Important Dates

• Submission of Abstract: 10^th April 2019
• Intimation of Acceptance of abstract: 12^th April
• Submission of Full Paper: 22^nd April 2019
• Intimation of Acceptance of final paper: 24^th April 2019
• Date of Seminar: April 30—May 01, 2019

Concept Note

This seminar may be seen as an attempt towards developing an organic understanding of the theory of justice for the developing world and beyond. It’s an attempt to develop a framework of justice which is best suited for the Indian needs while engaging with the contemporary practices of justice in India. Another running theme of the seminar is to go beyond the academic categories and concepts which make little sense to the lived-experiences of Indian masses. The seminar will try to analyze the dilemmas of justice both in practice and theory. Given the rich philosophical traditions of India, its cross-cutting diversity and issues specifically related to India, like Caste, the seminar will interrogate the question of justice from varied lenses specifically suited to Indian needs. We will try to evaluate the social justice framework in India from the standpoint of universalist western paradigms. An attempt will also be made to go beyond Eurocentric theories of justice while developing an Indigenous organic framework of justice.

Therefore,  we are trying to move beyond the traditional conceptualization of justice in terms of desert, virtue, distribution, fairness and bring into the fold of justice the emerging concepts like Capabilitarianism, Svaraj and Recognition in global south with special reference to India. With revisiting of Mahatma Gandhi and B.R. Ambedkar and emergence of Amartya Sen, Neera Chandhoke, Rajeev Bhargava, Gurpreet Mahajan, Aakash Singh Rathore on the Indian academic scene, there is a quest for developing an Indian theory of Justice. The assertion of Ambedkarite forces, marginalization of minorities and adivasis and emergence of a mammoth Indian Urban Middle Class has changed the dynamics of academic discourse in India in a big way. After more than seventy years of Indian Independence and its interaction with the fast-changing global world, the academic categories to capture Indian reality are falling short. This conference attempts to meaningfully engage with the ground reality of the Indian masses vis-a-vis the academic theorization while contesting the western gaze on Global South.

Principal Theme

Towards a Just India: Challenges and Prospects

Suggested Sub-Themes

Section I: Theoretical Debates and Underpinnings on Justice

• Classical Paradigms of Justice
• Contemporary Paradigms: Liberal, Neo-Liberal and Communitarian Perspectives on Justice
• Towards Integrating Classical and Contemporary Paradigms of Justice
• Non-Western Perspectives on Justice
• The Universalist and Relativist Conceptions of Justice
• Global Justice: Implications for Developing World
• Universalization and Institutionalization of Welfare State: Normative and Empirical Dimensions
• Democracy and Justice: Representation. Recognition, Participation, Inclusion and Redistribution
• Capability Paradigm of Justice and Global South
• Post-Modern and Post-Colonial Theorization of Justice 

Section II: Issues and Debates in India

• The Constitutionalization of Justice in India
• Human Rights and Justice in Indian Context
• Legal Initiatives and Social Rights Jurisprudence
• Redistribution, Recognition and Representation Debates in India
• Multicultural Framework and Justice in India
• Affirmative Action Programs: Policies, Performance, Implementation and Outcomes
• The Democratic Practice, Complex Diversity and Justice in India
• Intersectionality of Caste, Class, and Gender
• Rawlsian Justice: Exploring the Possibilities of Engagement in India
• Contextualizing Communitarian Approaches to Justice with reference to India
• Amartya Sen’s Idea of Justice: Deconstructing Contemporary India
• Neo-Liberal Tilt of Indian State and Its implications for Marginalized Sections
• Globalization and Its Impact on Marginalized Sections
• Justice in Digital India: Implications of WhatsApp, Twitter, Facebook
• The Question of Growth with Equity
• The Issue of Migration, Displacement, and Development: State Corporatism and Social Movements
• Land Acquisition and the Question of Justice
• Communal Violence and Justice
• State of Gender Justice
• Public Interest Litigation and Legal Aid
• Ancient Hindu Traditions, Hindutva and Justice
• Buddhist Ethics and Justice
• Islamic Perspectives on Justice
• Gandhi’s Conception of Justice
• Ambedkarite Vision of Justice
• State of Environmental Justice and Sustainable Development

