Roundtable of Energy Ministers and India-China Energy Cooperation

Following are the excerpts from Dr. B. Deepak’s interview in Chinese to China’s Central Television, Channel 2 (CCTV) on December 17, 2006 on the eve of the Indian Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Murli Deora’s China visit. Dr. Deepak, Associate Professor of Chinese, Centre of Chinese and Southeast Asian Studies, JNU is presently an Asia Fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), Beijing China.

Wang Jin: Dr. Deepak, India’s Petroleum Minister is in China to attend the roundtable of Energy Ministers of five biggest oil importers-US, China, Japan India and Korea, what is the importance of such a conference.

Dr. Deepak: Well, these countries are the biggest energy consumers of the world. The US is the largest, followed by China and Japan. India is likely to be the world’s fourth largest energy consumer by 2010. The combined energy consumption of these countries accounts for some 43% of the world energy sources. Increased level of cooperation between these countries can help stabilize the ever increasing oil prices; meanwhile countries like India and China could benefit from the US and Japanese technology to be used for clean and alternative energy like nuclear and renewable energy.

Wang Jin: Recent economic growth in China and India has been impressive, what effects does it have on the energy consumption in these two countries?

Dr. Deepak: Both India and China are the fastest growing economies of the world at present. China has maintained an impressive growth rate of over 9% in the last 28 years or so. India’s average growth rate since 1991 has been over 6%, which in recent two years has surpassed 8%. Therefore, a greater demand for energy resources is a natural outcome of the increased economic activity. The growth rate of consumption of energy in China has increased by 4.3% since 1980s, and that of India by 5.4%. Since 1993, China has become an importer of oil and gas from an exporter, and now imports about 40% of its energy requirement. India’s energy sources, especially the oil fields only meets 35% of its requirements, rest is imported. With the increased economic activity in both India and China, the daily requirement of oil has been put at 6 million and 3 million barrels per day for China and India by the International Energy Agency (IEA). One of the causes of the recent oil prices surge has been attributed to increase energy consumption of India and China. In the view of these facts, both India and China have been propelling investment in upstream oil projects in various countries and regions of Asia, Central Asia, Middle East, Africa and Latin America.

Wang Jin: Doesn’t it give the feeling that China and India are competing for the energy sources in the world market?

Dr. Deepak: At the outset Yes. Chinese companies have followed an aggressive approach in acquiring oil fields or making investment in countries such as Burma, Kazakhstan, Venezuela, Indonesia, Peru, Oman, etc. countries. China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) plans to invest some 18 billion US dollars overseas by the year 2020. Likewise, India’s energy diplomacy is no less ambitious. It has acquired assets in 24 oil and natural gas resources of some 14 countries across globe. The Oil and Natural Gas Company of India (ONGC) has invested over 3.5 billion US dollars overseas since 2000. It has invested in Vietnam, Kazakhstan, Indonesia, Libya and Syria etc. countries. It is this competition that has forced India and China to give a serious thought about cooperation while investing in a third country.

Wang Jin: Could you please elaborate on this cooperation?

Dr. Deepak: Well, the ONGC and CNPC already have a 4 year old collaboration in Sudan. Last year the very Indian and Chinese companies through a join bid acquired 38% shares of a Canadian oil company in Syria for 578 million US dollars, whereby each hold 19% of shares. If the reports are to be believed, the ONGC and CNPC have undertaken to jointly develop an oilfield in southern Iran. The Chinese side will hold 51% equity and the Indian side 29%. Yet another example of collaboration and joint investment of these two companies is acquiring 50% equity in an American oil company in Latin America by offering 850 million US dollars in August 2006. Though Indian equity in some cases is lower than its Chinese counterpart, however, it commensurate with present energy consumption and economic size of both the countries.

Wang Jin: In 2004 India lost a bid in Kazakhstan to China, what reaction it had in India?

