosophy,Politics and Culture was held during November 19-21, 2008 at North-Eastern Hill University, Shillongunder the directorship of Professor Vanlalnghak.Under the chairmanship of Professor C.R. Agera,the Conference began with a welcome address byProfessor B.K. Agarwala. The Inaugural addresswas delivered by Professor (Mrs.) Temsula delvinginto the possibility of doing Philosophy throughcultural studies in the context of tribal life ofNortheastern region. Professor S.A. Shaidadelivered the keynote address, in which he tracedthe origin and development of hermeneutics as aphilosophical method independent of naturalsciences that 'objectified' the meaning and truth interms of abstract mathematical and physical laws.According to him, the role of human consciousnessand specificity of human conceptual understandingby its very nature was 'interpretative' andhence it assumes the shape of an ontologicalenterprise.14

There were 8 sessions including the Inaugural andthe Valedictory Sessions. The 6 academic sessionswere chaired by Professors S.A. Shaida, Jagatpal,B.K. Agarwala, Sujata Miri, Goutam Biswas, andLokenderjit Singh. There were 18 papers presentedby learned scholars on different aspects ofthe themes. In all, the seminar was attended bymore than 100 scholars, students and teachers. A National Seminar on Metaphysics: Methods andPerspectives was organized by Dr. Aditya KumarMohanty, Department of Philosophy, UtkalUniversity, Bhubaneswar during 21-23 November2008. The inaugural session chaired by Professor.P.K. Mohapatra had an interesting Keynote addressdelivered by Professor Rajendra Prasad. ProfessorHrudananda Ray was the chief guest. There were11 enriching academic sessions during the threedays of the seminar and the Chair persons of thesesessions were Professors B. Kar, G.P. Das, S.K.Mohanty, B. Pahi, G. Vedaparayana, N. Malla, RajatBhattacharya, D. Nesy, R.C. Pradhan and TandraPatnaik. The paper presenters were ProfessorsR.C. Pradhan, G. Vedaparayana, D. Nesy, B. Kar,H.P. Shah, A.K. Mohanty, G. Mishra, TandraPatnaik, N. Malla, Rajat Bhattacharya and G.P. Das.The valedictory function was presided over byProfessor Kar and the Chief Guest was ProfessorB. Pahi. The Vice Chancellor of Utkal University,Professor B. Rath was the guest of honour. A National Seminar on “The Need for EnvironmentalEthics” was held for three days from 16 to 18December 2008 under the directorship of ProfessorY.V. Satyanarayana at Andhra University,Vishakapatnam. The Vice Chancellor of AndhraUniversity along with Professor J.P. Shukla andProfessor R.P. Srivastava were the guests ofhonour. The Keynote address was delivered byProfessor A.K. Mohanty of Utkal University.There were 9 academic sessions with presentationsby twenty scholars. The seminar was focused ondifferent issues concerning environmental pollution,abuse of animals, striking a balance betweendevelopment and environmental degradation, themeasures to be taken to protect natural atmosphere,the ethical issues involved in the exploitationof nature and some other related issues. A National Seminar on “Hypnotherapy: A Psycho-Philosophical Perspective of Hypnosis as the Therapy ofthe Millennium” was held at Department of Philosophy,M.S. University of Baroda during 9-11January 2009 under the directorship of ProfessorProf. Nitin J. Vyas, Director of the Seminaraddressing the participants. Professor Thakur,Vice-Chancellor, Prof. S. Rinpoche,Prof. K. Ramakrishna Rao & others on the dais.Nitin J. Vyas. The Seminar explored the deeptheoretical philosophical foundations of chit orchetna beyond the commonly known wakingdream and sleep states. The eminent speakers whomade enormous contributions and gave theseminar a significant direction were Professor K.Ramakrishna Rao, Chairman, ICPR, Professor S.Rinpoche, Chairman, Central Tibet Administrationand many other scholars from all over India.There were overseas participants from countrieslike Israel, Greece, U.K. Canada and Ireland. Theinaugural keynote address which was delivered byProfessor K. Ramakrishna Rao,Professor S. Rinpoche and others lighting the lamp.Professor K. Ramakrishna Rao and the Presidentialaddress by Professor S. Rinpoche left a deep impactamong the participants of the seminar.The Seminar was unique in the sense that theparticipants were from diverse fields of Philosophy,Psychology, Medicine and practicinghypnotherapy expressing their views, thus achievingthe objectives of the seminar.15

A two-day National Seminar on “Socio-Politicalthinking of Swami Vivekananda and the Challenge oftoday” was organized by RamakrishnaMahavidyalaya, Kailashahar, North Tripura on 28-29 January 2009. The welcome address wasdelivered by Professor Gurudas Choudhary, VicePrincipal of the organization and the keynoteaddress was delivered by Professor Y.V.Satyanarayana. In his keynote address ProfessorSatyanarayana showed how the contemporarysocial problems such as caste system can be tackledby Vivekananda's thinking. There were fouracademic sessions and each session had five to sixpresentations. There were raporteurs in eachsession. Many young teachers and eminent scholarsparticipated in the seminar. Students also participatedin the discussions of each session. Thedetails of the seminar have been put on the website(www.tripurainfo.com). The Valedictory sessionhad Professor Satyanarayana and D. K. Mohantafor presenting their views. Many dailies broughtout the events giving wide publicity about theseminar. A National Seminar on “Values Embedded in IndianCulture and their Relevance at Present Time” wasorganized on 3-4 Feb. 2009 at North BengalUniversity, Darjeeling under the directorship of Dr.Debika Saha and Dr. Jyotish Basak of the Departmentof Philosophy. The Seminar had participationof approximately 180 scholars. ProfessorIndrani Sanyal of Jadavpur University delivered theProfessor Indrani Sanyal delivering the Keynote AddressKeynote address and Professor R.N. Ghoshdelivered the Presidential Address. There wereseven academic sessions in all. What was uniqueabout the seminar was that one session was exclu-Prof. R.N. Ghosh delivering thePresidential Address.sively devoted for research scholars and students.In the Valedictory Session, a panel discussion washeld where an in-depth analysis was done by thepanelists. Dr. Basak proposed the vote of thanks. An International Seminar on “Hind Swaraj : 100years and after” was organized by the University ofDelhi under the directorship of Professor (Ms)Ashum Gupta, Director of Gandhi Bhawan at theConference Centre during 11-13 February 2009.The Inaugural Session had a welcome address byProfessor Ashum Gupta. There was the lightingof lamp by all the eminent speakers. The introductionof the seminar was given by Professor VibhaChaturvedi, Chairperson, Gandhi Bhawan. Sheconsidered India fortunate to have had an icon likeGandhiji and emphasized the need to bear in mindhis ideas while framing the policies as the nationmarches forward towards growth and progress.She idolized Gandhiji as an icon, an exemplar andmessenger of peace and tolerance who stands onits own class of dignity. The year 2009 marks thecentenary year of the book 'Hind Swaraj' whichcontains all the seminal ideas of Mahatma Gandhi.It is worthwhile to debate on Gandhi's philosophyin the 21st century. It is the time when we shouldpay real attention to how Gandhi's methodologyof non-violence, non-cooperation, moral courageand atmashakti need to be revived. There were fiveacademic sessions and very learned scholars fromIndia and abroad spoke on the theme Hind Swaraj:Text-context; Democracy: A Gandhian Critique;Gandhi and Modern Civilization; Satyagraha andSwaraj; Gandhian Vision of Indian Society. TheSeminar was well organized and attended by 400scholars.16

