Patna: AN Sinha Institute of Social Studies, Patna, on Wednesday celebrated its 60th foundation day.
The chief guest at the function was deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi, while education minister Krishna Nandan Prasad Verma presided over the function. On the occasion the institute also had a foundation day lecture on "Cultural Pluralism, Social Cohesion and Development in the Context of India Today".
Anand Kumar, a retired professor of Jawaharlal Nehru University and Fellow Indian Institute of Advanced Studies, Shimla, delivered the lecture. On the need of social cohesion, Modi said: "Unity among vast diversity has always been the hallmark of Indian civilisation. Since time immemorial social leaders have promoted diversity. Culture has been the binding force of our nation. We need to strengthen the elements of our shared culture."
Anand presented his thoughts on the realities of cultural plurality, demands of social cohesion and imperatives of development in the context of India in the 21st century.
According to Anand there is growing ethnocentrism and increasing socio-cultural tensions and conflicts in India which is worldwide fact in most of the democratic nation states. Ethnocentrism is a tendency in socio-cultural communities of any society to use the prevalent values and norms as the basis for evaluating and judging other people. An ethnocentric person is puzzled with diversities and multi-culturality. Such a person feels justified in asking and demanding.
The JNU former teacher also spoke on the topic discrimination.
Earlier, welcoming the guest, institute director Sunil Ray informed the audience about role of social & political leaders and freedom fighters of Bihar in shaping the vision of the institution in the formative years. He shared achievements of institutions in recent past that have increased visibility of the institute in the country and abroad. Krishna Nandan Prasad Verma, minister education department congratulated ANSISS for glorious history of excellence in social science research.<>
