Inauguration of International Seminar on Agrarian Transition in India
The department of Sociology, Pondicherry University organised an International Seminar on ‘Agrarian Transition in India’. The inauguration was held at Cultural cum Convention Centre, PU, on 28 January. Joan P. Mencher, Anthropologist, retd. Professor, City University, New York, delivered the Inaugural address.
Prof. Joan P Mencher delivering the keynote adress on the inauguration of the International seminar
She pointed out some of the reasons for agrarian crisis in India. She had a critical overview on Green Revolution, which led to the overuse of chemical fertilizers thus reducing the fertility of the soil. She spoke about the protests for agricultural land in various parts of India where the ownership of land is still decided by caste system. She encouraged women doing agriculture. She sought companies not only to focus on profit but also to help small and medium scale farmers.
Prof. Venkata Raghotham, Dean, School of Social Sciences and International Studies, Pondicherry University, delivered the special address and spoke about having a historical perspective in understanding the agrarian transitions in India. Since the Great Indian Famine, transitions reshape agrarian economy. He reminded the historical movements for land use and ownership issues such as the Bhoodan movement and the Naxal movements. He picked the present issues of Nandigram, and Yamuna express way where agricultural lands were taken away for industries. He spoke about how green revolution created a gender preference. He criticised that the green revolution increased productivity not profitability. He expressed that history facilitates a better understanding of the present.
Prof. Chandra Krishnamurthy, Vice Chancellor, Pondicherry University delivered the Presidential address. Prof. B.B Mohanty, Convenor of the seminar, Prof. G. Ramathirtham were present among other guests. Scholars from different universities around the world, and students of the University participated in the different sessions spread over the entire day. The three day seminar has different panel discussion, covering a wide range of issues relating to the agrarian transition of in India to be held on 29 -30 January, 2014.
Photos: Akhila C K
Camera: Akhila C K and Habeeb Rahman YP
Editing: Habeeb Rahman YP
Swathy Karthik
1st, M.A. Mass Communication