A National Seminar on “Freedom of Man and HisAttitude Towards Environment: ContemporaryChallenges and Moral Strategies” was held duringFebruary 12-14, 2009 at HNB Garwal University,Srinagar, Uttarakhand under the directorship ofDr. Indoo (Pandey) Khanduri.The chief guest of the Seminar, Professor J.P.Shukla, Guest of honour Professor SabhajitMishra, the Keynote Speaker, Professor Y.V.Satyanarayana and Professor K.S. Singh, Vicechancellorof Garwal University threw light on thetheme of the seminar during the Inaugural Session.There were many paper presenters who presentedtheir views on different aspects of the theme onEnvironmental issues. A National Seminar on Morality and Law: An InterdisciplinaryDialogue was organized during February16-18, 2009 at University of Allahabad underthe directorship of Professor Narendra Singh. TheSeminar was inaugurated by Professor BhuvanChandel, former Head, Department of Philosophy,Punjab University, Chandigarh on February16, 2009. Professor Chandel in her address threwlight on the concept of law and linked it withProfessor R.C. Dwivedi presiding over a sessionProfessor R.P. Singh presenting his viewsconcept of morality. Professor Narendra Singh,Director of the Seminar while presenting thetheme of the seminar also touched upon thoseaspects of law not based on morality but dependenton it. In his keynote address, Professor R.P.Singh discussed about the dialectics of moralityand law. The Presidential address was given byProfessor Rajen Harshe, Vice Chancellor ofAllahabad University who dealt with the diversityof both law and morality. There were four speakersin the first session. In the second session, therewere five interesting presentations on the subject.The third session had four presentations. The lastday witnessed eight presentations. The ValedictorySession had a very interesting address given byProfessor Janak Pandey and Professor SabhajitMishra. It got concluded with the remarks of twoscholars, Professor S.P. Dubey and Professor R.C.Sinha. A National Seminar on Tallapaka Annamacharya'sPhilosophy and Vaishnava Bhakti was held during 12-14 March 2009 at S.V. University, Tirupati underthe directorship of Professor C. Govinda Raju.Prof. Bhuvan Chandel giving the Inaugural AddressInaugural session of the seminarProf. N. Prabhakar Rao, Prof. C. Govinda Raju,Director of the seminar and others on the dais17

Audience of the Inaugural session atS.V. University TirupatiWorkshopThe inaugural session had the Vice-Chancellor ofthe University, Professor N. Prabhakara Rao as theChief Guest. Professor Balagangadhara Rao,Acharya Nagarjuna University delivered theKeynote Address. Professor C. Govinda Raju,Director of the Seminar introduced the theme ofthe seminar. There were 24 paper presenters in 9sessions on different aspects of Annamacharya'sphilosophy. At the seventh session under theChairmanship of Professor G. Vedayarayana,Professor C. Ramaiah gave a special lecture onAnnamayya's Visistadvaida. The valedictorysession was marked by an inspiring address byProfessor R.V.S. Sundaram of Mysore.Inaugural Session of the Workshop onNyaya Mimamsa and Advaita Vedanta A 15 day Textual Workshop on Nyaya, Mimamsa andAdvaita Vedanta (in English) was conducted atChinmay International Foundation ShodhaSansthan,Veliyanad, Kerala from 15th to 29thDecember 2008 under the directorship of ProfessorV.N. Jha and co-ordinated by Dr. K.H.Subramanian, Hon. Director of CIF ShodhaSansthan. The inauguration of the Workshop wasdone by Hon. Justice Shri K. Narayana Kurup(retd.). Dr. P.C. Muraleemadhavan, Chairman,Managing Committee, Shodha Sansthan presidedover the function. The first six days of the workshopwere on Nyaya and Mimamsa and ProfessorsV.N. Jha and Ujwala Jha were the resource personswho taught the participants. The remaining daysof the workshop were devoted to Vedanta studies.Vedantaparibhasa of Dharmaraja, Bhamati-Chatusutriof Vachaspati and Vedanta Samgraha of RamarayaKavi were the texts dealt by Professor R.Balasubramanian, Dr. Goda Venkateswara Sastri,traditional scholars of Chennai and Professor G.Mishra Member-Secretary, ICPR respectively.Prof. R. Balasubramanian giving the certificateto the participants35 participants from all over India attended thisWorkshop. In the Valedictory function chaired bySwami Advayananda, Acharya, Chinmaya InternationalFoundation, Professor R. Balasubramanian,delivered the Valedictory address. Professor G.Mishra, Member Secretary, ICPR distributed thecertificates to all the participants.Professor Godabarish Mishra delivering lectureat the workshop18

Sri Satya Sai University, Department of Philosophy,Anantapur organized a workshop on IndianPhilosophy and Social Concerns programme onDecember 8-9, 2008 Dr. Sharada Subramanian, theDirector of the Workshop gave a welcome addresswherein she spoke on the importance of creating ageneral awareness amongst students and scholarsabout the relevance of Indian Philosophy in thepresent social scenario as also the richness ofIndian Philosophy. The Inaugural Address wasEvery year the Council observes the InternationalPhilosophy Day in the third week of November tocommemorate the birthday of Socrates as theUNESCO had declared the same.The Council has been supporting the celebration of theInternational Philosophy Day in all the Universities/Institutions.Around 20 Universities/Institutions were given grantsto organize seminars, debates, essay competitions,panel discussions, symposia dialogues and colloquia forcelebration of the International Philosophy Day thisyear.A good feed back has been received from these institutions.Here are some of the reports of the events heldduring this period. ICPR's International Philosophy Day was organizedat Delhi University under the directorship ofProfessor Ashok Vohra on November 19, 2008 onPhilosophy and Aesthetic Experience. There were threesessions. The first Session was marked by introductiongiven by Professor Ashok Vohra, Head,Department of Philosophy. ProfessorGodabarisha Mishra, Member Secretary of ICPRwelcomed the audience. The speaker of the firstsession was Professor Mrinal Miri on “Philosophyand Modern Predicament”. In the second sessionthere were three speakers. Professor Rekha Jhanji,Chandigarh spoke on “Aesthetic Experience andIndian sensibility”, Professor Parul Dave Mukherji,School of Art and Aesthetics, JNU gave herpresentation on “Rethinking the ComparativeMethod: Representations of the East-West Dividein the Study of Indian Aesthetics”.International Philosophy DayDr. Rekha Navneet, Delhi University spoke on“Concept of Rasa and Abhinava Gupta.”This session was chaired by Dr. Kapila Vatsyayanwho gave a thought provoking Presidential address.19given by Dr. Dwarka Rane Rao. The Keynoteaddress was given by Professor R. Balasubramanianwho gave an analytic exposition ofvarious aspects of Indian Philosophy and clarifiedthe important concepts. There were 50 scholarswho presented their views on different themes onIndian Philosophy. Every session was followed bya brief discussion and a report on the proceedings.The workshop was indeed a useful endeavor onpart of the organizers of the workshop.The theme of the session was Indian Sensibility. Theafternoon session was on Idea and Imagination.There were three speakers. Professor S.K. Saxenagave a lecture on Aesthetic Experience and itscultural significance, from his long standingexpertise in the area.Professor V. Sanil, IIT Delhi spoke on “Idea andImagination.” Dr. Manju Saxena enlightened theaudience by presenting her views on “AestheticExperience and Western Thought.”Dr. Deepa Nag Haskar proposed a Vote of Thanks. The Department of Philosophy, HNB GarwalUniversity, Srinagar, Garwal, under the Directorshipof Dr. Vibha Mukhesh, organized a Seminaron the International Philosophy Day on 14thNovember 2009. The theme of the seminar was“The Concept of Human Consciousness in Indian Philosophy”.The seminar was inaugurated by the Vice-Chancellor of H.N.B. Garwal University, Srinagar.The significance and relevance of Philosophy,Science and Religion was brought out during theseminar.

The Department of Philosophy, University ofNorth Bengal, Siliguri celebrated the InternationalPhilosophy Day on 18th November 2008. Thetheme and topic for discussions chosen by thedepartment were “Interrelationship between Philosophy,Science and Culture” and “The Need of Philosophy as aCore Subject in School and Higher Education” On 20th November 2008, the Department ofReligious Studies, Punjabi University observed theInternational Philosophy Day with full enthusiasm.A renowned scholar Professor Harjit Singh G.K.Emeritus Professor, JNU, delivered a lecture on thetheme “Conceptual Constructs in Guru Granth Sahib”.The lecture programme was presided over by Dr.Professor Manjulika Ghosh and Professor BhaswatiB. Chakraborty on the dais delivering their lecturesThe celebration of the Day was marked by Dr. K.L.Das introducing the proceedings by explaining theimportance of observing such a day dedicated tophilosophy. Dr. Das commended the steps takenby the ICPR in propagating philosophical valuessupporting such causes. Professor BhaswatiChakraborty in her deliberation expressed deepconcern over the present social conditions in Indiaand World at large. She defined culture as an allinclusive human phenomenon and brought out theplace of philosophy in it. Only philosophy can savehuman kind from the present crises which isactually the crisis of values. Professor ManjulikaGhosh, one of the main speakers spoke on thetopic “The need of Philosophy as a core subject inSchool and Higher Education” and explained howphilosophy is intimately related to Society, Cultureand Values which provide us basics for education.Professor G.C. Khan explained the different facetsof secularism and the need of inculcating it. Dr.Jyotish Ch. Basak appreciated the students for theirinterest in philosophy. He further emphasized thatphilosophy plays a vital role in building a nation andsociety. Dr. Benulal Dhar spoke on 'Nature andRange of Philosophical Activities'. Dr. DebikaSaha spoke on the overall relation between philosophyscience and culture. The participants of thosediscussions and lecture programme were more than100 in number.Vice-Chancellor's AddressJaspal Singh, Vice Chancellor, Punjabi University,Patiala. The faculty and students attended andparticipated in the lecture. The lecture was concludedby discussions. The celebration wasreported in the dailies like Hindustan Times, DainikJagaran etc.Professor Gill delivering his speechThe Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Jaspal Singh, whiledelivering his presidential remarks, appreciatedProfessor Gill's works that were devoted to thestudy of Gurbani. He also exhorted the gatheredgalaxy of scholars to go deep in their research forexploring the meaning of heritage and employsimple and less complex language in their writings. The International Philosophy Day was celebratedon November 27, 2008 by the Department of20