Dr. Deepak: Well, somber reality of the very bid drove home the polemics in India as well as China that rather than competing for energy resources in a third country, both should join hands as enunciated in the Joint Declaration signed by the Indian and Chinese governments during Wn Jiabao’s 2005 India visit. Remember, China shelled out an extra 2 billion US dollars to win the deal: and we should not forget that during 1970s and 1980s Japan followed a similar strategy to win bids by pumping billions of dollars, however, the strategy failed and had to be scrapped. Though it won the bid, China might have learnt a lesson at the same time.

Wang Jin: What policies India is following as regards its energy security?

Dr. Deepak: Apart from the above mentioned cooperation with China and other countries, India is engaged in comprehensive energy dialogue with Russia and the United States. To this effect the recent bill on US-India nuclear cooperation signed by President George Bush is quite significant. The cooperation aims at promotion and development of clean energy technology and safe use of civilian nuclear energy, thus achieving energy security. In 2004, India also decided to set up a strategic petroleum reserve for improving it s energy security.

A Seminar on “Kazakhstan Today”

The Centre for Persian and Central Asian Studies, School of Language, Literature and Culture Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University in collaboration with the Embassy of Kazakhstan, New Delhi organized a seminar on “Kazakhstan Today”. This was attended by distinguished scholars from India as well as Kazakhstan.

This last two decades witnessed tremendous changes in Central Asia. The States in the U.S.S.R. started asserting their independence and separate identity to the emerge as independent nation. They faced problems of economics, social and political nature. However under these circumstances Central Asia became a very important region for the developing countries who were trying to establish their hold into international market and sell their products. This race of establishing hold had resulted in political, economic and social unrests in the region. But unlike other newly emerged nations, Kazakhstan has developed a constitutional form of government and has succeeded in establishing its political, economic and social systems.

The Seminar started with the welcome address by Prof. Amar Basu, Dean School of Language, Literature and Culture Studies, JNU who discussed historical relation between India and Kazakhstan and it was followed by a thought provoking lecture by Syed Reza Hashmi (Ex Indian Ambassador to the Republic of Kazakhstan). Mr. Hashmi in his discourse shared his experiences as Ambassador to the Republic of Kazakhstan. He discussed the problems faced by the newly independent nations because of the poor infrastructure which they had inherited from the former U.S.S.R.  Then he highlighted the features of the Constitution of Kazakhstan and said that Human Rights mentioned in it were of fundamental importance. The Constitution has provided a better status to women at the time of divorce. It provided free and compulsory education upto 10 years for all citizens of Kazakhstan there the country has achieved maximum literacy level. He highlighted the importance of Grouping with Shanghai Union as to ensure economic development of the country.

Prof. Nirmala Joshi, an eminent speaker of the seminar talked about the socio-political process of the region. She discussed the process of Presidential election of 2005 and role of media in brief and the socio-political issues in detail. According to her, one of the biggest challenges to the government of Kazakhstan was drug trafficking, which came from neighboring Afghanistan to Kazakhstan and then found way to the orld market. While concluding her lecture she discussed the foreign policy of the republic of Kazakhstan and its relation with India.

Indrani Banerjee, a renowned journalist, discussed the problems which these newly independent countries had faced and the common challenges between all of them, like economic problems because of lack of technology or tensions prevailing among the newly emerged nations due to political and social instability. He talked about the social system and freedom of individual in his lecture. He concluded his lecture by saying : Kazakhstan is a jewel in the heart of the Central Asia.

Prof. Warikoo spoke about the ethnicity of Kazakhstan and foreign policy of the Republic. He said because of its location Kazakhstan is having a balanced foreign policy between China and Russia. He discussed the present situation inside the Republic. He also mentioned its economic policies and economic growth.

H.E. Mr. Kairat E Umarov, the ambassador of Kazakhstan to India, in his lecture discussed the situation after the country achieved independence. Ambassador Umarov mentioned in his lecture the problems which the people of Kazakhstan faced while over coming the crisis. He also highlighted the freedom of individual and media, human rights, etc. He said that at the time of independence people used to migrate from Kazakhstan to the other parts of the world but now the situation got reserved. The migration of the people of the region is towards Kazakhstan. Apart from this, he discussed the future prospect of investment in Kazakhstan and said that his country held out good prospect for employment and investment for the world at large.

