PUNE CONFERENCE – A REPORT TWO – DAY INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE CONCLUDES: ACADEMICS ISSUE AN ANGUISHED CALL FOR ALTERING LIVING PATTERNS “Ethics is crucial for survival of humanity” – Dr. Maja Herman Sekulic, Conference Chair.

PUNE CONFERENCE – A REPORT
TWO – DAY INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE CONCLUDES:
ACADEMICS ISSUE AN ANGUISHED CALL FOR ALTERING LIVING PATTERNS
“Ethics is crucial for survival of humanity” – Dr. Maja Herman Sekulic, Conference Chair.

“We have a glittering civilization today, but with the moral void surrounding us, the future of mankind will remain threatened unless humanity turns the ethical leaf” – this was the statement of an affirmative faith which emerged from the two-day Interdisciplinary International Conference on Culture, Values and Ethics & World Poetry Conference, organized by the Department of English, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Mahavidyala, Aundh, Pune in collaboration with International Academy of Ethics, Chandigarh. The Conference was inaugurated by Prof [Dr] Suresh Gosavi, Vice-Chancellor, SPPU, Pune, Sh.Chandarkant Delvi, [former IAS], Chairman of the Rayat Sikhshan Sanstha and other luminaries which included Dr. Jernail S. Anand, President, International Academy of Ethics also.
The Conference attracted scholars from far wide and a total number of 140 scholars and poets from states like Assam, Odisha, Punjab, Chandigarh, Haryana, Talengana, West Bengal and Maharashtra participated.
Dr. Maja Herman Sekulic, the world renowned poet and scholar from Serbia-US was the Conference Chair while Dr. Dragan Stanic, President of Matica SPRASKA, [Serbian Motherbee], was the Primary Guest of Honour. Other honourable guests at the inaugural function included Dr Kalpana Purohit, [Keynote Speaker], Dr. Laksmisree Banerjee, former Vice-Chancellor, Kalhan University, Jharkhand, Dr. Bina Singh, former Head, Dept. of Engish, VKM, BHU, Varanasi and Navy Veteran Dilip Mohapatra, celebrated poet and novelist from Pune.

THE INAUGURAL SESSION

Dr. Jernail Singh Anand, President of the International Academy of Ethics, stressed the need for introducing the Ethical Alphabet adopted by the Academy by the educational institutions. Education, he said, should move beyond information and knowledge only, and lead us into the heart of wisdom and light, which are essential for the survival of the created universe. For this, he wanted the introduction of the 4th R. Already, education relates to 3 Rs. Reading, Writing and Arithmatic. He wanted the 4th R to be Raciocination [clear thinking]. The focus on ‘thinking’ will add the metaphysical element to education which is missing now. Dr. Dragan Stanic, in his brief address, was critical of the upcoming civilization, and wanted it to be recast with emphasis on morality and ethics. Dr. Kalpana Purohit, in her Keynote Address asserted that in a world that is grappling with chaos, violence, war and conflicts, literature emerges as a beacon of hope, offering solace, peace, values and shared language transcending borders barriers. Literature is a perennial medium for imparting enduring values, ethics and morals. There is a sense of timelessness, which resonates embedded, that navigates the cultural richness transcending boundaries and fosters empathy inspires changes preserves our essence and connects us to the wider universe. Dr. Maja Herman Sekulic, the Conference Chair, in her concluding remarks, stated that “ethics is crucial for survival of mankind”. The Vote of Thanks was proposed by Prof. Seema Jain, Assoc. Director, IAE. The session was moderated by Dr. Shalini Yadav, under the overall supervision of the Convener, Dr. Savita Patil, Head, Dept. of English, who has organized this International Conference.

PLENARY SESSIONS

The Inaugural session was followed by two Plenary sessions, first chaired by Dr. Bina Singh with Sh. Jaweed Ahmed as Guest of Honour. The session was moderated by Prof. Seema Jain. Dr. Mukesh Yadav, Head & Dean Humanities, University of Engg & Mgt. , Jaipur, was the chairman of the next session while Prof [Dr.] Pradeep Kumar Sharma, Registrar of the same University, was the Guest of Honour. Dr. Bhagyashree Varma, Prof. Dr. Shalini Yadav, Dr. Rajni Chhabra, Dr. Sushmindar Jeet Kaur and Meenakshi Goswami participated as Resource Persons. This session was ably conducted by Dr. Tejaswini Patil Dange.

These plenary sessions were followed by Paper Presentations of nearly 100 scholars, simultaneously, in different conference halls, under the charge of senior visiting scholars.

