Utkal University hosts international conference

A three-day long international seminar was organised on the Utkal University campus recently. The international conference was organised by the department of sociology and the Global Centre for Rural Studies of the university in association with the Indian Sociological Society and Indian Anthropological Association.

Held at the PG Council hall of the varsity, the topic of the seminar was the trends of rural development and social transformation in south Asia. Besides, there was a special session on Mahatma Gandhi and his vision of rural development and social transformation. Researchers and scholars from various countries like Nepal, Bangladesh and the US and from other states of India had sent their articles for exhibition and some even presented their papers.
Professors Triloknath Pandey and Annapurna Pandey from California University in the US addressed the gathering on this occasion, while professor Indira, president of Indian Sociological Society and Diptiranjan Sahu, secretary of the society, also put forward their views. Vice-chancellor of Utkal University Professor Soumendra Mohan Pattnaik and organizer Dr Rabindra Garad also spoke on the trends of rural development and social transformation in south Asia and India.
Students of the university’s sociology and anthropology departments had a great time listening to the eminent speakers on various issues such as women empowerment, development of schedules castes and tribes, science and technological development, urban and rural development and sustainable development. It was an educative experience for them.
There was also detailed discussion on how India and south Asia has learnt and drawn inspiration from the idea of Mahatma Gandhi about rural development. “It was a great seminar where there were detailed discussions on various issues and topics,” said Rabindra Garad