The Seminar came to its end with the vote of thanks proposed by the Chairperson Centre.

Azizur Rehman,
Research Scholar,
CPCAS/School of Language,Literature and Culture Studies

Rationale and Methods for Measuring Environmental Impact

An Indo-German workshop was organized on 18-19 September, 2006 at School of Social Sciences entitled “Rationale and Methods for Measuring Environmental Impact” under collaboration programme between Jawaharlal Nehru University, India and University of Kaiserslautern, Germany, in cooperation with GTZ-ASEM.

The major objective of this workshop is to discuss the issues concerning measurement of environmental costs within the framework of national income accounting with an international perspective. The experiences of several developed countries including Germany in operationaising the concepts relating to environmental accounting and preparing the blueprints of Green Gross Domestic Product have been discussed, in the context of the initiatives launched in the Indian context.

The discussions have been organized in five sessions: (a) Rational and need for environmental accounting for appropriate policy intervention (b) Institutional arrangement for incorporating environmental concern in planning (c) Present accounting system and new initiatives in India and Germany (d) Innovations and recent developments in capturing environmental costs in natural resources linked sector and (e) Initiatives for capturing environmental costs / benefits in urban areas and industrial sectors.

This has helped the researchers both from India and Germany to learn from each others experiences and new initiatives. This would also contribute to process of preparing environmentally adjusted national income estimates, facilitating inter country comparisons in near future. The deliberations at the workshops has also helped in resolving many of the data related controversies and working out a methodological perspective for preparing a satellite account, incorporating environmental parameters in a more reliable fashion.

Amitabh Kundu,
Dean, School of Social Sciences

India and Indian Diaspora in Francophone Africa: A Comparative Perspective

A one day Symposium on “India and Indian Diaspora in Francophone Africa: A comparative perspective” was organized by Africa Division on 11 October, 2006. It was spread over two sessions. The inaugural session started with the welcome note by Prof. Manmohan Aggarwal and Prof. Girijesh Pant, the chair of the centre contextualised the symposium in light of Centre’s thrust on Indian Diaspora studies and UGC area studies programme on Francophone region. Prof. Ajay Dubey, the convenor of the symposium, high lighted the special features of Indian Diaspora in Francophone region and why India needs to take note of Francophone Indian Diaspora in Africa. He gave a brief overview of Indian Diaspora in Francophone Africa. According to him the major challenge before Indian Diaspora in Francophone countries, including the whole Africa Region, has been the loss of language and assimilation of PIOs in the mainstream French life Style. Of late, there is conscious attempt by Indian Diaspora in the Francophone region to rediscover their roots, their ancestral traditions and cultural heritage which their forefathers brought from India. He further high lighted the academic and policy neglect of Francophone Indian Diaspora and explained the India’s skewed thrust towards Anglophone and dollar/euro Diaspora.

The first session was chaired by Mr. Shashank, Former Foreign Secretary. The Chief Guest, HE Mookhesswur Choonee, High Commissioner of Mauritius, talked about positive role played by Indian Diaspora in strengthening Indo-Mauritian relations and the role bilingual Indo-Mauritian can play in promoting Indian access and increasing cooperation with Francophone territories/countries like Reunion, Madagascar, Seychelles and others The other panelists were Mr. J.C. Sharma, Former Secretary, MEA, Mr. Mahendra Utchana, President, GOPIO International, Mr. D.N. Mulay and JS, MEA. Mr. J.C. Sharma focused on Indian Diaspora in three island Francophone territories of Guatemala, Martinique, and Reunion. He emphasized that since Reunion is a part of France in Africa and any partnership with Reunion qualifies as Indo-Euro partnership. Therefore, India and France should go for such collaborations and Indian Diaspora which around 30% in Reunion can play important role in this area. He further high lighted the academic and policy neglect of Indian Diaspora in Dutch and Francophone Mr. Mahen Utchana, the president of GOPIO (International), argued that thought India has neglected Francophone PIO but Indian Diaspora has not. He informed that special chapters have been registered for PIO Francophone and all important Francophone region/territories will have specific GOPIO chapters. The ones in Reunion and France are active for PIO in Francophone Africa as well. He informed that for all GOPIO meets the bilingual arrangements are made. Mr. Mulay brought out the different policy initiative by Indian government. The African participant from Senegal Me. Pierre Goudiaby invited participant attention to China Diaspora policy and how it takes huge number of its population for its project and how India does exactly opposite. He also high lighted that The future Diaspora, a jet set Diaspora with multiply citizenship and multiple residence should be an important academic agenda as how countries with strong diasporic policies are going to engage themselves. Mr. Rathina Velu, Development consultant to president of several Francophone African countries pointed out how initiatives like TEAM-9 should utilize Diaspora. The discussion high lighted two important needs in Indian Diaspora studies- (i) to focus on non Anglophone Indian Diasporas which are neglected so far and to (ii) examine the Diaspora policies of countries having strong Diasporic networks.