Dr. Jernail S. Anand’s magnum opus, Philosophia de Anand which comprises his ten works of philosophy [850 pages] was released. Dr.Tamali Neogi, a poet and scholar from West Bengal, has translated Dr. Anand’s famous epic ‘Lustus’ into Bengali, which was also released. ‘’My Echoing Heart by Assamese poet Punya Devi and ‘Avalanche’, a work of translation by Inderjit Singh were also released.

WORLD POETRY CONFERENCE [2nd Day]

On the Second Day, World Poetry Conference took off with first session chaired by Dr. Laksmisree Banerjee, with Sh. Dilip Mohapatra and Bindi Sharma as Guests of Honour. Dr. Laksmisree delivered her address on Poetry as a Panacea for the Panic stricken world. The Guest poets included Dr. Bhagyashree Varma,Dr. Shalini Yadav, Dr. Rajni Chhabra, Meenakshi Goswami, Dr. Tamali Neogi, and other poets while Dr. Sushmindar Jeet Kaur coordinated the session. The second session, chaired by Dr. Bina Singh, had Punya Devi as Guest of Honour and Guest Poets included Inderjit Singh, Mili Das, Junmoni Gogoi, Jaweed Ahmed, Shihabudheen KJ and Bibhudutta Sahoo and several other poets while Lopamudra Mishra curated this session. The last session saw Prof. Seema Jain as chair, and Dr Rajpal Singh Chikhalikar as Guest of Honour. The poets included Deepak Pawar, Dr. Shweta Singh, Aditi Barve, Sharada Rajguru, Naureen Aziz, Suhina Biswasmajumdar, Nitu Samita. This session was moderated by senior poet and researcher Dr. Tejaswini Patil Dange.

THE ACADEMY AWARDS

Academy Award for Debut Work in Poetry went to Winged Monologues by Dr. Tamali Neogi.
The International Academy of Ethics celebrated the achievements and work of its functionaries as well as its associates. The highlights of the Awards were The Academy Award in Literary Journalism going to Mr. Nasir Aijaz, CEO, Sindh Courier [received on his behalf by Saaz Aggarwal, a Pune based author], Mr Massimo Massa, President, Academy of Arts and Philosophical Sciences, Bari, Dr. Lalit Mohan Sharma and Dr. Tamali Neogi for her Debut work of Poetry ‘Winged Monologues’. Apart from the guests Dr. Maja Herman Sekulic, Dr. Dragan Stanic, Dr. Kalpana Purohit, Dr. Laksmsree Banerjee, Dr. Bina Singh, and Dr. Mukesh Yadav and Prof [Dr] Pradeep Kumar Sharma from UEM Jaipur, special Awards were conferred on Mr. Rawle Iam James [Canada] a fellow of the Academy and Dr. Molly Joseph, former Chief Coordinator for their dedicated work. The Academy also felicitated Mr. Balachandran Nair, Fellow, for his extraordinary work for popularizing poetry among school going students. Others who received the Awards offline and online, for their precious association with the Academy, included Eva Lianou Petropoulou, Jeanette Eureka Tiburcio, Fco Xavier Ramirez Sanches, Franca Colozzo, Agron Shele, Dustin Pickering, Angela Kosta and Dr. Shalini Yadav. The names of other poets who were felicitated is available on the website of the Academy.

THE VALEDICTORY & CULTURAL FUNCTION

The valedictory function was marked with cultural extravaganza. Dr. Jernail S. Anand, in his concluding remarks, thanked the College administration for successful conclusion of the two day academic and cultural feast. He also put on record his thanks for Dr. Maja Herman Sekulic and Dr. Dragan Stanic, whose presence was a source of great inspiration for the young academics and poets. He also thanked the senior faculty members, Dr. Kalpana Purohit, Dr. Laksmisree Banerjee, Dr. Bina Singh, Dr. Mukesh Yadav, Prof. [Dr] Pradeep Kumar Sharma, and Poets and researchers who came from far and wide to participate in this function. He specially congratulated the Award winners and the real actors: Dr.Savita Patil [Kothewale], Prof. Seema Jain, Dr. Sushmindar Jeet Kaur and Dr. Tamali Neogi, the Conveners of the show, along with the local team: Prof. Sayali Gosavi and Prof. Ganesh Sonawane and all the enthusiastic volunteers of the College. The local artistes presented a cultural programme also.
Report by: Randhir Gautam,
Asstt. Prof. Dept. of Sociology and Gandhian Philosophy, ITM University, Gwalior