Dr. Majhi Welcomes the GuestPhilosophy, Assam University Silchar. On thisoccasion a regional seminar on Philosophy of Educationfor Peace was organized by Dr. R.C. Majhi, Headof the Department of Philosophy. While Dr.Majhi delivered the welcome address, ProfessorGoutam Biswas, Dean, School of Humanities gaveProf. Goutam Biswas talking on the themeof the session.a justification of the theme. He explained how'Peace' is a positive concept and the world situationwould improve if the difference between saying anddoing could be bridged. Professor Sibnath Sarmagave the Keynote Address during the InauguralSession.There were two technical sessions with fourpresentations in all. The speakers were ProfessorT.B. Subba, Professor N. Biswas, ProfessorVanlalnghak, and Professor Abhik Gupta. The twosessions were chaired by Professor Sibnath Sarmaand Professor T.B. Subha A two day Seminar was held on Research Methodologyin Philosophy during November 27-28, 2008 by theDepartment of Philosophy, AMU, Alligarh. TheProfessor Mohd. Muquim speaking on the themeseminar was comprised six sessions including theInaugural Session which began on November 27th,2008 at 5.00 p.m. Dr. Sanaullah Mir in his welcomeaddress brought out the significance of the seminarby showing how methodological questions havealways deep impact on doing of Philosophy.Professor John C. Miller, University of Colorado,USA was the Chief Guest at the Inaugural Sessionof the Seminar. Professor Miller stressed theimportance of Applied Philosophy in ContemporaryGlobal society. According to him, Philosophersshould take up ethical issues pertaining tobio-technological developments, business, sportsengineering etc., as well as social, political, legalissues and environmental degradation and globalwarming. Dr. Mohamad Muquim, Chairperson ofPhilosophy Department gave an elaborate accountof research methodology in Philosophy. ProfessorA.R. Kidwai, Director, Academic Staff Collegewho was the Guest of honour, stressed the needfor reconciliation between scientific rationality andhuman creativity. Professor D.N. Tiwari presentedhis views on 'Nature and Method of Research inIndian Philosophy' by pointing out certain modelsProfessor Miller giving his address21

Sebastian, Dr. Jameela Begum and was chaired byDr. S. Radha. The second session was chaired byDr. Sambasiva Prasad and the session was exclusivelydevoted to students for presentation of theirviews. The third session was chaired by ProfessorS. Panneerselvam and speakers were Dr. S. Radha,Dr. Venkatachalapathy, Dr. Sambasiva Prasad, andDr. R. Lakshmi. The last session chaired byProfessor D. Nesy had presentations by Dr.Professor D.N. Tiwari presenting his viewsof Philosophy. There was another interestingpresentation by Professor Spyridon Rangos,Department of Philosophy, University of Patras,Greece. In his presentation on 'Method of Aristotle'sMetaphysics' he brought out the inseparability ofresearch from History of Philosophy. Newspaperslike Dainik Sahara, Hindustan, Aaj, Shah Times,Dainik Jagaran, Amarujala, Raaj Path etc., projectedthe event in a grand manner thus giving widepublicity about ICPR which created awareness inthe minds of the general public. A Seminar on Aadhunik sandarbh mein darshan kiupayogita was held during 6-7 December 2008 atB.N. Mandal University, Madhepura on the occasionof International Philosophy Day. There werethree sessions including the inauguration. ThisInauguration Session was marked with the welcomingremarks by Dr. Vidya Devi, Head, Departmentof Philosophy, BNMU, Addresses by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor R.P. Srivastava and Guestspeakers Professor Ashok Vohra and ProfessorGodabarisha Mishra were made. There were eightpresentations by scholars. On 7th December 2008,the seminar was concluded with a ValedictorySession followed by lunch. Professor D. Nesy, Department of Philosophy,University of Kerala welcomed the audience at theinaugural function on the occasion of the InternationalPhilosophy Day celebration held during 11-12th December 2008. It was a two-day regionalseminar on the theme “Need of Philosophy as a coresubject in School and Higher Education” and it wasinaugurated by Professor Hrdayakumari, Principal(Rtd.), Govt. College for Women. Dr. BalamohanThampi delivered the Presidential Address. Therewere four academic sessions. The speakers of thefirst session were Shri C. Bhaskar, Dr. V.T.Professor D. Nesy welcoming the audienceSreekala M. Nair, Professor Kanthamani andProfessor S. Panneerselvam. Comments andinterventions followed every presentation, makingthe sessions interesting and enriching. Dr. P.K.Pokker delivered the Valedictory address. Therewere distribution of prizes for the winners of theQuiz and Elocution competitions conducted bythe department on this occasion. On the 12th of December 2008, the Departmentof Philosophy, North Eastern Hill Universityorganized a One-day workshop on the theme“Consciousness and Culture”. There were seventyscholars who participated in this programmeincluding the teachers from various colleges inShillong and Jowai. There were scholars fromother departments, like Physics, Library Science,Chemistry, History, Biochemistry, Economics, andPolitical Science etc., which created some kind ofawareness.The programme began with the welcome speechdelivered by Dr. E.R. Tongper. Dr. P. Biswas gaveintroduction to the theme of the workshop. TheChief Guest, Professor R.N. Charan stressed onthe very notion of Consciousness which is a matterof enquiry to both scientists and philosophers ofmodern times. He also emphasized the need forinterdisciplinary approach to the study of con-22

The Chief Guest's Addresssciousness for a better understanding of the same.Professor B.K. Agarwal explained the relevance ofconsciousness study in the understanding ofculture which comes from collective consciousness.The academic session had three lectures deliveredby Professor Bijoy Mukherjee, Vishwa Bharati,Professor R.P. Bajpai and Dr. P.V. Joseph respectively.The themes of their lectures were “Consciousness,Quantum Physics and Language”,Classical framework. Dr. Joseph explained themeaning of culture and tried to bring out theimportant characteristics of culture.The lectures were followed by discussions whichproved to be extremely fruitful to all who werepresent. A workshop on 'Need of Philosophy as a core subject inSchool and Higher Education' was organized byDepartment of Philosophy, Magadh University,Bodh Gaya on the occasion of the InternationalPhilosophy Day on 18th and 19th December 2008.The Harvard University teacher, Professor Davidinaugurated the workshop by lighting the lampwhile Professor Kusum Kumari, Head welcomedProfessor David lighting the lampduring inaugurationInaugural Session, Prof. R.N. Sharan, Chief Guest,Prof. B.K. Agarwala, Dr. E.R. Tongpher,Dr. P. Biswas and Prof. Bijoy Mukherjee on the daisConsciousness; and Culture respectively. ProfessorMukherjee explored the possibility of analternative interpretation of consciousness avoidingdualism and disjunctives of quantum physicsand showed the possibility of mind-independentand reality-independent nature of Consciousness.Professor Bajpai looked at consciousness as a kindof natural phenomena and also as a pure Quantumeffect without any classical analogue and to beincomprehensible in Philosophy, Culture andBiology built on the foundation provided by thethe delegates and participants and introduced thesubject by laying emphasis on introducing Philosophyat School and Higher Education level as a coresubject under the changing circumstances whereentire world has been engulfed by chaos, uncertainty,terrorism and religious conflicts.Professor David referred to various off-shoots ofmodern philosophy. Professor I.N. Sinha advocatedlaunching Yoga Philosophy and other ethicaland value based moral teaching. Dr. N. K.Ambastha in his speech on the concept of educationvis-à-vis philosophy suggested various techniquesof enriching wisdom. The other speakerswere Dr.V.K. Sinha and Dr. Shamal Kishore. The Department of Philosophy, University ofMumbai organized the International PhilosophyDay on 19th December 2008 by way of arranginglecture by Professor Philip Clayton of USA. Thelecture was followed by two Round Tables on thethemes 'Philosophy Prospective and Future' and23