The theme of the second session, chaired by Prof. Daleep Singh, DU, was ’Indian Diaspora in Francophone Africa: A Comparative Regional Overview’ where speakers from D.U., J.N.U., J.M.I. and IDSA presented papers on comparative perspectives on Indian Diaspora in Africa. Papers presented were region specific and compared and contrasted the Anglophone & Lusophone Diaspora with Francophone Diaspora in African region. Prof. Ridwan Lehar, Nelson Mandela Chair Professor from South Africa, focused on Indian Diaspora in South Africa, Dr. Veena Sharma, Vice President, Africa Studies Association, examined Indians in East Africa. Dr. S.N. Malakar shared his comparison on Indians in Sudan. Dr. J.M. Moosa’s from J.M.I., detailed the small spread of PIOs in West and Central African Francophone region and brought out special identity concern and challenges. He emphasized the loss of Indian language and French language as a barrier between them and India as a major challenge. Dr. J.P. Sharma’s paper dealt with comparative perspective on Indians in Francophone North African region Dr. Nivedita Ray from IDSA explored the marginalized Indian Diaspora in Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi. She compared the statelessness and isolation of Indian population. Ms. Ruchita Berri from IDSA brought out the assimilation and dilution of identity of Indian Diaspora in Reunion, a French department in Africa.

Political Counsellor from French Embassy Mr. Stephane CATTA, actively participated in the discussion. He remarked that Franch has ’no jealousy’ and reservation on Indian establishing closer ties with Francophone Africa when the whole of African region is opening up. Mr. JC Sharma suggested that India and Indian Diaspora in Reunion should establish business partnership/enterprises in Reunion as part of Indo-European economic cooperation, Mr. Catta welcomed Indo French partnership through Indian Diaspora.

The Symposium recommended the establishment of the Diaspora study chair in CWAAS, which covers around 80 countries and some of the most significant Indian Diaspora is present in the region. Mr. Shashank as a part of chairman remark suggested to establish the Diaspora studies programme of the Centre for West Asian and Africa to establish contacts with institutions studying other Diasporas and their networks.

The Symposium was organized under UGC Area Studies Programme on Francophone Sub-Sahara of School of International Studies, JNU.

Jyoti Tyagi,
Research Scholar, CWAAS, School of International Studies

Extracts from the Lecture “Nehru, Science and the Scientific Temper“

by Prof. Jayant Vishnu Narlikar on 24 November, 2006

It gives me great pleasure to be present here today to deliver the prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Lecture at this distinguished abode of learning. I am particularly pleased that this occasion gives me an opportunity to pay my homage to Jawaharlal Nehru and at the same time share with you my deep concerns about the way our society is moving.

When I was asked to suggest a topic for this talk, I felt that I should choose one that is identifiable with the thoughts and contributions of Nehru, especially when recalled at the present times. For a multi-faceted personality like his, there would naturally be several different perspectives to choose from. But for me the choice was made for the present title, largely because I have been worrying about these issues for the last three decades. Besides, I am conscious of my limitations to talk about any other aspects of Nehru.

