NATIONAL SEMINAR ON Minority Rights in India: Problems, Experiences and Apprehensions
18TH March 2015
SPONSERED BY
Ministry Of Minority Affairs
Government of India
Centre for Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy
Department of Political Science
Panjab University
Chandigarh
Concept Note
India is among the most diverse societies in the world. It has people from all the major religions in the world—Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains and Parsees .Even though Hindus constitute about 82 per cent of the population, there are more than 149 million Muslims in the country, making it the second-largest population of Muslims in the world. Religious diversity is coupled with enormous linguistic and cultural diversity. There is religious and cultural diversity of enormous dimensions in the country. When India gained independence in 1947, the political leadership and the framers of the constitution took note of this diversity, and they deliberated on a framework that would provide for a unified but culturally diverse nation state. India has no official or established state religion. Most other states in its neighbourhood affirm a religious identity: Pakistan and Bangladesh are Islamic states; Sri Lanka gives a special status to Buddhism; and Nepal is a Hindu state. India, however, has no established religion and this is the first sign of its commitment to treat all communities as equal. This is supplemented by the constitutional provisions that protect religious liberty. Indian Constitution gives all religious communities the right to profess, propagate and practice their religion. It is pertinent to note that the right to propagate one’s religion was included in deference to the concerns of the minority communities, particularly Muslims and Christians, who maintained that preaching and propagating their faith was an essential part of their religion. While most societies grant individuals the right to religious belief, in India communities enjoy the right to continue with their distinct religious practices. Perhaps the most significant part of this is that in all matters of family, individuals are governed by their community personal laws.
In India the problem of religious minority is no less sensitive than that of the linguistic minority. The religious conceptions in the country are so vast that they cover every aspect of life, from birth to death. There is nothing which is not religion. Not only in India but through the world religion have played two distinct roles in society roles in society. On the one side it had the effect of unifying large section of people who would otherwise have remained fragmented into other; it has also caused severe division between man and man group and group, nation and nation. In this backdrop, the Centre for Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy, and Department of Political Science, USOL Panjab University proposes to organize a One-day seminar at the national level to engage with the historical and causative factors to examine the cultural economic and political structures of discrimination and violence and the challenges these issues pose in enabling religious minorities, accessible to resources, education, health, rights and other entitlements. The seminar shall address the existing socio-economic problems confronting minorities in India which stand in their way towards realizing the goal of all are equal in all facets of life. Academics, Scholars, Demographers, NGOs, and Bureaucrats will also be involved in the deliberations to critically reflect on this subject and open up different views and perspectives. The seminar, hopefully, shall come out with a range of alternatives. (i) To highlight and discuss the problems and grievances of religious Minorities of India. (ii)To discuss the effectiveness of general and specific provisions of the Indian constitution that protects and safeguards the rights, opportunities and privileges of the minorities. (iii) To study and examine the minority issues and problems in the light of Indian political thought. (iv) To examine and analyse the policies and programmes of the Government of India in context to empowerment of minorities.(v) To examine the recent controversies and conflicts on religious conversions in India.(vi) To discuss and assess various aspects of political participation of Indian Minorities.
Sub Theme of the Seminar:
- Indian Democracy and Problems of Minorities.
- Constitutional Protection of Minorities in India and its Redistributive Effects
- Gandhi- Ambedkar’s views on Minorities
- Minority Rights in India: A Socio- Legal Perspective.
- Minorities and Politics of Constitution making in India. Minority Status and Politics of Identity.
- ‘Ghar Vapsi’ and Politics of Religious Conversion in India.
- Electoral Participation of Minorities in Indian Politics.
- Indian Minorities and Development Policies.
- Minority Politics in India: The Shifting Terms of Policy Discourse
CALL FOR PAPERS
Papers are invited on any of the themes mentioned in the thrust areas
MODE OF PRESENTATION
Resource persons are invited to make presentations on any key theme. The duration of presentation for selected papers will be for 15 minutes.
GUIDELINES FOR AUTHOR(s)
Abstract not exceeding 300 words typed on MS word format with title, name of authors(s), complete address, telephone number and e-mail of the author should reach the director of the seminar by a mail attachment to email:
nahar.emanual@gmail.com and emanual.nahar@yahoo.com by 1st March, 2015. In case of co-authors, these details should also be provided for each co-author. Full papers along with abstracts not exceeding 5000 words should be mailed with separate file (in MS word) containing the cover page mentioning the title, author’s name, complete address, telephone number and e-mail of the author by 10th March, 2015 to the email-nahar.emanual@gmail.com and emanual.nahar@yahoo.com.Correspondence shall be made to the first named author unless otherwise indicated.
A committee will review the abstracts submitted and acceptance will be communicated to the authors subsequently
The selected papers are likely to be published in an edited book.
REGISTRATION FEE
Academicians and others: Rs.500/- .Research scholars and students: Rs.300/.The registration fee can be paid at the Seminar venue only.
TRAVEL AND ACCOMMODATION
Sleeper class fare will be given to participants whose paper is accepted for presentation. However the participants are requested to seek sponsorship of their institution for their travel. Moderate accommodation and local hospitality will be provided to outstation participants. In case of multi-authors, only one author will be paid travel charges.
TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS
The participants are requested to make their own travel arrangements and inform the arrival and departure dates for making necessary arrangements.
Seminar Organizing Committee
Chief Patron
Dr.Arun Grover
Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor, Panjab University
Convener
Dr.Emanual Nahar
Members-
Dr.Kanchan Chandan
Sucheta Singh
Manjinder Kaur
For any query, please contact-9855554010, 9815974293,9914008542
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