Professor Philip Clayton delivering the lecture'Yoga and Peace' respectively. Professor Claytonspoke on Consciousness. The programme wasconcluded by the papers presented by three guestspeakers. The Round table Chairpersons wereProfessor Pradep Gokhale, Pune University andProfessor Ramesh Dave. There was participationby eight students in each of the Round Tables andmany other undergraduate students, faculty andvisitors were benefited by this programme. The Department of Jainology and ComparativeReligion and Philosophy of Jain Vishwa BharatiUniversity, Ladnun organized a two-day Seminaron the occasion of the International PhilosophyDay during December 20-21, 2008. The InauguralSession took off well with Professor M.R. Gelra,Jaipur as the Chief Guest, and Professor S.R. BhattProf. Edgar Bauer, Professor S.R. Bhatt, andDr. Samani Riju Prajna on the dais.and Human Existence. There were twelve scholarsfrom outside Ladnun and fifty scholars fromwithin Ladnun.There were seven sessions in all and many interestingpapers were presented by the scholars. Thetitles of the papers were : Dualism in Jainism; TheDr. Samani Chaitanya Prajna giving theWelcome AddressProfessor S.R. Bhatt delivering the Keynote addressas a special guest. Professor Muni MahendraKumar gave the Keynote address and the welcomeaddress was given by Dr. Samani Chaitanya Prajna.Professor Muni N. Mahendra Kumar spoke onreconciliation between Spirituality and Science.Professor Bhatt's address was on Philosophy, CulturePhilosophy of Anekant and Interculturality; EnvironmentalEthics; Vilem Flusser: on the End of History andfuturity of Time; Interrelation of Philosophy, Religion andScience in Indian Thought; Scientific, background of JainPhilosophical Concepts; Sharing for Survival, Philosophicaland Scientific Basis of Sustainable Development, TheConcept of God; A Higher form of life in Jainism; TheRole of Science and the Spiritual Values in Education;Philosophical, Scientific and Religious Interpretation ofDreams; Education in Reference to Science, Philosophy andCulture. The two-day seminar proved to be verybeneficial for all the scholars. The Department of Philosophy, Jadavpur Universityorganized a two-day workshop on the theme24

'The Future of Philosophy' on 17th and 18th ofNovember 2008. The two-day Workshop wasinaugurated by Professor Sukharanjan Saha, Retd.Professor, Jadavpur University. In his shortaddress he spoke about a crisis of the subject in ourSociety. He suggested that the task of the teachersand students of philosophy is to think of a brandof philosophy that would be a comprehensivestudy of all the philosophies practiced by differentnations. In her welcome address, ProfessorMadhumita Chattopadhyay, Head, Department ofPhilosophy rightly pointed out that the study ofphilosophy need not be alienated from our ordinarydaily existence. Professor Indrani Sanyal introducedthe topic of the workshop by reiterating thereal need for making people aware of the fact thatthey were living their lives with the help of philosophy.The Keynote Address was delivered byProfessor Sourin Bhattacharya who pointed outhow simple words used in our language can engageus in serious philosophical discussions. He was,however, apprehensive about the gradual reductionin the scope of a dialogue between philosophersand ordinary life.The first session chaired by Professor AmitaChatterjee had two lectures, one by ProfessorSadhan Kumar Chakraborty and the other by ShriShibasis Chakraborty. There was a post lunchdebate session on “Need of Philosophy in Schools andHigher Studies” Out of eighteen participants four ofthem spoke against the notion that philosophy is tobe taught in schools as well as university whichshows that the majority of the young minds alsohad a similar thinking. The day ended with a filmshow on 'Monchay Murshidabad'. The second dayhad two sessions of which Professor Shefali MoitraProfessor Shefali Moitra chairing the secondacademic session on the InternationalPhilosophy Daychaired the first session. The first speaker ShriDurjoy Ghosh viewed Philosophy as a study whichhelps to build an analytical mind that can dispenseour doubts. The second speaker, Smt. SwatiBhattacharya highlighted the different connotationsof the term samvada and then shared herexperience as a media person. There were otherspeakers, like Dr. Gopa Dutta, Dr. Prayash Sankar,Shri Tarun Datta and Dr. Sonidatta Bhattacharya.The entire session ended with the Pranab KumarSen Memorial Prize distribution ceremony. Theprize was awarded to Smt. Ipsita Ray. This wasfollowed by a valedictory session. Annamalai University also organized a One-dayRegional Seminar on Interrelationship between Philosophy,Science and Culture on 24th December 2008. Theinaugural address was given by Professor M.Ramanathan, Vice-Chancellor, Annamalai Universityin which he pointed out that philosophy isInaugural address by Dr. M. Ramanathan,Vice-Chancellor, Annamalai Universityfundamentally related to science and culture andspoke at large on the necessity of philosophy forthe purposeful and meaningful life of an individualin the society. Dr. K. Mariappan, Hon'ble memberof Human Rights Commission, Govt. of TamilNadu delivered the keynote address and Dr. S.Rajendran, Dean, Faculty of Arts presided over theInaugural function. The seminar was attended byacademicians, research scholars, and students fromvarious regional universities and colleges. ProfessorA. Appan Ramanujan, Vivekananda Collegeand Dr. R. Murali, Head, Department of Philosophy,Madurai College, Madurai spoke on thefollowing topics1. Philosophy and Science25

Valedictory Address by Dr. M. RathinasabapathiRegistrar, Annamalai University2. Ethics of Science & Technology: Post ModernPerspectives.In the second session, Dr. Bhaskaran, Registrar,Tamil University, Thanjavur and Professor S.Paneerselvam, Madras University, Chennai spokeon Interrelationship between Philosophy, Science andCulture and Philosophy and Culture respectively.After the presentations there was good discussionamong the scholars. There were 100 scholars whoattended the seminar. The valedictory function hadDr. M. Rathinasabhapathi, Registrar AnamalaiUniversity. He was requested to distribute thecertificates and give his valedictory address.Presidential address by Dr. S. Rajendran, Dean,Faculty of Arts, Annamalai UniversityValedictory FunctionThe Council organizes National Lectures every year byleading and eminent scholars to acquaint the philosophicalcommunity with the recent thoughts ofleading philosophers and provide opportunity forAnnual National Lecturesinteraction with them. The Council organizes everyyear two National Lectures by Scholars from India andtwo from abroad in different parts of the country.Lectures by Professor Philip Clayton, Visiting Professor (Overseas)At Mumbai:Professor Clayton delivered a lecture at K.J. SomaiyaCentre for Buddhist Studies on ‘Philosophy of Religion :Panentheisms East and West' on 18 December 2008. Hefurther gave another lecture at University of Mumbaion the topic On Freedom and the Philosophy ofMind: “The Asymptotic Theory of Free Will: WhyNeuroscience Undercuts both Compatibilitist andLibertarian Accounts of Freedom” on 19 December2008. A lecture was also organized by Dr. A. ShakuntalaSingh, Mumbai on the topic On Process Thought: “Howcan Process Philosophy “Contribute to Social Change 'forthe Common Good'?” on 20 December 2008.At Chennai:The Kuppuswami Sastri Research Institute agreed toorganize the lectures of Professor Philip Clayton,ICPR's Annual Visiting Professor for the year 2008-09.Under the directorship of Dr. V. Kameshwari a seriesof two lectures were held on 22-23rd December 2008.The lecture series were inaugurated by Professor G.Mishra, Member Secretary, ICPR. On the second dayof the lectures, Professor R. Gopalakrishnan was26

