New Delhi: St Stephen's College will host the inaugural edition of the Deenabandhu Andrews Samvaad, a two-day interdisciplinary conclave from Monday on the theme of "The Changing World Order". Organized by the Students' Union Society of the college, the event will include politicians and policymakers, among whom are Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, RJD MP Manoj Jha, BJP national vice-president Baijayant Panda, and G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant.
The conclave will discuss an extensive array of issues defining modern public life. These range from the evolving nature of nationalism, economic shifts at the global level, identity politics, state monitoring, and the moral challenges of artificial intelligence. Environmental issues will also be at the forefront, with panel discussions on climate change, green technology, and the concept of a 'green currency' and its socio-political implications.
The Samvaad was launched at a press conference on Friday. The college said this is the first time such a conclave is being organized in the college, where students will be given an opportunity to directly interact with the guest speakers. Invites for the event have been sent to principals of colleges in Delhi-NCR, each of whom has been requested to nominate 10 students to attend the sessions.
Dedicated to Charles Freer Andrews (1871–1940), an important figure in the history of the college and India's struggle for freedom, the event takes inspiration from the Englishman's moral courage and cross-cultural solidarity. "Charlie Andrews was also lovingly addressed as Deenabandhu (friend of the poor) by Gandhiji. An Anglican missionary, he also experienced a tremendous moral transformation and spurned the empire dogmas in preference for an ethical humanism that is based on empathy, solidarity, and justice," Malay Neerav, St Stephen's dean of academics, said.
Delivering the keynote speech, G20 Sherpa and previous NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant recognized four major challenges forming the global contours — the fragmentation of post-WWII equilibrium, divided international trade and value chains, runaway development of artificial intelligence, and growing climate peril.
With great powers receding and multilateral institutions losing credibility, India needs to grab the chance to reorder global governance to its advantage," Mr. Kant stated, terming it as a "huge opportunity for India, not a moment of crisis.".