Nehru and the Independent India

Although the history of a nation or of a society depends on a large collection of, often complex, events and circumstances, there are some occasions when a few personalities put their indelible stamp on the contemporary developments. These personalities are seen as shaping the future course of the nation or the society. The presence of Jawaharlal Nehru on the scene in 1947, at the time of Indian independence was one such example. The strong base that the nation today’ enjoys in science and technology, is due in no small measure to the fact that Nehru was in the driving seat at the time.

Today India has several networks of research labs in various sciences, thanks to the initiative taken by Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar and Homi Jahangir Bhabha with full backing from Nehru. That Nehru was very sensitive to the importance of higher education in general is evident from the quote ascribed to him and proudly displayed in the headquarters of the University Grants Commission:

…A university stands for humanism, for tolerance, for reason, for the adventure of ideas and for the search for truth. It stands for the onward march of the human race for still higher objectives. If the universities discharge their duties adequately, then it is well with the Nation and the People…..

Indian independence heralded a new era in the world in which colonialism became progressively unpopular and colonies of different European nations began to acquire independence. However, when one looks at the list of former colonies one aspect becomes strikingly clear. Only India emerged with a plan which recognized the importance of science and technology in the post-world war II scenario. In none of the former colonies did one find a zest for science and higher education in general. Why? The answer may perhaps be too simplistic, but not far from truth: only India had a person of the vision of Nehru at the helm at the time of independence.

But, Nehru’s concern was not limited to science and technology per se or to those who practice them. He was also concerned with something that goes deeper in its impact on society: viz. the scientific temper. Writing in The Discovery of India, he noted:

…… The impact of science and the modern world have brought a greater appreciation of facts, a more critical faculty, a weighing of evidence, a refusal to accept tradition merely because it is tradition…

…… But even today it is strange how we suddenly become overwhelmed by tradition, and the critical faculties of even intelligent men cease to function… Only when we are politically and economically free will the mind function normally and critically.

He clearly felt that with the growing impact of science and technology in the Independent India, we, its citizens would learn to behave more rationally, taking decisions that are warranted by the facts of the situations faced rather than through a blind follow up of traditions.

But why are science and technology so important? To what, extent are we preparing ourselves in the post-Independence India to cope with the rapid growth of ST? How is today’s reality matching up to Nehru’s expectations of his nation in this regard? I propose to deal with these questions in the rest of this talk.

Miracles of science benefit all

The developed nations have recognized these facts and they not only support science in general but also continue to encourage basic research, which at first may appear ’useless’ but may lead to useful applications like those just mentioned. For us to ignore basic research at this stage would mean that we will have to keep on importing new ideas from abroad. This would be contrary to our policy of self-reliance. India has plenty of talent for basic research, most of which is untapped. Suitable support for basic research will unearth this talent and bring in its own rewards in the long term if not immediately. Right now I can think of one analogy to illustrate my point of view. Imaging a country which has vast untapped resources of oil, but which will not search for these for reasons of heavy financial outlay. Such a country will forever be dependent on oil imported from aboard. And, finally let me emphasize that basic research does not require heavy financial outlay when compared to its rich potential. It does, however, require first class human resources.

In this context let me recall Nehru’s statement about universities….If the universities discharge their duties adequately, then it is well with the Nation and the People…. It is well known that today the universities are working under great handicaps. They are understaffed so far as teachers are concerned. There is no real incentive for good research… there are hardly any top class research facilities and the faculty has to teach a large number of hours per week so that it has no time or energy for research. The setting up of autonomous research institutes (ARIs in brief) independent of universities and outside their campuses was in retrospect a great mistake. The ARIs have no direct access to undergraduates. Most do not teach even post-graduates. Indeed the mentality that I have come across in a typical ARI is that ’teaching is a handicap for research…let the universities do it, not us’. The result is, on the one hand undergraduates on university campuses do not see and feel the ambience of good research, while the ARIs have no bridges to students. Naturally today we see very few bright students motivated to do pure research.

