Re-contextualising Research in Humanities & Social Science

26th to 28th Jan 2024
At MIT WPU Campus, Kothrud, Pune

Residential Workshop

Organised By :
Pravah & School of Liberal Arts, MIT WPU

Re-contextualising Research: Integrating Bharatiya Knowledge Systems in Humanities and Social Sciences for a Transformative Academic Future

The Re-contextualising Research in Humanities and Social Sciences workshop, held on January 27-28, 2024, at MIT-WPU Pune, aimed to integrate Bharatiya Knowledge Systems (IKS) into contemporary academic disciplines. With over 100 participants, the event was meticulously organized to emphasize “Bharatiyata” within fields like history, sociology, and political science. The workshop brought together esteemed speakers to challenge Western-centric methodologies and promote an indigenous approach to research.

The keynote by Shri Dhananjay Singh highlighted the universal relevance of Bharatiya traditions, drawing from thinkers like Sant Dnyaneshwar and Kapil Kapoor. Prof. Saumya Dey critiqued Western historiography for its fragmented narratives and called for reconstructing history through collective memories and bottom-up perspectives. Smt. Madhavi Godbole showcased the relevance of Indian mind sciences to modern psychology through interactive exercises.

Dr. Sufiya Pathan deconstructed media biases in Western reporting, providing tools for empirical research grounded in Indian realities. Prof. Yugank Goel discussed the limitations of Western ownership concepts and advocated for theorizing within the Bharatiya context. Prof. Swadesh Singh emphasized reclaiming Indian political thought to restore Bharat’s role as Vishwaguru. The final session by MS Chaitra delved into Bharatiya research methodologies, advocating a comparative science of cultures.

The workshop concluded with Shri Sunil Ambekar stressing the importance of narrative correction, value-based research, and Bharat’s potential to offer global solutions. This event marked a commitment to sustained efforts in mainstreaming IKS, forming the Indic Insights in Humanities group for ongoing collaboration.