 Early Times Report
JAMMU, Nov 18: The Department of Strategic and Regional Studies (DSRS), University of Jammu organized a Public Lecture on "South Asia in International Politics" in the seminar hall of the Department of Strategic and Regional Studies (DSRS). The seminar began with the lightening of the lamp by the chief guest, Prof. Rajnikant, Dean Research Studies of the University of Jammu, Director DSRS, Prof. Virender Koundal, Prof. Mathew Joseph C., department faculty members, and other dignitaries and members of the civil society.
Director DSRS, Prof. Virender Koundal, formally welcomed the chief guest, Prof. Rajnikant, the esteemed speaker Prof. Mathew Joseph C., and other dignitaries with bouquets and introduced the theme of the seminar. Thereafter, Prof. Rajnikant presided over the seminar and formally invited Prof. Mathew Joseph for delivering the Public Lecture on the theme.
In his presentation, titled "South Asia in International Politics," Prof. Mathew Joseph C., brought to the notice of the audience that "as a region, South Asia occupied an important position during the Cold War period as it was a closer to the erstwhile the Soviet Union and China. Due to this fact, the Western bloc considered this region as an important one in the context of strategic rivalry between the US-led western camp and the Soviet Bloc. Even after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War, South Asia occupies the same importance due to Asia's growing geopolitical and geo-economic role in the global affairs in general and India and China in particular. Now the new centre of gravity of international politics has shifted from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean and the Indo-Pacific, the South Asian region will remain important in the contemporary times and in the coming future".
Prof. Mathew Joseph's Public Lecture is the DSRS's first lecture in line with the University of Jammu to bring public views about the newly launched Masters Program in Defence and Strategic Studies. After this, the Chief Guest Prof. Rajnikant engaged the audience and informed them of how this new MA program is more meaningful and job-oriented for students and why the DSRS needs to widen the options for students to understand the dynamics of national security and contemporary international politics. Prof. Rajnikant also stressed that to think afresh, there is a need for deliberations among the various stakeholders in society about the dynamic nature of defence and strategic studies and how this discipline has the capacity to keep pace with the constantly changing and fast-paced nature of developments in national security.
After this, the chief guest, Prof. Rajnikant, gave his concluding remarks and graced the speakers by presenting them mementos. Prof. Arvind Jasrotia, Registrar University of Jammu also attended the Public Lecture and congratulated the department for starting the new MA Program. In the end, Director DSRS, Prof. Virender Koundal, presented mementos and relevant literature to the chief guest. In the seminar, Er. O.P. Gupta, President of JKSC, Prof. Kuldeep Singh Chadak, Prof. Prakash Anthal, Prof. Vinay Chauhan, Prof. Sandeep Pandita, Prof. Rajeev Ratan, Prof. Sunita Sharma, Prof. Mohd. Tajjudin, Prof. Anil Saumitar, Dr. Mandeep Singh, Dr. Anil Gupta, Dr. Rashid Manhas, Sant Kumar Sharma, Dr. Tarsem Singh, Dr. Shallu Sehgal, DR. Tsering, Dr. Shubanandan, Dr. Satya Priya, Dr. Inderjeet Singh, Dr. Bhushan, Dr. Ashwani, and many eminent academicians, journalists, member of the civil society and students have attended and participated in the seminar. Dr. Mohd. Monir Alam presented the vote of thanks. Vasundra Raje conducted the proceeding of the seminar in a graceful manner. |