In great universities like, Cambridge, Oxford, Harvard, Princeton, Tokyo, etc., teaching and research go hand in hand. Institutes like Caltech or MIT have teaching of students side by side with research. Can we not evolve a formula whereby the research faculty of the ARIs compulsorily do some undergraduate or postgraduate, teaching, and the university faculty have reduced teaching hours coupled with incentives and facilities for research? So far as creating advanced research facilities for universities, the scheme of inter-university centres could be extended to include more subjects.

To conclude, I would like to pay tribute to Jawaharlal Nehru’s vision for higher education and science, for the scientific temper and the need for a strong science and technology base. But vision and initial momentum have not been enough. I see urgent need for positive action and remedial action on all these fronts. I am also conscious that scientists of my generation failed to act in time. I hope future generations will take note.

Third Sat Paul Mittal Memorial Lecture

Jawaharlal Nehru University in collaboration with the Centre for the Study of Regional Development and Indian Association of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (IAPPD) organized the 3^rd Sat Paul Mittal Lecture on 5 December 2006. Dr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairperson, Planning Commission was the main speaker and he delivered a talk on ’Critical Challenges for the Eleventh Plan’. Vice-Chancellor, Prof. B. B. Bhattacharya chaired the meeting and Prof. Amitabh Kundu, Dean School of Social Sciences welcomed the guest. Prof. Saraswati Raju, Chairperson, Centre for the Study of Regional Development extended the vote of thanks.

In his address, Mr. Singh focused on the key concern for faster and inclusive growth in the 11^th Five Year Plan, which according to him goes beyond conventional measures of poverty reduction to enable people at all ends of income level to be participant in the growth process. He outlined five areas of concern: agriculture, employment generation, infrastructure, education and skill development and health. While there are positive signals in employment generation, the quality aspect continues to be a matter of concern as there is a mismatch between employment opportunities and the rising aspirations of common people. He was of the opinion that in the emerging scenario labour laws require certain flexibility, but he also pointed out that unorganized sector which carries a disproportionate share of workforce need social security and protection. In  agriculture, the government expenditure seems to be misplaced in areas such as subsidies in fertilizers and electricity, at times at the heavy environmental cost. As fas as issues related to infrastructure are concerned, Mr. Singh stressed the need for developing rural infrastructure. In education, Mr. Singh emphasized the importance of skill-building commensurating with labour market demands. In doing so he pointed out the limits of traditional knowledge ’knowledge deficit’ in the wake of technological changes that are fast emerging. The speaker, in his deliberations sought serious attention to issues related to possibilities of public-private partnerships in these matters. 

Saraswati Raju
Professor, CSRD, School of Social Sciences

International Workshop on “Nature in the Raj: Colonial Environments and Indigenous Knowledge”

Academic agendas, in recent times,  are  increasingly aimed at facilitating   credible interdisciplinary  dialogues. In  particular, studies on the environment and environmental  history writing have underlined the urgency, importance and need  for such cross disciplinary research and exchange.  Towards which there has been a felt need for evolving combined perspectives  on  policy-making, ecology, science and technology studies and historical imaginings. With these broader objectives in mind, the Centre for Studies in Science Policy (JNU),  the  Centre for World Environmental History  (Sussex University) and the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library  (New Delhi) initiated and proposed a workshop entitled : Nature in the Raj: Colonial Environments and Indigenous Knowledge. The workshop was held in the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library  seminar room, amidst  the sylvan surroundings  of Teen Murti.

The Workshop, to our pleasant surprise, evoked a  considerable response. Seventeen papers, in all, were presented by participants and the format required that each  presentation was subject to the comments by a discussant. The papers and the commentators were drawn from a diverse set of universities and research institutions, such as:  Delhi University, Jamia Millia Islamia, Oxford University, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Jadavpur University,  Australian National University Himachal Pradesh University,  IIT Mumbai,  Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda (Vadodara), Lancaster University, Hazard Centre (Delhi), Uppsala University, CISED (Bangalore), CESS (Hyderabad) and Barcelona University. 

