Young Sociologist 2014

YOUNG SOCIOLOGIST COMPETITION 2014

The national level Young Sociologist Competition 2014 on the theme ‘Environment, Development and Sustainability’ was held on Friday, 12 December 2014 at the Main Auditorium. The competition was open to all undergraduate students in India who have Sociology as one of their subject. Call for abstracts were announced in July 2014. The Department received 60 abstracts from across India and the selected students were asked to submit their full papers by 31 October 2014. There was a blind review of these papers and ten papers were selected for the final presentation. Out of these, nine participants presented their papers on 12 December. 

The inaugural function started at 9.30 Dr. Sudhansubala Sahu, YSC coordinator welcomed the gathering. In his introductory remark, Prof. John Joseph Kennedy, Dean Humanities and Social Sciences spoke about integrating a concern for environment in the development discourses. Chief Guest of the day was Dr. S.S. Meenakshisundaram IAS, Executive Vice Chairman, Myrada and a visiting Professor, School of Social Sciences, NIAS Bangalore. Being an experienced bureaucrat, he spoke about policy implications of development initiatives and urged students to think in terms of the question ‘development for whom’. Dr. Maya M proposed the vote of thanks.

The inaugural session was followed by paper presentations by the contestants. Each participant was given 10 minutes each to present their major findings and five minutes for discussion.  Karan Menon, Hindu College, Delhi had his paper on ‘Development and Violence: The tragedy of Unintended Consequences.  Shruthi P S from Bishop Cotton Christian College presented her paper on Water resource and the crisis we face today. Ramesh P of P S G College of Arts and Science, Bharathiyar University discussed on sustainable development and responsiveness of civil society. Dheeraj of Christ University presented his paper on Modern Food Production Techniques and its effects on sustainability. Sheren Leah Coilpillai of Bishop Cotton focused on the theme of waste management. Atreya Arun of Christ University discussed the case of Niyamgiri movement in Eastern India. Shajeem Fazal of Hindu College, New Delhi presented the paper titled ‘Development as a ‘secular question’: Questions of Adivasi subjectivity. Sowmya V from PSG College discussed on waste management and quality of life. Aswathi Prasad, Vimala college, Thrissur presented a case study on women, water and well being of ‘Kuttadampadam’ in Kerala.

 

The judges for the event were Prof. Anand Inbanathan and Dr. Asha Ketaram were the judges. Dr. Anand Inbanathan is the Head, CSSCD at Institute for Social and Economic Change. He has contributed immensely to the academic arena with his extensive research publications. Dr. Asha Ketaram is working as a scientist in Regional Occupational Health Centre (South), Indian Council of Medical Research. She has more than 20 years of research experience.

Atreya Arun won the first prize for his paper based on the Niyamgiri movement. Sheren Leah Coilpillai was the second prize winner and Karan Menon bagged the third prize.

The prizes were given away by Dr.Pritha Dasgupta, Head, Department of Sociology and Dr. Victor Paul, Coordinator, Department of Sociology. Prof. Suparna Kar proposed the vote of thanks and the programme got over by 1 pm. The programme was attended by students of PSEco, PSEng, EPS and MA Applied Sociology. It was an academically engaging session that benefited all the young budding sociologists.