Chairman PPCB Inaugurates 2-Day International Conference At RGNUL (7-8 April 2022)
LIVELAW NEWS NETWORK
7 April 2022 9:19 PM IST
The Department of English and Public Relations, RGNUL, Punjab in collaboration with Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute, New Delhi, Punjab Pollution Control Board, Patiala and Assam Don Bosco University organised International Interdisciplinary Conference on "Literature, Environment and Climate Change". Prof (Dr) Adarsh Pal Vig, Chairman, Punjab Pollution Control Board, was the Chief Guest for the inaugural session. Dr. Prachi Kaul, Director, Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute was the guest of honour on the event. Father Joseph Nellanatt was special guest. Prof (Dr.) Richard Pickard, Department of English, University of Victoria, Canada delivered the keynote address on "Teaching Places: Pedagogies for Eco-criticism, Ecological Grief, and Rage". Prof. G.S. Bajpai, Vice-Chancellor, RGNUL focused on the emerging discourse of environmental justice in the present times while addressing the audience.
Dr. Adarsh Pal Vig, Chairman, PPCB, delved into the factors responsible for environmental degradation. He emphasized that individual responsibility has a great role to play in improving the damaged ecosystem. "One must not get entangled in blame game but should contribute as an individual," Dr. Vig said. Talking about Indian culture and practices, he said that we have always worshipped Nature. "Nature worship, in fact, was a way to preserve and conserve the eco system," he observed. Dr. Vig said, "Environmental studies should always be a compulsory component of curriculum in higher education."
Dr. Prachi Kaul spoke about the importance of pollution free environment for good health. Father Joseph Nellanatt, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Assan Don Bosco University talked about role of literature in raising eco-consciousness. Dr. Richard Pickard, University of Victoria, Canada deliberated on the climate change and pedagogy. "Teaching Places: Pedagogies for Eco-criticism, Ecological Grief and Rage" was the title of his talk.
Prof. Dipendu Das Dean, Assam University, Silchar; Prof. Nibir Ghosh UGC Emeritus Professor Chief Editor, Re-Markings; Prof. Eugene O' Brien Head, Department of English Language and Literature Director, the Mary Immaculate Institute for Irish Studies and Prof. Sanjukta Dasgupta, Convenor, Advisory Board Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi spoke about several environmental issues in their plenary talk. Dr. Tejinder Kaur, Professor of English, RIMT chaired the plenary session. Paper presenters from India and abroad voiced eco concerns of different regions in different technical sessions.
Prof. Desmond L Kharmawphlang Cultural & Creative Studies Department, North-Eastern Hill University Shillong; Prof. Angshuman Kar, Department of English, University of Burdwan, West Bengal; Dr. Elisabetta Marino Associate Professor, University of Tor Vega, Rome, Italy and Dr. Bootheina Majoul Associate Professors, High Institute of Languages of Tunis, University of Carthage will also be deliberating on several important issues pertaining environmental justice on the second day of the conference.