Prof. G.Mishra introducing the speakerProf Clayton being given a memento byProfessor R. GopalakrishnanProf. Clayton delivering his lectureinvited by the Institute as the Chief Guest. ProfessorClayton lectured on the topic “On Philosophy ofReligion: Pantheisms East and West” and “On ProcessThought: How can Process Philosophy contribute to SocialChange for the Common Good?” respectively. Thelectures were attended by a learned audience ofProfessors from both Sanskrit and Philosophy departments.At Vishakhapatnam:Professor Clayton delivered lectures on 26-27 December2008 on the topics “On Freedom and the Philosophy ofMind: “The Asymptotic Theory of Free Will: Why NeuroscienceUndercuts both Compatibilist and Libertarian Accounts ofFreedom” and “On Process Thought: How can Process Philosophycontribute to Social Change for the Common Good?” atAndhra University, Vishakhapatnam.At Bhubaneshwar:The Department of Philosophy, Utkal Universityarranged lecture series of Professor Clayton on 29-30An audience of senior scholarsDecember 2008. Professor Clayton spoke on “OnReligion and Science: “Contemporary Trends in Science-ReligionScholarship in the West' and “On Freedom and the Philosophyof Mind: The Asymptotic Theory of Free Will: Why NeuroscienceUndercuts both Compatibilist and Libertarian Accounts ofFreedom”.At Delhi:At New Delhi, a day long lecture cum discussion wasorganized at the JNU by Professor R. P. Singh wherethere was a large participation by scholars from notonly JNU, but also from Delhi University, MirandaHouse, and IIT. Professor Philip Clayton spoke on thetopic “Reality Consists of events, Not things; ProcessPhilosophy, Social Responsibility and the Indian Traditions”.In his presentation, Professor Clayton wentinto the details of philosophy as love of wisdom andthe dialogical method for philosophizing. He took upsuch issues where knowledge derived from wisdom isimportant. This can be found in the consequences andthe results. These are the issues concerning applied27

philosophy as comparative and transcultural methodcould be used for analyzing such issues. ProfessorClayton took up five issues for presentation. Thesewere:1. Is Philosophy good for anything?2. What is the status of applied philosophy?3. What methodology should we pursue in order tophilosophize?4. What exactly is the status of Process philosophy?5. What are the social consequences of processphilosophy?The Department of Philosophy, Delhi University,Delhi under the directorship of Professor AshokVohra organized a one day lecture by Professor PhilipClayton on January 12, 2009. The lecture was on“Process Philosophy, Social Responsibility, and Indian Traditions”.Professor Mrinal Miri chaired the session andthe lecture was attended by about 100 teachers fromcolleges all over Delhi, and various Departments of theUniversity as well as students and research scholars.It was also attended by teachers of neighbouringuniversities. The lecture was followed by intensediscussion.At Bangalore:Two lectures were arranged by Suvidya College,Bangalore on 5-6 January 2009, where ProfessorPhilip Clayton presented his views on the topics “OnPhilosophy of Science: From Reductive to 'Broad' Naturalism,and Beyond: The Harvard Debate and Expanding the Range ofEmpirical Study” and “On Personal Agency and Ultimacy:“The Challenge of Ultimacy: Toward a Panentheistic-Participatory Theory of Agency” respectively.A seminar was held at NIAS arranged by Dr. SangeetaMenon where Professor Philip Clayton spoke on “Selfand Self Transformation: Concept and Implications”during 7th to 9th January 2009.At Lucknow:Professor Philip Clayton delivered lectures at theAcademic Centre, Lucknow on 10th January 2009 onthe following topics:(i) On Philosophy of Religion : 'Panentheisms Eastand West'(ii) On Philosophy of Science: From Reductive to 'Broad'Naturalism, and Beyond: The Harvard Debate andExpanding the Range of Empirical StudyScholars from all over Lucknow attended the lecturesand were benefited.Lectures by Professor Ramakrishna Puligandla,Visiting Professor (Overseas)Professor Ramakrishna Puligandla, ICPR's AnnualVisiting Professor (overseas) an EmeritusProfessor, University of Toledo, USA nominated forthe year 2008-09, delivered lectures at the followingplaces:(a) Bombay University, Mumbai 5-6 February 2009.(b) K.J. Somaiya Institute of Buddhist Studies,Mumbai 7-8, February 2009.(c) S.V. University, Tirupati -12-14 February 2009(d) University of Hyderabad - Feb. 16-18, 2009At Bombay University, Mumbai, Professor Puligandlaspoke on “Consciousness, Cosmology and Science: AnAdvaitic Analysis” on 6th February 2009.On February 27th 2009, Delhi University had theprivilege of arranging the lecture of ProfessorRamakrishna Puligandla. He lectured on “Negation,Knowledge and Reality in Buddhist Logic”. The lecture wasattended by about 100 scholars from Delhi, ChoudharyCharan Singh University, Meerut, Aligarh MuslimUniversity, Kurukshetra University and Punjab University,Chandigarh. Professor Mrinal Miri chaired thelecture session. There was an intense discussion afterthe lecture of the Visiting Professor.Professor Puligandla delivered lectures at the Departmentof Philosophy, University of Hyderabad on thefollowing topics:(a) Similarities between the Phenomenologies ofHegel and Husserl(b) Methods and Problems in Husserl’s TranscendentalLogic and Paradoxes of Non-IndependentObservations.The lectures were well attended by students andteachers.28

Lectures by Professors Probal Dasgupta, Visiting Professor(Indian) 2008-09At Jadavpur University, Kolkata:The Department of Philosophy under the headship ofDr. Madhumita Chattopadhyaya at Jadavpur Universityarranged the lectures of Professor Probal Dasgupta onth24 November 2008 and 14-16 January 2009 on thetopic “Philosophy and Language”.At Vishva Bharati, Shantiniketan:Three lectures were arranged by Dr. Bijoy Mukherjeefrom February 13-15, 2009 on the theme “Discourseand Generative Grammar: a Substantivist Approach.”The lectures were attended widely by teachers not onlyfrom Philosophy Department but also from otherlanguage department as well as Indology Department.Lectures by Professor G.C. Nayak, Annual Visiting Professor(Indian) 2008-09.At Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeetha,Tirupati:Professor G.C. Nayak, Annual Visiting Professor 2008-09 delivered lectures at Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeetha,Tirupati on the following topics during 5-9 February2009.At University of Madras, Chennai:Professor Probal Dasgupta delivered lectures on 23-24February 2009 on Substantivist linguistic theory atUniversity of Madras, Chennai which was arranged byDr. Siniruddha Dash.At English and Foreign LanguagesDepartment, Hyderabad:Lectures of Professor Probal Das Gupta werearranged by Professor Syed A. Sayeed, Head, Departmentof Arts, Aesthetics and Comparative Philosophyduring 24-28 February 2003, to be delivered atOsmania University, Hyderabad.Department of Philosophy, Gauhati University,Gawhati during 17-19 February 2009 on the followingtopics:1. Justice in Buddhism2. Sunyata3. The Concept of KarunaAt Sampurnanand Sanskrit University,Varanasi:Professor Nayak delivered a series of three lecturesduring March 17-19, 2009 on1. Philosophy of Advaita and World peace2. Philosophy of Kalidasa3. Indian Philosophy and its Social ConcernProf. G.C. Nayak alongwith Prof. Kutumba Shastriat Rashtriya Sanskrit University, Tirupati1. Moral Values in Vedanta2. Philosophical thoughts on Brihad Jatakam3. Synthesis of Yoga with special reference toSrimadbhagavadamThe faculty members and students of the Universitywere greatly benefited by the series of lectures.At Gauhati University:Professor G.C. Nayak delivered Annual Lectures at theProfessor G.C. Nayak delivering lectures atSampurnanand Sanskrit University, Varanasi29

Lectures by Professor P.K. Mukhopadhyaya, National Fellow.At Academic Centre, LucknowProfessor P.K. Mukhopadhyaya, National Fellow,delivered lectures on 13-17 November 2008 at theAcademic Centre, Lucknow on the topic “Philosophyof Language : Indian and Western”.At Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University,Katra, Udhampur, J&KProfessor P.K. Mukhopadhaya, National Fellowdelivered lectures on 25-26 November 2008. Thetopic of the lectures were Logic: Indian and Western,Philosophy of Language: Indian and Western.Professor Mukhopadhaya in his lecture argued thatIndian Logic is strikingly different from Western Logicsince Indian Logic is epistemological in nature whereasWestern Logic is formal and detached from any psychologicalcontents. Further he distinguished between“Doing Logic' and 'Philosophically Reflecting onLogic'. He delivered three technical lectures and ageneral lecture on theme Science Technology and Society: Aphilosopher's response. The lecture was a great success andwas attended by faculty members and students ofuniversity. Professor N.K Bansal, Vice Chancellorpresided over the session and gave thought provokingThe Council organizes Periodical Lectures for thepromotion of philosophy among young students ofdifferent cities in India on a low cost budget. Seniorscholars of the local area are requested to lecture to theyoung scholars, researchers and teachers so as to enablethem to be benefited by the lectures.The Council organized Periodical lectures in thefollowing places yielding very good results.remarks. All lectures of Professor P.K.Mukhopadhayaya were scholarly and highly appreciated.On behalf of the School of Philosophy andCulture, Dr. V.K. Tripathi expressed thanks to theNational Fellow.At Kurukshetra:Periodical LecturesProfessor P.K. Mukhopadhyaya delivered lecturesduring 26-27 March 2009 on the following topics atDepartment of Sanskrit, Pali and Prakrit, KurukshetraUniversity.1. 26 March 2009 (forenoon): Changing Perceptionsof Indian Philosophy and Culture.2. 26 March 2009 (forenoon) : Bhartrhari and Philosophyof Language I3. 26 March 2009 (afternoon) : Bhartrhari andPhilosophy of Language II4. 27 March 2009 (forenoon) Understanding andKnowing : A problem in the theory of SabdaPramana-I5. 27 March 2009 (forenoon) Understanding andKnowing : A problem in the theory of SabdaPramana-II The Philosophy Department, under the headshipof Ms. Monica Saikia, Sibsagar College, Joysagar,Assam organized a lecture by Dr. Girish Boruahon 'Advaita Vedanta and Vaishnavism of MahapurushaSri Sri Sankaradeva' on 12 December 2008. Alarge number of scholars as well as teachers ofphilosophy and other disciplines attended thesame.Dr. Girish Boruah lecturingAudience spell bound30

