The Sociology Association
The Sociology Association of the college conducted a day-long workshop on the revised syllabus for all the papers of TYBA on September 23, 2008. The seminar was inaugurated by Dr. Marie Fernandes, the principal of the college. The key note address was given by Dr. Manju Nichani, the Chairperson of the Academic Council of the University of Mumbai. Thereafter, the teachers designated to present the details of the new syllabus for each paper made their presentations one by one. The workshop was well-attended’ as almost all the teachers of Sociology of the University of Mumbai were present for it. The participants were served a sumptuous lunch, tea and snacks. The whole programme was ably organized by the head of the department of sociology, Prof. Shirly George, assisted by Fr. Joseph M.T. and the students of TYBA.
In the context of India, one of the most pressing issues that sociologists deal with is that of communalism. To make our students aware of the intensity of the issue , the association organized the screening of the much acclaimed film ‘Parzania’ by Rahul Dholakia.
It was watched mainly by the SYBA students . As the intensity of the orchestrated communal upsurge and its violent face unfolded on the screen the audience sat in rapt attention. The gruesome violence depicted in the film which obviously reflected the real life incidents, brought tears to the eyes of many. The discussion that ensued was moderated by Prof. Shirly George. She elaborated on the way communal propaganda has taken on fascist overtones and how it is influencing the way people think and perceive others these days. The students actively took part in the discussion.
Under the aegis of the Association, a discussion was held on the theme ‘Communalism and Secularism’. Students had come prepared for the discussions and when the examples of communal flare up were brought out by the speakers, the whole gathering came alive with different responses.
The member students prepared excellent assignments on the theme ‘Literate India’. The assignments dwelt on various themes related to literacy in India. Some of them focused on the literacy programme initiated by the government and its merits and pitfalls. Others described in detail the latest initiatives taken by Corporate India in the field of spreading literacy across India. The ‘Teach India’ campaign by the Times of India Group came up for special mention.
At regular intervals the students put up posters on the notice board of the association. They selected topical and contemporary issues for the same. Such posters have raised the level of awareness among the students of the issues that confront civil society in India.
The Association also screened the film ‘Bawandar’ was screened on February 17 in the Audio-visual room. It was attended by sixty students mainly from FYBA. The film is on the issues related to the life of a sathin – a government community welfare worker in Rajasthan who was brutally raped by members of a prominent family in her village because she had complained to the district authorities about an impending child marriage. The film brought out the cold blooded manner in which the whole legal machinery and the political class colluded with the perpetrators. At the same time the aspersions were cast on the character of the victim and she and her family was ostracized by the village panchayat. After watching the film the students wrote their reflections on the issues raised by the film. Their write-ups revealed the anger that right-thinking individuals feel when they see how the weak get a raw deal from the politicians and the law-enforcing agencies in our country.
Prof. Shirly George
Prof. Dr. (Fr) M.T.Joseph
Profs-in-charge