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A regional seminar was organized by LASIE – KSS as a prelude to the full-fledged annual seminar conducted by the Kerala Sociological Society on 29/10/2018 at LES Hall, Loyola College of Social Sciences. The function was blessed by Dr. Rajan Gurukkal, former Vice Chancellor of MG University as the guest of honour. Niranjana Mohan (1styr M.A Sociology) was invited for the prayer song followed by welcome speech delivered by Dr. Nisha Jolly Nelson (HOD, Department of Sociology). The presidential address was delivered by Dr. Saji P Jacob, (Principal, LCSS). The theme of the Seminar was “Society, Sociology and Social Engagement”. The seminar was inaugurated by Dr. Rajan Gurukkal who spoke on the emergence of the science of sociology and the elements of scientific integrity of a sociologist and social historical background on science of sociology tracing from the theory of Newton. He brought out the key ideas of classical sociologist like Marx, Durkheim and Weber. He pointed out that sociology is the theoretical understanding of society. He enlightened the students who gathered there with his ideas on the fundamental differences in the approach of a historian and a sociologist. According to him, a historian treats society in a frozen state whereas a sociologist should not heed about the chronological order of affairs. He invited the attention of the students to the conceptual schema of praxis and positivism.
Even though Dr. Gurukkal is a historian the insights he shared unravels his Sociological knowledge-base. The session ended with a discussion. The discussion kindled the thought process of the audience as he connected the socially relevant issues with Sociological theory which in itself is Social Engagement.
A one day national seminar was conducted on the topic “Currents in Gender and Democracy: The Role of Media” started around 9:43am. The seminar was introduced and the audience were welcomed by Jahnavi Nair (1styr M.A Sociology) and Aloysius (2ndyr M. A Sociology) by projecting the theme of the national seminar. The program started by invoking the blessings of God almighty. Reshma Raveendran (1styr M.A Sociology) was invited for the prayer song followed by welcome speech delivered by Mrs. Smitha Pillai (Faculty, Department of Sociology). The presidential address was presented by Dr. Saji P Jacob, (Principal, LCSS) by pointing out that the themes Media, Gender and Democracy interconnected and are very complicated.
The presidential address was followed by inaugural address and lamp lighting ceremony. Eminent Scholar Dr. Jacob John Kattakkayam, the guest of honour, congratulated the Sociology department for organizing this national seminar. He pointed out that if women have the power to take independent decisions then only we will be able to eradicate gender inequality. The keynote address was delivered by Dr. J. Prabhash (eminent political scientist and former Pro- Vice Chancellor University of Kerala). He pointed out the issues related to gender and wellbeing in order to propose alternative ways with a view to improve the quality of life, “both democracy and media facing a severe crisis”. He also said that if need to improve the quality of media, it’s we who have to raise voice against inequalities existing, then only media will get the fire to ask questions. Society is now melting into crowd. Women are present but are absent in many spheres of society. There should be proper institutions then only can give proper guidance to democracy. He points out that Media should ask questions then only can say truth to power. He also added that strategy needs to be developed through a democratic process to create gender equality. Before concluding, he congratulated Sociology department for organizing this seminar on such important theme.
Dr. Sabu P Thomas, Vice Principal, LCSS felicitated the gathering by projecting today’s reality that women are being alienated, democracy taking a different turn and media in the hands of business oriented people. Still there are ways we could overcome this existing issues. Ms. Liny Jolly (Faculty, Department of sociology) proposed the vote of thanks and reflected upon the discussions, thereby thanking the participants and audience. After the tea break, special session started around 11: 17, moderated by Dr. Sonny Jose (Head, Department of Social work). Panelists – Mr. M G Radhakrishnan (Editor in chief, Asianet news) pointed out that how media projects women and how it should be studied in different ways. He pointed out that in Kerala women live longer, Women enjoys much more than men and also he said we need to overcome the existing stereotypes. The session was open for discussion later
The next session was by Dr. Jameela Beegum (Former Head and Dean, Institute of English, University of Kerala). She pointed out the need in bringing gender justice, gender empowerment and how women and media have to play an important role. Lots of challenging questions were raised at the end of the session. Dr. Sonny Jose concluded by pointing all the points discussed by the session panelists. Around 12:45 technical session started which was chaired by Dr. Nisha Jolly Nelson. The paper presentations were mainly focused on women and media, television as an agent of gender socialization, beauty myth and its false belief, porn addiction and portrayal of women in media.
