As part of its Golden Jubilee Lecture Series, the School of Social Sciences, University of Hyderabad, hosted an insightful lecture by Prof. Meenakshi Thapan on 6th September 2024. Prof. Thapan, an esteemed scholar known for her work in the sociology of education and migration, delivered a thought-provoking lecture titled ‘Education, Democratic Citizenship, and Voice as Agency,’ which was chaired by Prof. G. Nagaraju, Head of the Department of Sociology.
The session opened with an introduction by Prof. Nagaraju, who highlighted Prof. Thapan’s extensive academic contributions, particularly in education and migration studies, framing her lecture as a timely and critical engagement with pressing social issues.
Prof. Thapan began by stressing the fundamental role of education in fostering critical thinking, a skill that she argued is vital for democratic citizenship. According to her, education should serve as a means to cultivate intellectual capacities and emotional and ethical awareness among students. Prof. Thapan posed a crucial question: Why, despite advances in education, do we continue to witness various forms of violence in society? She argued that the failure to prevent violence stems from a deeper educational gap, where schools have not adequately prepared young minds to question and critically engage with societal issues.
Drawing inspiration from the philosophy of Jiddu Krishnamurti, Prof. Thapan emphasized the importance of self-awareness in education. Relatedly, she underscored that identities are fluid, not fixed and that individuals are not isolated but inherently interconnected. This understanding, she suggested, is crucial in helping students recognize the complexities of their own identities in relation to others, fostering empathy and self-reflection.
Prof. Thapan’s central argument revolved around the idea that violence has become banal and normalized in contemporary society. She highlighted how this “banality of violence” manifests in everyday life, often unnoticed, and critiqued the role of media, particularly social media, in perpetuating this violence. Prof. Thapan called for a conscious effort in education to address and disrupt these patterns. She stated that students must be educated to recognize the pervasiveness of violence, deconstruct its normalized forms, and develop a sense of agency to challenge it.
She also touched upon the broader issue of “surveillance capitalism,” where technological advancements have led to a reality where every action is recorded and commodified. While technology cannot be entirely avoided, Prof. Thapan emphasized the importance of equipping students with the critical tools to navigate and question the implications of living in such a surveilled society.
In this lecture, Prof. Thapan critiqued the hierarchical structures within schools, which she described as “grounds for power performances.” From the enforcement of school uniforms to the rigid structures of disciplinary practices, schools often reinforce authority in ways that discourage students from questioning or thinking critically. She also discussed the selective presentation of curricula, highlighting how the politics of pedagogy often limits students’ exposure to diverse perspectives and critical discourse.
She argued that the current educational framework, particularly under the New Education Policy (NEP), has shifted away from fostering analytical skills. Instead, it promotes rote learning, which undermines the development of critical thought and reflective citizenship. In her view, education must transcend mere knowledge acquisition and engage with the realities of power, privilege, and exclusion.
Prof. Thapan offered a nuanced understanding of democratic citizenship, which she argued extends far beyond the act of voting. True democratic citizenship, she pointed out, involves inclusivity, compassion, and the ability to reflect critically on social inequalities. She accentuated the importance of creating spaces within schools where students can explore their positionality in relation to the world outside—recognizing their privileges or exclusions and understanding the systemic inequalities that shape their experiences.
One of the key questions Prof. Thapan raised was whether elite students are encouraged to reflect on their positionality and understand marginalised students’ emotions and lived experiences. She called for a bridging of the gap between the elite and the excluded, emphasizing that empathy and dialogue are essential to fostering a more just and democratic society.
In her critique of contemporary schooling, Prof. Thapan specifically noted that education often prioritizes cognitive development at the expense of emotional advancement. Emotions, alongside reason, must be nurtured within educational settings. Referring to philosophical discussions on the interrelation of feeling and reason, she urged educators to cultivate spaces in which students can engage with moral imperatives and emotional intelligence, essential for developing a deeper understanding of themselves and others.
In the concluding remarks, Prof. Thapan again stressed the importance of dialogue, empathy, and tolerance within classrooms. She called for a pedagogical shift that allows students to express their voices, question established norms and critically converse with their local contexts and modalities. This, she argued, is the essence of democratic citizenship.
The lecture was followed by a lively question-and-answer session, where students and faculty engaged Prof. Thapan on various aspects of her talk, including the challenges posed by the career market, the role of technology in education, and the need for a more compassionate and inclusive schooling system.
Prof. Aparna Rayaprol offered a vote of thanks, expressing her gratitude to Prof. Thapan for her stimulating lecture, to the Dean of Social Sciences, Prof. Jyotirmaya Sharma, for his robust role in organising lecture series, Director of IoE, Prof. M. Ghanashyam Krishna for generous finances and to the attendees for their active participation. She also highlighted the significance of such dialogues in shaping the future of education and democratic engagement.
This lecture marked an important milestone in the University of Hyderabad’s Golden Jubilee celebrations, reinforcing the institution’s commitment to fostering critical, interdisciplinary discussions on education and society.
Report By: Muhammed Ek, Manisha Manjari Jena & Ankit Kumar, Research Scholars, Department of Sociology, School of Social Sciences.