26th Annual Zakir Husain Memorial Lecture (2014)
Dr. Ratnum Wattal Convener
The 26th Annual Zakir Husain Memorial Lecture was delivered at Zakir Husain College on 14th March 2014 by Prof. Utasa Patnaik, an eminent economist and Professor Emeritus, Jawaharlal Nehru University. Prof Patnaik spoke on “Poverty Questions OR, What ‘Development’ Should Really Mean”. Through her lecture, she voiced out her concern that a society should aim to provide all its citizens not only the ability to satisfy the basic human needs but also to realize their potential through access to education.
25thAnnual Zakir Husain Memorial Lecture (2013)
Dr. Ratnum Wattal Convener
The 25th Annual Zakir Husain Memorial Lecture was organized by the Zakir Husain Delhi College, University of Delhi, the XXV annual Zakir Husain Memorial Lecture was delivered today by Dr. V. S. Chauhan. A Rhodes scholar, an eminent scientist and presently the director of the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology , Dr. Chauhan spoke on the ‘Opportunities and Challenges in Human Health Research in India’. He pointed out that despite the dismal state of healthcare and the skewed ratio between the population of India and the number of doctors, research on medical care in India is excellent. India will undoubtedly play a huge role in developing vaccines and medicines for diseases which plague poor countries such as malaria, TB and dengue. At the moment, medical research receives more funds for diseases such as cancer and HIV, which are the concern of rich countries such as the US and Japan.
24thZakir Husain Memorial Lecture (2012)
Dr. Ratnum WattalConvener
The 24th Zakir Husain Memorial Lecture was delivered at Zakir Husain College on 14th March 2012 by Shri. C. M Naim, Professor Emeritus, University of Chicago. Delivering the lecture entitled “Hasrat Mohini: The Maulana who loved Krishna”, Prof. Naim talked about Maulana Hasrat Mohini, who was influenced by the ideas of Shri. Aurobindo and Lokmanya Tilak and was enchanted by the divine beauty and love present in the figure of Lord Krishna. In his earlier poetry, addressed to Krishna, the Maulana employed what he called ‘bhasha’ or what was popularly known as ‘kachchi boli’ which he was exposed to in Allahabad where he assumed the role of the beloved taking on a female persona. Later, he used Urdu verse to communicate his feelings about Krishna which displayed that his relationship with Krishna was not only intellectual but also personal.
23rdZakir Husain Memorial Lecture (2011)
Dr. Ratnum WattalConvener
The 23rdZakir Husain Memorial Lecture was delivered at Zakir Husain College on 26th February 2011 by Shri. Soli J. Sorabjee, Former Attorney General of India. Soli Sorabjee holds several offices in organizations of national and international repute, including Chairman of Transparency International, Convenor of the Minority Rights Group International, Special Rapporteur (UN) to the United Nations Human Rights Commission and member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague. He has also held important posts in many bodies associated with the legal profession. In March 2002, Soli Sorabjee was awarded the Padma Vibhushan for his defence of the freedom of expression and the protection of human rights.
The session was chaired by Dr. Kavita A. Sharma, the Director of India International Center and former Principal of Hindu College in Delhi; who talked about the multiplicity present in society and how tolerance should be therefore interpreted as the moment where we embrace, express and enjoy this diversity.