Krishna Kanta Handiqui State Open University (KKHSOU) organized the 10th Krishna Kanta Handiqui Memorial Lecture on the 20th of July, 2024 to commemorate the 126th birth anniversary of the noted Indologist and Philanthropist Professor Krishna Kanta Handiqui. The lecture , held at the City Campus of KKHSOU, was attended by distinguished guests, faculty, official staff, research scholars and other notable attendees.
The event commenced with a warm welcome by Dr. Trisha Dowerah Baruah, who introduced the significance of the KK Handiqui Memorial Lecture. She highlighted Professor Krishna Kanta Handiqui’s contribution to academia and his lasting impact on the educational landscape. Following this, distinguished invited speaker, Dr. Indranee Dutta, former director of the Omeo Kumar Das Institute of Social Change and Development and the chief guest of the event Dr. Arupjyoti Choudhury, the Vice Chancellor of Madhabdev University were honored with gamosa, japi and a bouquet as a token of appreciation.
The felicitation was followed by a welcome address by the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Rajendra Prasad Das. The Vice-Chancellor eloquently highlighted the remarkable contributions of Krishna Kanta Handiqui to society and education, and paid tribute to the renowned scholar. He further moved on to discuss the vision and mission of the university emphasizing its commitment to reach the unreached and provide quality higher education.
Following this, Dr. Indranee Dutta, was invited to deliver the memorial lecture. Dr. Dutta presented a powerful and insightful discourse on the topic “Education For What?”. She began by expressing her gratitude for the invitation to speak at such a prestigious event honoring the respected scholar and esteemed son of Assam, Professor Krishna Kanta Handiqui.
Dr. Dutta structured her talk into three distinct sections. Firstly, she highlighted the relationship between the state and education, emphasizing the state's responsibility in educating society. Secondly, she explored the economy and politics of education, analyzing how these factors influence educational systems. Finally, she addressed the proliferation of fake news within the realm of education and society, and proposed strategies to combat this issue. Throughout her lecture, Dr. Dutta referenced substantial excerpts from various eminent scholars, including Paulo Freire, Noam Chomsky, Michael Apple, John Dewey, Rabindranath Tagore, and Jiddu Krishnamurti, to illustrate their perspectives on education and its intended purpose. She critically examined education, discussing how new policies and developments are transforming its nature and landscape. Dr. Dutta brought to the fore many pertinent issues which need to be reflected on carefully, including the exercise of power by the modern state over educational systems, and issues such as the increasing privatization of education, curriculum distortion, and its implications. She highlighted the impact these changes have on the youth and parents, who are continually striving to adapt to the evolving educational environment.
Her lecture offered a profound examination of the purpose of education, urging the audience to consider how educational practices and policies shape society and influence individual lives. She continually reminded the audience that education urgently needs to be questioned. It is crucial to reflect on its purpose and critically assess whether it is fulfilling its intended role in society and genuinely improving lives.
Dr. Dutta's insightful and thought-provoking discourse was followed by a brief note by Dr. Arupjyoti Choudhury, who expressed his gratitude to Dr. Indranee Dutta for raising such fundamental questions about contemporary education. He emphasized the need for education to be inclusive and for policies to be revised in accordance with the needs and context of the country's population to ensure long-term success.
The event concluded with a Vote of Thanks delivered by the Registrar (i/c) of Krishna Kanta Handiqui State Open University, Professor Pranjit Bora. The 10th KK Handiqui Memorial Lecture was a resounding success, thanks to the meticulous planning and execution by the organizers and the insightful contributions of the esteemed speakers. The event not only honoured the memory of Krishna Kanta Handiqui, but also provided a platform for intellectual exchange and academic enrichment.
