Radiance News Service
By Anwarulhaq Baig
New Delhi, Nov. 10, 2023
Noted academicians and scholars from across India and abroad have explored innovative and unconventional approaches to social sciences, beyond the contemporary narratives at an international conference held recently at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).
A Delhi- based research organization, Centre for Study & Research (CSR India), in collaboration with the Faculty of Social Sciences, AMU hosted this interdisciplinary conference titled “Emergent, Holistic, and Transcendental Approaches to Social Sciences: Looking Beyond the Contemporary Narratives.”
CSR India is an NGO working in India with a vision to create a niche in the current knowledge ecosystem by evolving an alternative paradigm of purposeful, holistic, and value-based knowledge.
Addressing the inaugural session, world renowned Malaysian author and educator Prof. Syed Farid Al-Attas encouraged critical thinking about the future of social sciences and their role in contemporary society.
Speaking on “Social Sciences beyond Canon,” Prof. Al-Attas argues that the existing canon of sociological theory is inadequate for understanding the social world in its full complexity and diversity and calls for a more inclusive and holistic approach to sociological theory, one that incorporates the perspectives of non-Western and marginalized thinkers.
Prof. Al-Attas is also the co-author of the famous book ‘Sociological Theory Beyond the Canon,’ challenging the Eurocentric and androcentric biases of traditional sociological theory.
Delivering the plenary lecture, Mauritanian author Dr. Muhammad al-Mukhtar al-Shinqiti, currently serving at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar, shed light on the evolving geopolitical dynamics in the Islamic world.
In another plenary lecture, Prof. Hussain Jafri offered insights into the challenges of historiographical biases in the context of medieval Indian history.
Different sessions were held on various themes, including contemporary historiographical approaches, alternative economic thoughts, re-reading sociological approaches, and the epistemology and methodology of Social Science. Over the two days of the conference, scholars and researchers from different disciplines presented papers on the central theme of the session followed by a plenary lecture by an expert.
The research scholars and researchers, Dr. Nazima Parveen, Dr. Shabana Farheen, Firasha Shaikh, Shahana Banerjee and Mohammad Saif, Fathima Nourin, Arshad Saba Shaikh, Yahya C, Jahnvi Dwivedi, Fawaz Shaheen, Ipshita Mitra, Muhammed Musthafa, Juveria Asif, Sayyid Sabiq, Nida Fatima, Parvez Alam, Ganga P S, and Syed Ahmed Muzakkir, presented papers on various topics.
In the valedictory session, the conference’s coordinator and director of CSR India, Dr. Mohammad Rizwan presented a summary of key takeaways from the conference, highlighting the need for new and innovative approaches to social sciences that are more holistic, and effective in addressing the complex challenges facing humanity today.
The Vice Chancellor of AMU, Prof. Mohammad Gulrez awarded certificates to the participants. The Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, AMU, Dr. Mirza Asmer Beg was the convener the conference.
The conference discussed various epistemological approaches to social sciences. Speakers emphasized the need for new and innovative approaches to social sciences that are more holistic, objective, and effective in addressing the complex challenges facing humanity today. They also stressed the importance of critical thinking about the future and role of social sciences in contemporary society. Speakers also talked about the potential of holistic and transcendent perspectives in understanding and addressing social, economic, historical, and political phenomena.