The afternoon sessions started at 2:00pm on the topic Media and Democracy was moderated by Dr Pramod S K (Head of Department, Counseling Psychology). The panelists were Mr. Gouridasan Nair (Senior journalist, The Hindu Daily) and Dr.N P Chandrashekharan (Director, News and Current Affairs). The moderator invited two panelists and gave a brief idea about the topic. Mr. Gouridasan Nair started his session around 2:15pm were he pointed out the growth of liberal democracy. He stated that media has an important role in commercializing knowledge in these times using technological advancements. He also pointed out that democracy and media having under lied connection which is deeply rooted .and he said about how the social media monitors our privacy accounts by pointing to an example of Cambridge Analytica, the international data mining and Analysis Company which helped US President Donald Trump win the elections through a targeted communication campaign. Media is now used as a weapon for the destruction of democracy. He said that media is now governing each and every individual and lack of privacy is a major crisis in social media. After his discussion the moderator pointed that media is ruling our life rather than we rule them and stated that media is an eye opener. After the comments of moderator Dr. N P Chandrashekharan (Director, News and current affairs), Malayalam communications ltd ) started his session by supporting the statement of moderator media is an eye opener. He said that without media we cannot think see, feel, think, watch, live and make opinions etc. media is not made for a single individual, it connects the people together. Actually media might not focus on truth, something seems to be truth is projected by the media and people came to believe it as truth. He said that we should have to interact with media consciously. Media is controlling us rather than us controlling them. Now it is an almighty than God. It measures us in sixteen types. Later the session was opened for discussion.
The discussion included questions raised by Mr. Prasad R (faculty and research scholar) on how does the speaker holds the ethics of media in preserving democracy. A supportive argument was raised by Ms. Aneeta (research scholar).
The Valedictory functions started around 3:30 were Mr. Prasad (Faculty, research scholar) delivered the welcome speech. He welcomed Dr. Antony Palackkal (Faculty, Department of Sociology, Karyavattom, University of Kerala) the guest of the ceremony. The Presidential address was delivered by Fr. Sabu P Thomas, Vice principal. He pointed that media is the pillar of democracy. The valedictory address was proposed by Dr. Antony Palackal. He appreciated the department of sociology for organizing the seminar and for selecting this theme. He started his session by pointing the reciprocal relationship between media and people and raised a question that, what is the dominant discourse which influences us? He said about the neo liberal market economy, that there is not only materialistic commercialization but also non materialistic in our economy. He pointed that the main principles that laid the pillars of market economy are individualism, competition, privatization etc. He also discussed about the ethics of media in post capital economy and he pointed out the corporatization and strategic alliance. He concluded his session by discussing about the cultural homogeneity. The programme was concluded by the Vote of thanks which was delivered by Mrs. Smitha Pillai.
A two-day National seminar was organised on the topic “State Migrant Workers in Kerala; Labour and Civil”. The Inaugural session of the National Seminar began at 10 am by invoking the blessings of God by Abhishek S, student of 1st year M.Sc Psychology. The welcome speech was delivered by Dr. Saji. P. Jacob, Principal, Loyola College of Social Sciences (LCSS), Trivandrum. The Seminar was inaugurated by Mr. Tom Jose IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Labour and Skills, Government of Kerala, by lighting the lamp, followed by his inaugural speech. In his inaugural speech he spoke about migration, reasons for migration, the issues faced by migrants, addressing the migrants as ‘guest workers’. The presidential address was proposed by Prof. Dr. M A Oommen, Emeritus Professor, CDS, Trivandrum, he talked about the need to re-examine the statistics of migrant workers and also asserted that migration is a multi- dimensional phenomenon. The felicitation was delivered by Fr. Joy James S.J., Rector and Manager, LCSS, Trivandrum. He spoke about push and pulls factors that leads to migration and also about unemployment in Kerala which leads to large migration. He also posed the question whether migration is a problem, challenge or opportunity. The vote of thanks was delivered by Fr. Sabu. P. Thomas, Vice Principal, LCSS, Trivandrum.
The key note address was delivered by Dr, A.V. Jose, Retired Programme Director of International Labour Organization (ILO). He spoke about the reasons for migration, i.e. they mainly migrate due to economic compulsions. He elaborated on housing, which is one of the major problems migrants face. He also mentioned that the scope for action at the international level for addressing the issues of migrant workers was limited. He pointed out that the society views migrants as aliens who are not included as part of society. He urged the civil society to address migrant issues which include – strengthening the supply side of the labour, raising reserve price, providing options to women migrants in the area where they wish to work, providing good quality food grains, good sanitation, prescribe policies for them and making them part of the social security system of destination state. By 11.45 a.m. the gathering was disperse for tea break.
By 12:00 noon the seminar began. The seminar dynamics was presented by Mr. Prasad R., Organising Secretary of the Seminar. The speakers were welcomed by Fr. Martin. The 1st session was handled by Dr. C.S. Venkiteswaran, Gulati Institute, Kerala on ‘Migrants and Mind Sets’. He spoke about migration as an important social issue. One of the main reasons he mentioned for migration is rural unemployment. Problems faced by guest workers include – lack of administration, lack of community organization, indifferences and lack of media support. He suggested certain ways to address their problems through linking registration with the welfare board to get welfare benefits and the urgent need for convergence between and within the government.
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Dr. Nisha Jolly Nelson
nishanelson@loyolacollegekerala.edu.in
Loyola College of Social Sciences (Autonomous)
Sreekariyam PO,Thiruvananthapuram
Kerala,India, PIN: 695017
Tel: +91-471-2592059 (PG Section)
Tel: +91-471-2591018 (UG Section)
loyolacollegetvm@gmail.com
