Srinagar, Aug 19 (JKNS): The two-day National Conference on “Gender Equality in the 21st Century Perspectives & Pathways to SDG-5” concluded at Government College for Women, M.A. Road, Srinagar, on Wednesday with speakers calling for translating academic discussions on gender equality into meaningful social change.
As per news agency JKNS, two-day National Conference on “Gender Equality in the 21st Century, Perspectives & Pathways to SDG-5” concluded at Government College for Women, M.A. Road, Srinagar, on Wednesday with a valedictory session that reflected on the wide-ranging academic deliberations held during the conference and underlined the need to translate discussions on gender equality into meaningful social change.
Prof. Mufti Mudasir, Professor and Head, Department of English, University of Kashmir, was the Special Guest at the valedictory session and delivered the Valedictory Address.
In his address, Prof. Mudasir examined the question of gender justice through the prism of religious, intellectual and legal traditions, arguing for a critical and creative engagement with tradition rather than viewing tradition and reform as necessarily incompatible.
Drawing upon Islamic intellectual history and particularly the thought of Allama Muhammad Iqbal, he highlighted how questions concerning women, justice and legal interpretation have been debated from within the intellectual tradition itself.
Prof. Mudasir discussed the historical challenges faced by women in matters such as marriage and divorce and Iqbal’s concern over interpretations that could produce inequitable outcomes. He maintained that commitment to religious and spiritual traditions could coexist with a vision of gender justice rooted in human dignity, compassion and fairness.
Prof. Mudasir stressed the importance of approaching questions of gender with intellectual openness while remaining sensitive to the cultural and religious contexts in which societies are situated.
Earlier, Prof. Shabir Ahmed Parrey, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, delivered the Welcome Address while Prof. Mustafa Majid, Assistant Professor, Department of Education, presented the consolidated reports of the technical sessions.
Principal, Prof. (Dr.) Yasmeen Farooq said the conference witnessed deliberations on gender equality from diverse perspectives, including education, economics, political participation, literature, media, technology, environment and everyday social experience.
The valedictory proceedings were moderated by Dr. Suhail Ahmad, Assistant Professor and Head, Department of Journalism & Mass Communication while Prof. Sheba Drabu, Co-Convener of the conference, presented the Vote of Thanks. The session concluded with the distribution of certificates to the participants. (JKNS)