Dr. H.C. Yadav introducing the speakers,Prof. H.S. Prasad and Prof. A.D. Sharma Dr. H.C. Yadav, Head, Department of Philosophy,DAVP College Ausanganj, Varanasi organized alecture programme by inviting Professors, H.S.Prasad of Delhi University and Ambika DuttaProfessor H.S. Prasad delivering thePeriodical LecturesSharma of Sagar University to speak on the topicPhilosophy in the Contemporary World on 16thJanuary 2009. While Professor H.S. Prasad spokeon the Significance of Philosophy in Society by speakingof moral values and its criteria we adopt, Dr. A.D.Sharma expounded the view that where scienceends, philosophy begins and therefore, the contributionof philosophy to the society and the contemporaryworld is far greater. The lectureprogramme was reported in different newspapers. On the topic Aaj ke samaajik Parivesh mein darshan kiUpyogita' an interesting lecture was delivered byProfessor D.N. Dwivedi, retired Professor ofAllahabad University at Gandhi Faiz-e-Aam, P.G.College, Shahjahanpur, on 24th January 2009.Professor Dwivedi dwelt on the importance andsignificance of Philosophy in applied area in theSociety. There were several scholars who attendedProfessor D.N. Dwivedi lectures on the importanceof Philosophythe lecture programme which was well arranged byDr. Seema Sharma, Head of the Department ofPhilosophy. Two eminent scholars namely, Professor P.K.Mohapatra of Utkal University and Professor N.Malla of NEHU delivered lectures on the topics“Ethics and the Society” and “Philosophy ofEducation in the Indian Context” respectively atthe Department of Philosophy, Choudwar College,Cuttack on 28th January 2009. A largenumber of teachers and students of philosophydepartment and other departments attended andparticipated in the lecture. The thrust of thelectures was to emphasize Philosophical andEthical Knowledge which are of prime importanceat all professional levels and also on how thepresent educational system could be changed bycreating good human beings to develop theircognitive faculty for a better living. A one day Lecture Programme was organized bythe Department of Philosophy, Choudwar College,Choudwar on 28 January, 2009 in which Prof.P.K. Mohapatra, Retired HOD of Philosophy ofUtkal University, Vani Vihar, Bhubaneswar deliv-Professor P.K. Mohapatra delivering a lecture31

ered a lecture on Ethics and The Society. The studentsand teachers of the Department of Philosophyas well as of other departments of the Collegewere present. Many teachers from nearby Collegesalso participated in the programme.The main contention of the lecture was that man ismoral by nature and becomes immoral only undercompulsion. A human being's reaction to animmoral act might be characterized by eitherescapism or cynicism or by aggressive action andboth are counter productive and to be avoided. Theright course is to take a positive action to free thesociety from evil and corruption. It is not alwaysthe attempt at achieving wholesale good of thehuman society that counts, but even the attempt forthe good in bits and pieces is praiseworthy. Theessence of the moral rule is the reciprocity amongpeople in the society. It is in this context that Ethicsand Philosophy gain prominence in the presentscenario. Philosophical and Ethical knowledge areof prime importance even in business conduct andprofessional action. Honesty is the best policy in allwalks of life.The second lecture was delivered by Prof.Netrananda Malla, retired Professor of Philosophyof North Eastern Hill University on Philosophy oflivelihood. This has been frustrated by the fact thattop priority in planning and administration ofeducation has been given to creation of wealth.This has led to commercialization, privatizationand mushrooming of coaching centres and privatetuition as an outcome. Mahatma Gandhi hadrightly envisioned that education up to matriculationshould be compulsory and higher educationshould be privatized. But we are moving in theopposite direction. While primary and secondaryeducation is getting more and more expensive,higher education has been comparatively lessexpensive.The lectures were followed by discussions andappreciated by those who attended theprogramme. On 29 January 2009, the Department of Philosophy,Narishiksha Niketan, P.G. College, Lucknowunder the headship of Dr. Indu Kumari invitedProfessor H.N. Mishra delivering lecture atNarishiksha Niketan P.G. College, LucknowProfessor H.N. Mishra, former Head, Departmentof Philosophy, Nagarjuna University, to deliver alecture on Pratityasamutpada to an audience ofaround 150 students and other scholars. ProfessorPeriodical Lecture with Professor N. MallaEducation in Indian Context. The students andteachers of the Department of Philosophy as wellas of other departments of the College werepresent and participated in the discussion.The main thesis of the Lecture was that the presenteducational scene in India is in a mess and all theattempts aimed at the growth of education in postindependentIndia has been counterproductive andconfusing. The argument of the lecture was thatthe aim of education is to create good humanbeings, to develop their cognitive faculty, knowledgeand wisdom and to enable them to earn theirStudents of Narishiksha Niketan PG College,Lucknow listening to the lecture32

Mishra, while explicating the concept ofPratityasamutpada, drew the attention of the scholarsto the different concepts of Buddhism. Dr. Sumukhi, Head of the the Department ofPhilosophy, H.H.M.S.P.B., NSS college for Women,Thiruvananthapuram organized a lecture on“Management—a Bhagawad Gita Perspective” on The Department of Philosophy under the headshipof Dr. D.C. Srivastava, Christ Church College,Kanpur organized a Lecture programme on 30thJanuary 2009 by Professor Bijoy H. Boruah,Professor Bijoy Boruah lectures on'Cultural Identity and Global Solidarity'Shri P.N. Subramanian delivering lecture onBhagavad Gita30 January 2009. The lecture was delivered by ShriP.N. Subramanian, Dy. Director (Retd.), VikramSarabhai, Space Centre and Chief Executive ofBrahmanada Research Foundation for ManagementHeadship studies. Thiruvanantha-puram.Shri Subramanian spoke briefly on modern trendsin management and introduced the general conceptsof the Bhagavad Gita, the situation of itsdelivery as positioned in Mahabharata of VedaVyasa. The speaker used power point presentationfor giving his views. A group of 105 participantsdrawn from the student-teacher community werebenefited from the lecture.Students and teachers attending the periodicallecture programmeVisiting Professor of Philosophy, IIT, Delhi. Thetitle of his lecture was ‘Cultural Identity and GlobalSolidarity’. Speaking on the occasion, ProfessorBoruah opined that modernity seems to haveinevitably led to a human world of globalizedcharacter in all the significant dimensions—economic,political, cultural, educationaletc. In one sense, globalization is a form ofcivilization of homogenization, in which culturaldiversity rooted in local human practices is graduallymarginalized and eventually diluted in a“faceless” space of general humanity. On theother hand, there is reactive post modernity thatwitnesses and celebrates the heterogeneity of acultural humanity. The lecture was concluded bybringing out the ideas of how human individual'scultural identity is perfectly compatible with his orher sense of global solidarity. The lecture wasattended by more than 50 scholars from differentinstitutions and colleges of the city. Professor D.N. Dwivedi of Allahabad Universitydelivered a lecture on Brain, Mind and Consciousness(with special reference to Western Theories) on30th January 2009 at CMP Degree College,Allahabad under the headship of Dr.(Mrs.) RamaRani. The lecture was attended by 300 studentsand 50 teachers. There was a very thought provokingand interactive discussion after the lecture. Itwas felt that the impact of the lecture was such thatan interest was created among the students ofphilosophy to pursue their future studies andresearch in philosophy.33

