Goa’s political landscape offers a rich resource for upcoming political science researchers to explore the local dynamics vis-à-vis the universal concerns as a predominant view, expressed in the three-day national seminar on “State, Politics and Policy in Goa”.
The conference of the Political Science Department of Goa University concluded with a call for re-imagining the politics of Goa in the national context.
The conference was organised by the Political Science Programme of DD Kosambi School of Social Sciences and Behavioural Studies, Goa University, on January 15, 16 and 17, 2023, to commemorate the 50 years of political science in Goa.
The conference began with an online inaugural session on “Positioning Political Science in India: Current Trajectories and Future Challenges”. Prof Rahul Tripathi, senior faculty from the Political Science Programme and convenor of the conference, welcomed the participants and threw light upon the objectives of the conference.
Ex-faculty members of the Political Science Department Prof Muzaffar Assadi and now faculty at Mysore University and Prof Arun Patnaik from the Central University of Hyderabad participated as panellists in the inaugural session. Prof Gopal Guru, an eminent political scientist, chaired the expert session.
The session deliberated on the need for developing Indian narratives to examine political phenomena in India while imbibing Western references relevant to the analysis. Dr Prakash Desai, co-convenor of the conference, thanked the panellists.
The conference unfolded in the form of panels addressing various concerns related to Goa. Mohit Sukhtankar, Prachi Naik, Aniket Kandolkar, Louise Ann Sequeira and Ravaji Gaunkar presented papers in the first session focusing on “Political Processes in Goa”.
Adv Albertina Almeida and Dr Solano da Silva chaired the first half of the session. An expert panel on Goa composed of Dr Joanna Coelho, Prof Pranab Mukhopadhyay and Dr Solano Da Silva, addressed issues concerning migration, land and the environment. This session was chaired by Dr Parag Parobo from the History Programme.
Dr Aditi Rane, Siddhi Naik and Vijay Talwar presented papers in the second session of the day, with a focus on “Policies in the State”. Dr Alaknanda Shringare chaired the session.
The second day of the conference began with paper presentations by Dr Prakash Desai, Dr Alaknanda Shringare, Nazrana Shaikh and Shilpa Singh. Ramrao Wagh, Dr Sharmila Pais and Franz Cotta also presented papers in the first session on “Social Movements, Land and the Marginal in Goa”. Prof Shaila Desouza and Prof Aparajita Gangopadhyay chaired the sessions.
The occasion also saw alumni spanning four generations comprising Dr Maria Rodrigues, Naguesh Sardessai, Arjun Halarnkar and Angela Dias who shared their memories about the department.
Hegel Dacosta and Dr Mukund Narvekar moderated the session and announced the launch of the Political Science Alumni Network Goa (POLSANG).
Prof Peter Desouza delivered the keynote address stating the “Six Concerns and Wish: Thinking Political Science in Goa” in the valedictory session. He emphasised the need for political scientists to relate to history more constructively and to adapt to the challenges that new technology is throwing up. The session was chaired by Prof Koshy Tharakan.
Dr Shraddha Naik proposed a vote of thanks. Students from the programme and the participants from across the state made the event highly successful.