The Workshop was initiated with speeches  by several eminent scholars, namely  Prof. Mridula Mukherjee (Director Teen Murti), Prof. Richard Grove   (Australian National University)   Dr  Shekhar Pathak  (Nehru Memorial Museum and Library)    Prof. Joan Martinez Alier (Barcelona University) and Prof. V.V. Krishna (Jawaharlal Nehru University);  the broad  thrust of which was to locate the layers of tensions and possibilities in developing  interdisciplinary approaches in environmental history writings.  Prof.  Deepak Kumar of Jawaharlal Nehru University, chaired this well attended session. In the opening session,  tribute was also paid to Dunu Roy of the Hazard Centre for his many contributions in the understanding of  environmental politics and management. In the subsequent presentations, the papers brought out for lively debate the many layered entanglements of  science of  ecology,  technology, policy and the arts of writing historical accounts on the environment.

In fact, the themes that emerged,  in the course of the many discussions, resonated with the several concerns that were spelled out  by Prof. Vinita Damodaran (Sussex University) and Prof Mark Harrison (Oxford University), in their ongoing project  on the “The East India Company and the Natural World” with the British Academy.  Prof Mahesh Rangarajan (Jadavpur University) and Dr. Gunnel Cederlof (Uppsala University) provided the careful and insightful summaries at the end of the workshop, in which they  emphasised the need to  push  new frontiers in the environmental  debate  on history by exploring avenues for interdisciplinary  dialogue. Lastly,  many words of thanks should be given to the  efficient and enthusiastic staff of the NMML, who worked untiringly for the success of the Workshop.   Dr. N. Balakrishnan (Deputy Director, NMML) and Deepa Bhatanagar (Research Officer, NMML), in particular, ensured a smooth running of the many schedules and sessions,  despite the complex challenges.

Rohan D’Souza
Assistant Professor, CSSP, School of Social Sciences

Society of Biological Chemists (India)
75th Annual Meeting

The 75^th annual meeting of the Society of Biological Chemists, India, was held at the Jawaharlal Nehru University from 8^th to 11^th December,2007.  This Society is one of the oldest scientific societies in the country and thus is a reflection of the initiative taken by Indian academia in promoting biological research during early years of the past century.  It was a very well attended meeting with about 600 participants including about hundred distinguished speakers and four hundred young research students presenting research posters.  A number of foreign speakers were also amongst the participants.  Considering the number of participants, 75^th SBC was one of the biggest meetings ever held in JNU campus.  This meeting was even more significant in the light of the resurgence in quality of biological research in India during the past decade, when a large number of bright and young scientists returned upon completion of their stint of stay in various western countries. Such view was reflected by the presence of a significantly high number of distinguished speakers of younger age group. This change is also a direct reflection of massive investment in biological research by the government during the past two decades.  Another important attraction of this meeting was the participation of a number of scientists of earlier generation in a ’History of Biochemistry’ session, in which they narrated their experience in promoting biological research during the early post independence era. The conference was supported by the Jawaharlal Nehru University; Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, India.