A lecture was delivered by Professor Asha Maudgilon Applied Ethics to a large gathering of students inGovernment College, Ropar in Punjab on 30thJanuary 2009 arranged by Dr. Rajvinder Singh. A one day lecture-cum-seminar programme wasarranged by Professor A.N. Patel, Department ofPhilosophy, Deogarh College, Deogarh on 15thFebruary 2009. There were two distinguishedspeakers, namely Professor Laxman Behera, At the Seminar Hall of Mahilla V.P.G. College,Aminabad, Lucknow, a lecture programme wasarranged by Dr. Vineeta on February 5th, 2009.Professor Rajendra Prasad delivering lectureat LucknowProfessors Behera, Pujari and Sahu alongwith Prof.A.N. Patel during the lecture programme at DeogarhH.O.D. of Philosophy, G.M. College, Sambalpurand Professor Sudarshan Pujari, Principal,Women's College, Bargarh. The topics of thelectures were “Making Philosophy Intelligible and Useful:The call of the hour” and “Political India, ReligiousGandhi” respectively. Professor B.N. Sahu whopresided, spoke about the importance of philosophyin the present era of globalization. Government Ranbir College, Sangrur, Panjabarranged a lecture by Mufti Fuzail ur-Rehman HilalUsmani on Social Justice and Status of Women in Indiaon 4th February 2009 under the headship of Dr.Rajbala Sekhon. There was a good participationwhere students of colleges were benefited throughintense interactions.Professor Usmani delivering the lectureThe lecture was delivered by Professor RajendraPrasad, Rtd. Professor of IIT, Kanpur on the topicDarshan ki Prasangikata. Around 110 students andStudents and teachers of Mahila College Lucknowlistening to the lecture80 lecturers including the staff members attendedthe lecture programme. The lecture was covered bylocal and national daily as well as news channels.Around 10 newspapers of Hindi, English and Urdupublished the report of the programme on February6, 2009. Professor Parshuram Kar, Head, Department ofPhilosophy, V.N. College, Jajpur Road, Orissaorganized a one day lecture by Professor N. Malla,Retd. Professor of NEHU, the Guest of Honourand Professor A.K. Mohanty, the Chief Speaker on4th February 2009. After giving an introductoryspeech, Professor Kar gave the floor to ProfessorMalla to deliver his lecture. Professor Malla upheld34

Prof. P. Kar, Professor N. Malla, Prof. A.K. Mohantyand others on the daisthe view that Philosophy is not only confined to thedoctrines or postulates but is also a way of life.That is to say it is associated with thoughts andactions of the persons in the society. He stressedthe ethical aspects of philosophical thought in alucid manner and spoke on its applicability in everysocial problem. Professor A.K. Mohanty addressedthe participants regarding the nature and scope ofphilosophy in the 21st Century by making a cleardistinction between Philosophy, Science andApplied Philosophy. Dr. Aditya Kumar Mohanty, Professor and Coordinator,Centre of Advance Study in Philosophy,Utkal University, Bhubanewsar was invited as aChief Guest-cum-Speaker by the Department ofPhilosophy, Rama Devi Women's (Autonomous)College, Bhubaneswar, Orissa, on Saturday,February 07, 2009. Professor Mohanty deliveredhis lecture on “Philosophy, Science and Spirituality”. Histalk was followed by an interactive session. TheLecture was attended by a large number of students,faculty members and guests. A lecture on 'Humanism with special reference toVivekananda, Dr. Radhakrishnan, and Karl Marx'was organized at Department of Philosophy, BajaliCollege, Barpeda, Assam on February 10, 2009.Dr. Pranita Devi, HOD, Philosophy Department,explained the purpose of the lecture which wasinaugurated by Dr. Debendra Nath Sarma, Principalof the College. Dr. Girish Sharma, PhilosophyDepartment, Gauhati University, delivered thelecture with reference to the contributions of ICPRtowards development of philosophical studies andresearch at the national level. Dr. Sharma discussedthe concept of humanism in the East and the Westand also differences of the humanism of the EastLecture session at Bajali College, Barpedaand the West. He stated “Humanism is not a newphilosophy, it is a traditional concept of man whichis spiritual and we cannot ignore the tradition,whether one may accept it or not”. There was another lecture programme organizedby Dr. Basant Kumar Das, Philosophy Department,Government College, Angul at Orissa on11th February 2009. Professor P.K. Mohapatraand Professor G.P. Das, the two eminent scholarswere invited to deliver their lectures on IndianValues. About 75 participants including teachersand students participated in the lectureprogramme. Professor Mohapatra in his addresspreferred to reject the three fundamental featuresof our value traditions such as Universality,Metaphysicality and Negativity which generallyconstitute the distinctive features of Indian valuetradition. Professor G.P. Das in his addressemphasized the moral practices of the individualand the society for the growth of a healthy society.The deliberations were followed by fruitful discussionby the participants. The Department of Philosophy, Deogarh College,Deogarh arranged two lectures by ProfessorLaxman Behera, G.M. College, Sambalpur on“Making Philosophy Intelligible and useful : The Call of thehour” and Professor Sudarshan Pujari, Principal,Women's College, Bargarh on “Political India,Religious Gandhi”. Professor Pujari explained therelevance of Gandhian Philosophy to the contemporarysociety. A lecture on Srimadbhagvat: Ras Prasthan was deliveredby Professor Vindhyeshwari Prasad Mishra atVasant Kanya Mahavidhyalaya, Varanasi on 19thFebruary 2009. The lecture programme attracted a35

Professor V. Prasad delivering the lectureStudents and the faculty listening to the lecturesSession on: Students, scholars and teachers insidethe halllarge number of students, researchers and teachers.Professor Mishra emphasized the importance ofPrasthanatrayi in Indian Philosophy. This programmewas featured in many daily newspapers. Scholarsfrom BHU and other institutions attended thelecture. The Department of Philosophy, Sree NarayanaCollege, Kollam organized lectures by Dr.Sadasivan Nair on Development of Values: Role ofUpanishads and Bhagawad Gita and by Dr. N.Gopalakrishnan on Value based Education respectivelyon 19th February 2009. There were about140 scholars who actively participated in thediscussions and deliberations of the lectureprogramme. The lecture programme of Govt. College,Palakkad, Kerala was inaugurated by Mr. M.Mahalingam, Vice Principal on 20th February2009. Dr. V. Prabhakaran, Head, Department ofPhilosophy presided over the function. ProfessorChithambaram, in his felicitation address indicatedthe close relation between philosophy and mathematics,especially, the logical basis of mathematics.Dr. A. Kanthamani lecturing on Quine: Grammar,Logic and LanguageDr. Sadasivan Nair delivering the lectureAn eminent scholar of philosophy, Dr. A.Kanthamani, retired Professor, University ofCalicut presented a paper on “Quine on Grammar,Logic and Language”. Copies of the script weredistributed among the participants which included36

Partial view of the audience at Govt. College PalakkadParticipants of the lecture programmestudents, research scholars, and teachers. Therewas a high level discussion session with all theparticipants. The Hans Raj Mahila Mahavidyalaya, Jalandhararranged a lecture programme on 21 February 2009by Dr. Gurusharanjit Singh of Guru Nanak DevUniversity, Amritsar. He delivered a lecture onPhilosophy of Sikhism. Dr. Singh concentrated on themulamantra of Sikhism and explained with Shabadsof Gurbani. Around 100 students and teachers werebenefited by this lecture. K.G.K. College, Moradabad organized a lecture byProfessor J. Sankar Tiwari of Allahabad Universityon 21st February 2009 on the topic Nitshastra:Vikas On 28th February 2009, the Department ofPhilosophy, Govt. College, Chandigarh organized alecture by Professor V.T. Sebastian. About 100participants, 40 lecturers and 60 students attendedthe programme. The title of the lecture was “Whyphilosophy?” Speaking on the occasion, ProfessorDr V.T. Sebastian lecturing on 'Why Philosophy'?Prof. J.S. Tiwari lecturing at K.G.K. College,MoradabadKe Kritipay Charan by A.K. Singh. The lecture wasattended by several scholars of Moradabad area andhad a great impact as two daily newspapersreported the event to publicize ICPR contributionin promoting research through this scheme.Sebastian addressed various issues pertaining tophilosophy, such as, what is philosophy, the natureof philosophy, the role of the philosophy in today'smaterialistic world. He pointed out that the studyof philosophy equips a person with the capacity ofratiocination and self-reflection. The talk also dealtwith such pertinent questions as the differencebetween knowledge and wisdom, the nature ofconsciousness, human nature etc. The talk wasfollowed by a good interaction with the facultymembers and students of the college. Another lecture programme was organized by Dr.R.P. Singh, Department of Philosophy, BaisawaraP.G. College, Lalganj, Rai Bareli on 28 February2009. Dr. Ramjay Pratap Singh delivered a lecture37

