ICPR sponsored periodical lecture

ICPR sponsored periodical lecture 2019, organized by the Department of philosophy, Bankura  Zilla Saradamani  Mahila Mahavidyapith

Resource Person:
1) Dr. Dipayan Pattanayak, Associate Professor, Dept. Of Philosophy, Jadavpur University.
2) Dr. Samim Ahmed, Associate Professor, Dept.  Of Philosophy, Ramkrishna Mission Vidyamandira.

ICPR sponsored periodical lecture organized by the department of philosophy, Bankura  Zilla Saradamani  Mahila Mahavidyapith  was held in seminar hall of the B.Z.S.M. Mahavidyapith on 27/03/ 19. The programme was started with welcome address by the Principalof the college. The thrustarea of this lecture was contemporary Indian Philosophy. The department invited two speakers from two different institutions to deliver lecture on this area. After introduction of the theme by Head Of the Department, the first speaker Dr. Samim Ahmed, Associate Professor, Ramkrishna Mission Vidyamandira was requested to deliver his lecture. Dr. Ahmed prepared his talk mainly on the moral philosophy Sri Sri Ramkrishna. He made it clear that thoughwe do not count Sri Sri Ramkrishna as a philosopher usually, there are so manyphilosophicalissues which have been emphasized by Paramhansa in his conversation with disciples and dissidents. He also pointed out  that the massive central core of Ramkrishna’s thought was reconciliation of different philosophical and religious views. Thoughtraditionally he is counted as a champion of Hinduism, in reality he was deeply moved by the thought and teaching of Buddha, Jesus and Hazrat. It was Paramhansa who made us conscious a person can follow any path of liberation in accordance with his will.  “Jata Mat Tato Path”-this ideal was advocated by him in such a way that it impressed indelibly the Bengali mind in particular, as well as Indian unconscious in general. He set a remarkable example of plain living and high thinking. It is his generosity that enabled Sri Ramkrishna to extend support not only to the loyal dissident, but to handle unruly followers like Naren and Girish bysoft hands.

After conclusion of Dr. Ahmed’s lecture there was a short tea break. The programme was resumed with the presentation of Dr. Dipayan Pattanayak, Associate Professor, Dept. of Philosophy, Jadavpur university. Dr. Pattanayak tried his best to give a logical geography of expression contemporary in present day scenario. He made it obvious by contemporary Indian thought he wants to mean the philosophical development that has been taken place in 19^th and  20^th  century. The philosophical thought of the last two centuries in his opinion wasastruggle to restore the Vedic-Upanishadic trend against the scientific and social changes. This struggle gave birth of some innovative thought in the confluence of Indian Philosophy. Of such innovative concept one is reinterpretation of Dharma. This reinterpretation is witnessed in the writings of eminent Bengali novelist Bankim Chandra chattopadhya. In his Dharmatattwa Bankim tries to depict different senses in which “Dharma” is generally used. Highlighting the perplexities centredaround the expression “Dharma” Chattopadhya indeverse to point out the two sense in which “Dharma” should be taken. In this connection he makes it clear that observation of “Dharma” should be linked withtheattainment of human pleasure. He warnsus that if observation of “Dharma” has nothing to do with the accomplishment of happiness of man kind, men will forget its observation soon. So, this temptation led  Bankim explain “Dharma” as a  balanced culture of all human faculties – physical, cognitive, executionary and esthetic. There are several contribution ofRabindranath Tagore. Tagore made to contemporary Indian thought one unique  notion that has been introduce by him is the notion of “Surplus in Man” in his view a man is earth’s child with heaven’s hair. He is not just an animal, rather an infinite being in his finite existence. To Vivekananda also men is not just a physical entity rather a spiritual being, every individual is potentially divine. It is his failure to realized his own nature that led human being to think that his finite, imperfect, sinner and illiterate.

   In this way Prof. Pattanayak encouraged the students to learn the teaching of the great propose offer of our time and also inspired this students to go beyond their narrowness.

   After completion of two lecture the students were asked to raise questions from the topics discussed. A student of UG 2^nd semester Nabanita Roy asked Prof. Pattanayak to clarify the notion of “Kachan Ami” and “Pakan Ami” taking illustration from every day life. Prof. pattanayak made the distinctionclear. In answering another question raised by UG 4^th semester student Itu Das. Prof. Ahmed interpreted the etymological meaning of the term “Dharma”.

   In this way the programme ended with a vote of thanks by the Head of the Department of Philosophy at 3.30 p.m.