New Delhi. : The Department of Sociology, Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) organized the 2nd Bikram Nanda Memorial Lecture and Symposium on 21st March, 2023 at the Engineering Auditorium of the university. The theme for the event was “Artificial Intelligence and Society”, which was chaired by JMI Vice Chancellor, Prof. Najma Akhtar (Padma shri). The memorial lecture was delivered by the renowned public intellectual, author and trained social anthropologist Prof. Shiv Vishwanathan.
The 2nd Bikram Nanda Memorial Lecture and Symposium began with a welcome address by the Head of the Department, Prof. Manisha T. Pandey who thanked the Vice Chancellor for her gracious support and presence. She talked about Late Prof. Bikram Nanda and his contributions to JMI and the discipline of Sociology. Prof. Pandey stated that with the development of Artificial Intelligence, the challenges must be discussed and shared to improve the learning experience, as no one can live in total technological isolation today.
Prof. Najma Akhtar, Vice Chancellor, JMI greeted the gathering and spoke about the laurels and achievements of the esteemed university and the role of the Department of Sociology in contributing to the same. She emphasised on the relevance of the theme and stated that such a discussion only enhances one’s ability to engage in critical thought and academic propriety. It enables one’s intellectual freedom and opens critical research opportunities and avenues in frontier areas of contemporary concern, she stated. Dr. Anjana Mangalagiri, wife of Late Prof. Bikram Nanda, then remembered Prof. Nanda’s passion about changing technology and the relevance of the theme.
The distinguished speaker, Prof. Shiv Vishvanathan was then introduced to the gathering. Prof. Vishvanathan argued for a tri-partite reading of AI through the paradigm, the exegesis, and a celebration of storytelling. Anchored in the classic works of Hubert Dreyfus and Merleau Ponty, he argued for the return of the body to the theories of the mind, juxtaposing Phenomenology to Formalism. Emphasising the importance of language, he said that the world of artificial intelligence desperately needs a storyteller to capture the tacit constitutions of its everyday culture.
The thought-provoking lecture was followed by astounding questions from the audience. Dr. Sumbul Farah, the Students’ Advisor, thanked the Hon’ble VC for her valuable time, the Keynote Speaker for the insightful lecture, late Prof. Bikram Nanda’s family members, the Subject Association and the faculty members and the students who put in their heart and soul in organising this event and making it a success.
The lecture was followed by a Symposium. The panel consisted of reputed scholars posing their ideas in an interesting yet extremely informative manner to the audience. The panel comprised of
Prof. Madhav Govind (JNU), Dr. Naveen Thayyil (IIT Delhi) and Dr. Ankit Chaudhary (JNU). Emphasis was drawn on pivotal questions like what technology can do, how it is not neutral, the politics and representation of Artificial Intelligence. The esteemed panellists highlighted the need for seeing technology as a sociological institution, its impact on depoliticisation and repoliticisation, and its implications. The discussion concluded with a thought-provoking question as to which are the technologies one must choose since technological isolation seems like a far-fetched reality.
The symposium was illuminating and insightful with diverse opinions and ideas that promised cerebral enrichment to the audience. The symposium successfully concluded with the Vote of Thanks delivered by the Students’ Advisor, Dr. Sumbul Farah.
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