Dr. Ramjay Pratap Singh delivering lecture atP.G. College, Rai BareliDr. R.P. Singh, Dr. D.C. Srivastava and the faculty ofP.G. College, Lalganj, Bareilion “Sanskriti evam mulya siksha paddhati kipurnasamsacana ke sandarbha mein”. Dr. D.C.Srivastava from Christ Church College, Kanpurdelivered lecture on “Philosophy and Human Values:Key to Solving Global Problems”. A lecture programme on Awareness of EnvironmentalEthics was conducted by Salepur College, Cuttackon 21st February 2009. Professor S.C. PanigrahiLecture on Awareness of Environmental Ethicsspoke at length on the three approaches of EnvironmentalEthics, i.e. Anthropocentrism, Biocentrismand Eco-centrism. Professor S. Paneerselvam of Madras Universitydelivered a lecture on Post Modernism at Departmentof Philosophy, University College, Trivandrum on2nd March 2009. The lecture was most beneficialto P.G. Students as well as to the research scholarsand teachers of Philosophy. Department of Philosophy, Government Collegefor Women, Tirivandrum also arranged a lecture on3 March 2009 by Professor S. Panneerselvam onHermeneutical Turn in Philosophy. ProfessorPanneerselvam presented his views in a systematicand methodical manner through L.C.D. presentationwith public address system. The thoughtinspiring lecture lasted for 2 hours followed bystormy discussion by the students and teachers ofphilosophy as well as of other departments. Dev Samaj College for Women in Ferozepur city,Punjab organized the Professor Daya KrishnaMemorial Lecture on 4th March 2009. The lecturewas delivered by Dr. Lallan Singh Baghel, Departmentof Philosophy, Punjab University,Chandigarh. The session was chaired by theCollege Principal, Dr. (Mrs.) Madhu Parashar.Around 400 students actively participated in thislecture programme. The Department of Philosophy, Cotton College,Gauhati, organized a lecture programme on 23rdMarch 2009 by Professor Dilip Kumar Chakrabartyon “Kant and Hare on Moral Universalization”. In hislecture Professor Chakrabarty dealt with differentaspects of moral universalizability with referenceto two important thinkers, Kant and Hare. Heshowed that the two thinkers shared some commonviews about universalizability of moralstatements. The lecture was followed by aninteractive session. A lecture on Philosophy of Language: Indian andWestern Perspective was organized by Maharajas'College, Ernakulam, Kerala on 4th March 2009.The lecture was delivered by Professor S.Pannerselvam of University of Madras who gave afine exposition of philosophical problems relatedwith language and opined that problems are thecreation of philosophers and not of the language.38

PublicationsThe Council has a publication programme under whichit brings out quality work of renowned scholars ofphilosophy and interdisciplinary studies. The publicationsof the Council represent a varied range such asbooks on Classical Indian Philosophy, ContemporaryIndian Philosophy, works on Contemporary IndianPhilosophers, ICPR documentation Series, Books ofReadings and Reference Publications. The Council hasso far brought out110 titles.Recent Titles brought out by the Council Tradition and Truth: Writings in Indian and WesternPhilosophy by S.P. Banerjee, edited by Ishita Banerjee. The Nature of Philosophy by Daya Krishna History of Indian Philosophy ed. Marietta Stephanyants(reprint)The Academic Centre of the ICPR located at Lucknowhouses an up-to-date specialized library in philosophy,with all facilities available for scholars from the countryto visit and make use of it. The library has at presentapproximately 30,000 books, 105 philosophicaljournals and 22 journals on exchange basis. TheNations' Philosophical Archives has got differentmanuscripts and related artifacts of Philosophers forForthcoming TitlesLibrary Ethics, Language and Tradition: Essays on the Philosophyof Rajendra Prasad edited by B. Kar. The Philosophy of Tamil Siddhas by T.N. Ganapathy(reprint)posterity. The facilities for borrowing and reading thebooks, reprographic services are available for all.Besides this, the scholars can get the acquisition lists ofbooks and journals on request against nominal payment.The Academic Centre is revived not only as adepository of knowledge, but also as a crucible forgenerating new knowledge. Computerization of theLibrary is almost over.Chairman and Member Secretary visit the library at the Academic Centre, Lucknow39

Journal of Indian Council of Philosophical ResearchEditor : Godabarisha MishraVolume XXIV No. 3 Volume XXIV No. 44ARTICLESR. BALASUBRAMANIANPrimal Spirituality, Philosophical Knowledge,and Plenary Experience Section-IBINA GUPTAFreedom in Indian PhilosophyP.S. SHEKHAWATBuddhism and Human Development Today:Integration of Personal and Social DevelopmentASHOK VOHRAReligious Beliefs, Science and ExplanationGEETA RAMANAThe Self and the Quale of ConsciousnessN. SREEKUMARSelf-Creation and Democratic Politics:Rotry's Redescription of NietzscheNIRMALYA GUHAPervasion in Nyâya: Some Confusionsand ClarificationsREVIEW ARTICLEGODABARISHA MISHRALiving with and Introspecting on IllusionBOOK REVIEWSP.T.G.Y. SAMPATHKUMARACHARYULU :Varadarâja's Târkikaraksâ : Sârasamgraha withcommentary Vivrti of Harihara Diksitaby Vedavalli NarayananG. VEDAPARAYANA: Jean-Paul Sartre andJiddu Krishnamurti on Consciousness and Freedomby R.P. SinghN.S. DRAVID: Paksatâby Sachchidanand MishraARTICLESFRED DALLMAYRLiberal Democracy and its Critics: Some Voicesfrom East and WestR. BALASUBRAMANIANPrimal Spirituality, Philosophical Knowledge,and Plenary Experience-IIJOHN STRATTON HAWLEYThe Bhakti Movement—Since When?BIJOY BORUAHLanguage, Mind and ConsciousnessGOUTAM BISWASAesthetic Cognition and its Object: Possibility ofHermeneutics beyond Meaning? Reflections on theStand-point of K.C. BhattacharyaT.S. RUKMANIVijnanabhiksu: A Maverick PhilosopherREVIEW ARTICLEPRADEEP P. GOKHALEIntroducing Buddhism with a PerspectiveBOOK REVIEWSP. SRIRAMACHANDRUDU:Pâúcatyatattvaúâstretihâsashby Shashiprabha KumarRANJAN K. GHOSH: Making Sense of Artby Rekha Jhanji40

Journal of Indian Council of Philosophical ResearchEditor : Godabarisha MishraThe contents of the forthcoming issues of JICPR are given below:Volume XXV No. 1Volume XXV XXIV No. No. 2 4ARTICLESS.M.S. CHARIThe Concept of Bhakti in the Vedic and thepost-Upanisadic PeriodSHIN NAGAI'Phenomenology of the 'Inapparent' and 'OrientalPhilosophy': Towards a Phenomenology of'Emptiness'C.R. AGERAIndra's Battle Against Vrtra: A HermeneuticalStudy of Rg Veda, I: 32.11 and VII: 19.5THOMAS NENONConfrontations with ModernitySIBY K. GEORGETechnology and the Modern Predicament: Heideggeron the Saving GraceJONARDON GANERISanskrit Philosophical CommentaryDISCUSSION AND COMMENTSSRINIVASA RAO: The Possibility ofDehâtmavâda: A Critique of PanditBadrinath ShuklaREVIEW ARTICLEGODABARISHA MISHRAMurti and his Philosophical ExplorationsBOOK REVIEWSNIRBHAI SINGH: The Sikh Vision of HeroicLife and Death by Sujata MiriDEVENDRANATH TIWARI: The CentralProblems of Bhartrhari's Philosophyby Tandra PatnaikARTICLESDOUGLAS ALLENGandhi, Phenomenology, and GlobalizationKANCHANA MAHADEVANRorty, Haack and Feminist Epistemology:Rethinking ObjectivityBHAGAT OINAMHuman Rights as Legal Rights! But What LiesBeneath?S.R. TALGHATTI~ ~Jnâneúvara's View of Jnâna-BhaktiMASATO MITSUDAA Mathematical Approach to the MâdhyamikaDoctrine of ŒûnyatâNALINI BHUSHAN & JAY L GARFIELDWhose Voice? Whose Tongue? Indian Philosophyin English from Renaissance to IndependenceSRINIVASA RAOWhat did Œankara Really Teach? : A SelectiveExposition of Swâmi Paramânanda Bhârati'sVedânta PrabodhaDISCUSSION & COMMENTSD.N. TIWARI: A Discussion on the Potency ofWords ( úabdaúaktivimarúah): Indian ContextBOOK REVIEWSP.K. MOHAPATRA: Ethics and Society:An Essay in Applied Ethicsby R.C. PradhanG.C. NAYAK: Reflections on Indian Wisdom:Philosophical Perspectivesby Srinivasa Rao