Important Note

• The participants will not be allowed to present the paper without the prior submission of the complete paper by 22nd April 2019.
• Selected articles will be published in the form of a book from a reputed publisher.
• Proper time will be given to revise the papers for publication in the backdrop of the critical inputs in the seminar.
• Board and lodging will be provided to the outstation participants.
• TA may be reimbursed as per needs of the participants and availability of funds.

Guidelines for Abstract Submission

The abstract should not be more than 400 words in MS word only (PDF files will not be accepted) along with the title of the proposed paper, Presenting Author, Second/Third Author (if any), email address, contact no., affiliating institution. Abstracts should be sent to [email protected]

About the University

The Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) is a premier Central University included as an institution of ‘National Importance’ in the VII Schedule of the Constitution of India with several faculties and maintained institutions. The Aligarh Muslim University was Accredited by NAAC in ‘A’ grade. AMU draws students from all over the country as well as foreign countries. Imbibing the objective tenor of the west and preserving the oriental tradition, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, the great visionary, established the Mohammadan Anglo-Oriental College on May 24, 1875 with a resolve to initiate western education amongst Muslims and liberate their mind from out-moded patterns of thought and behaviour. The vision became a reality in 1920 when this College matured to the status of the Aligarh Muslim University. Since then it has ever been expanding, diversifying and relentlessly working towards keeping its promise to the commitment of its founder. The residential character of this University, where most of the staff and students reside on the campus itself, contributes greatly to the country’s multi-religious, multi-social and multi-lingual character. There are thirteen faculties and more than a hundred Departments of Studies with a teaching strength of around 2,000 faculty members disseminating knowledge to more than thirty thousand students.

About the Department

 The Department of History and Politics of the Aligarh Muslim University was established in 1922. The present Department of Political Science became a separate and independent Department in 1948. Presently the Department has 26 faculty members. Apart from offering B.A. (Hons.) in Political Science the department also offers M.A., M.Phil and Ph.D. programs in Political Science, Public Administration and Human Rights. Since 1967 the Department has been publishing a research journal, Indian Journal of Politics, [ISSN: 0303 – 9957] which has been indexed in the Current Contents and abstracted in the International Political Science Abstracts (Paris).

About Aligarh

Aligarh is located on the main Delhi-Kolkata rail route at a distance of 135 km south-east of Delhi (Approximately two hours journey from Delhi). Aligarh is only 82 km from Agra and 60 km from Mathura (by road), two very famous places of historical interest and tourist attraction. The campus is two kms away from Aligarh Railway Station.

Registration Fee

Faculty: Rs. 2000/-

Research Scholars/Students:Rs. 1000/-

Registration will be on-spot prior to the Inaugural Session.

The Committee

Patron                 

Prof. Tariq Mansoor (Vice-Chancellor, AMU)

Coordinator

Prof. Nigar Zuberi (Chairperson, D/o Political Science)

Convenor           

Dr. Khurram (+91 92197 33327)

Co-Convenors  

• Dr. Mohammad Aslam (+91 99990 58968)
• Mr. Akbar (+91 90138 98178)

Advisory Committee

• Prof. A. R. Vijapur
• Prof. Arif Hameed
• Prof. M. Asmer Beg
• Prof. Md. Nafees Ansari
• Prof.Arshi Khan
• Prof. Iftekhar Ahemmed

Organizational Committee

• Prof. Aftab Alam
• Prof. Farhana Kausar
• Dr. Iqbalur Rehman
• Dr. M. Mohibul Haque
• Dr. M. Naseem Khan
• Dr. Md. Aftab Alam

Email: [email protected]

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