R. Muthuswami
Assistant Professor,  School of Life Sciences

Emerging Voices in Social Sciences

AJSF has successfully organized its first research seminar on November 1, 2006 at Krishna Bharadwaj Hall, School Social Sciences. The Vice Chancellor, Prof. B.B. Bhattacharya graced the opening session and inaugurated the seminar. He delivered the inaugural address on “Social Science Research, Its Sustenance and Scholarships”. He was very happy about the SYLFF programme at JNU. After the inaugural address by Prof. Bhattacharya, Dr. S. Chandrasekaran, SYLFF Administrator and Coordinator (Evaluation) gave an overview of SYLFF. Six SYLFF Fellows presented their papers in the seminar. Mr. Nameirakpam Bijen Meetei, a SYLFF Fellow from the Centre for Political Studies (CPS) presented the first paper titled ’Reconstructing Multicultural Framework: Exploring Issues of Ethnic Diversity in the North East’. Prof. Gurpreet Mahajan, Chairperson, Centre for Political Studies, chaired this session. The next presentation was made by Ms. Sunitha B. Nair, SYLFF Fellow from the Centre for Social Medicine and Community Health (CSMCH). She presented paper on ’Health Priorities and Concern: the case of Kerala’. Prof. K.R. Nayar, CSMCH chaired the session. Aphun Kamei, a SYLFF Fellow from the Centre for Social System (CSSS), did the third presentation on ’The Kabui Nagas of Manipur: A Study of Identity and Identity Crisis’. Prof. Anand Kumar chaired this session. Ms. Anindita Pujari, a SYLFF Fellow from the Centre for the Study of Law and Governance (CSL&G) presented her paper on ’Economic Reforms in India: Addressing Constitutional Issues’, Dr. Jaivir Singh of CSL&G chaired this session. The next two presentations were made by Mr. Dhrub Kumar Singh, a SYLFF Fellow from the Centre for Historical Studies, SSS and Dr. Brikramaditya Choudhury, a graduated SYLFF fellow currently teaching at Banaras Hindu University. Mr. Dhrub presented a paper on ’Science and the Nation: Mahendralal Sarkar and the Quest for Self-reliance’, and Mr. Bikramaditya Chaudhury presented a paper on ’Political Economy of Tuberculosis in India’. Prof. B.S. Butola, Centre for the Study of Regional Development chaired these sessions. Prof. Mohan Kumar Rao, CSMCH threw lights on Bikramaditya’s paper as discussant.

After all the presentations were over, there was a special session on panel discussion in which the members of the SYLFF Steering Committee, faculty members of various departments of JNU, and the SYLFF Fellows discussed issues relating to SYLFF Fellowship and about AJSF. The session was chaired and moderated by Prof. Amitabh Kundu, Dean of School of Social Sciences. The seminar was concluded with a vote of thanks by Ms. Anindita Pujari. A good number of students also attended the seminar. We received positive response and feedback from all those who attended the seminar. Many of the teachers and students were able to understand the SYLFF programme and its activities in better light. To conclude, the seminar was a huge success. It not only gave the SYLFF Fellows of JNU a platform to present their research papers but also made it possible for AJSF to make its mark in JNU. The seminar gave immense popularity to the association, and also to the SYLFF.

Greece : Past and Present
Report on a Discourse

A one day discourse was organized by School of Language, Literature and Culture Studies (SLL&CS), JNU on 6 November, 2006. Prof. U.P. Arora, the Professor of Greek Chair in JNU conducted the proceedings of the discourse. Prof. Amar K. Basu, Dean, SLL&CS, delivered the welcome address. In his welcome address Mr. Basu emphasised on the prominent contribution of Greece in the field of philology.

The Greek Ambassador to India, H.E.Mr. John Economides in his address as a Chief Guest threw light on India’s political credentials. Regarding India’s neighbourhood problems he said, ’India is a solution itself, not a problem’. On the economic progress of India and Greece Mr. Economides said that both the countries were following the same path towards economic prosperity.

Petros Mavrides of the Greek Embassy in India, gave a brief outline of the diplomatic relations between India and Greece. He condemned the Mumbai and Varanasi bomb blasts and urged to fight jointly against terrorism. He also informed of the signing of the agreement between Greek government and FICCI, CII and ITPO.

The representative of Cyprus High Commission Mr. Sevag Avedissisan was also present in the discourse. In his address he gave a brief historical survey of Cyprus and its Hellenization process. He termed the latest visit of the Cypress President to India in April 2006 important for strengthening Indo-Cyprus ties. Among others who also spoke on the occasion where Mr. Yiannis Papastephanou and Mr. George Polychronides from Greece.

The special Olympic issue of the Journal Yavanika No. 10, edited by Prof. U.P. Arora was also released on this occasion.

At the end of the seminar, Prof. B.B. Bhattacharya, Vice Chancellor, JNU gave Presidential remarks on the proceedings of the discourse.  Prof. Bhattacharya paid a glowing tribute to the glorious past of Greece.

Arshadul Quadri
CP & CAS/SLL&CS