Pune Vicharvedh, an organisation aiming to instil progressive and critical thinking, and encourage alternative perspectives, will be holding the 17th annual conference on the theme, ‘Against Commercialisation and Sectarianisation of Education’. The conference will be held in Pune, on February 10 and 11, 2018.
On the occasion, Vicharvedh has invited essays on any of the two themes - ‘Education has become a commodity and market for the same is soaring high, way beyond our reach. (We are puzzled and helpless),’ and, ‘Do not glorify history. Do not put it on a high pedestal. Instead, step on it to understand the essence of it to view the future’.
Interested individuals may write essays of 500-1000 words in Marathi, Hindi or English and submit them online to info@vicharvedh.org.Offline submissions can also be sent to Arundhati Gadale, Mkcl, 5th Floor, B wing, I.C.C Trade Tower, Senapati Bapat Marg, Pune, 411016. The last date for the submission is November 30.
Vicharvedh was launched in 1993 by a group of progressive thinkers, after being highly disturbed by the demolition of Babri Masjid and the violence that followed. The objective of the organisation is to energise a discourse on humanitarian, secular, democratic values as well as explore social, economic, political alternatives and pave a path to building a developed egalitarian India. Some of the prominent members include IITians Vijay M. Naik, Satish Khot and Anand Karandikar.
Speaking to Hindustan Times, Khot, said, “As a term, Vicharvedh means ‘quest’. It is a search, a critical inquiry into thinking beyond. The platform was created by progressive individuals, organisations and institutions of all shades to think beyond the differentiated details of their own visions and strategies, and collectively encourage alternative thinking. We want to look on the other side of the coin as well and inquire into the values governing the society and analyse their effects on several fronts, education being one of them.”
{{/usCountry}}Speaking to Hindustan Times, Khot, said, “As a term, Vicharvedh means ‘quest’. It is a search, a critical inquiry into thinking beyond. The platform was created by progressive individuals, organisations and institutions of all shades to think beyond the differentiated details of their own visions and strategies, and collectively encourage alternative thinking. We want to look on the other side of the coin as well and inquire into the values governing the society and analyse their effects on several fronts, education being one of them.”
{{/usCountry}}All the essays received will be published on the website. Contributors will receive a certificate and a book as a gift along with an opportunity to be a part of the Vicharvedh conference.