Shillong: Prof. Shobhonlal Datta Gupta took the stage at Women’s College in Shillong this Saturday. He delivered the 17th Pandit Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar Endowment Lecture. The talk examined how indigenous knowledge fits into modern India. It also weighed the enduring impact of social reformer Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar.
Datta Gupta spent years at Calcutta University as an SN Banerjee Chair Professor. He challenged the grip Western frameworks hold on our current education system. He urged a shift in thinking. Decolonisation must build space for indigenous ideas instead of just throwing out Western ones.
The speaker pointed to the work of Frantz Fanon and Edward Said. He emphasized the importance of oral traditions, lived experiences, and indigenous research methods. He also invoked classical traditions like Artha, Kama, Moksha, Paravidya, and Aparavidya. During the event, he said, "Indian Knowledge System, Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar and Today’s World" served as the core theme.
Education India Trust president Dr. Debashish Choudhury chaired the session. Women’s College Principal Dr. Ratnadeep Roy opened the event. He welcomed the students, faculty, and guests to the campus.
Comments