Webinar by Gandhian Studies, PU
Different questions were asked by various faculty members and students
Chandigarh: The Department of Gandhian and Peace Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh in collaboration with the UNESCO Network Chair organized a special webinar with Professor Surinder K Shukla on “Peace and COVID 19: Understanding the Deepening Crisis of Migration and Women through Alternative Articulation and New Ethnographic Methodology” today.
In her address, Professor Shukla informed that with the spread of the COVID 19 Virus, new challenges are emerging up. To understand the deepening crisis we need newer methods of analysis ie., the Alternative hypothesis and New Ethnographic models that entail examining the behaviour of the participants (migrants and women in this case) in a given social situation and also understanding group members own interpretations of such behaviour. Migrant exodus is unabated as fear of virus spread has forced border shutdown. Crisis is estimated to push more than 60 million people into extreme poverty as jobs squeeze. In the era of COVID 19 situation we need to redefine the Globalization. The answer is that it is not unsuccessful but is as fragile as the man himself. How fast is the downturn will depend on behaviour of the virus itself, public health response and economic interventions? Gandhi’s philosophy of self-sufficiency can help in assuring fear and bring peace in the changing world order where COVID pandemic is the Game changer.
In the end, different questions were asked by the various faculty members and students. The lecture was well attended by different faculty members of Panjab University, Chandigarh and from across India. Dr Manish Sharma, Chairperson. Department of Gandhian and Peace Studies proposed vote of thanks to all.