The Department of Sociology organised a two-day National Conference titled ‘Sociology of Gender in India: Emerging Issues and Future Agenda’ on October 27th and 28th, 2023. Prof. C Raghava Reddy, Head of the Sociology Department gave the inaugural speech, and the conference was funded and supported by ‘Institute of Eminence,’ University of Hyderabad. It was organised in honour of Prof. Maitrayee Chaudhuri, a feminist sociologist engaged in more than three decades of sociological pedagogy, research and mentorship. She has worked at the at the School of Social Systems, Jawaharlal Nehru University wherein she has trained generations of sociologists doing gender scholarship.
Conference Organizing Committee and the guest of honour (L-R): Debomita Mukherjee, Krithika Narayanswamy, Prof. Maitrayee Chaudhari, Dr. Anurekha Chari Wagh, Prof. Pushpesh Kumar.
As the title suggests, the Conference’s theme was organised keeping in mind the extensive work of Prof. Chaudhuri on sociology of gender in India. The myriad themes divided across two days, brought several discussions and challenges to the academic table. Over two days, there were two thematic panels, eight sessions and a Special Lecture by Prof. Chaudhuri herself. Two thematic panels were organised with six speakers who presented on the thematic panels discussing their journey of doing Sociology of Gender in Indian classrooms over the years. In tandem with the broad themes of sociology of gender, 23 presenters including the authors of the Prof. Chaudhuri’s Festschrift (to be published) presented on thematic issues ranging from: the role of technology on reproductive health, pedagogical interventions, religion, sexuality, changing nature of family structures as well theoretical developments related to studying and researching gender. The conference saw over 250 enthusiastic registrations and a vibrant participation from students and faculty members across social science and humanities disciplines.
The Conveners Prof. Pushpesh Kumar and Dr Anurekha Chari Wagh were supported by PhD Research Scholars Debomita Mukherjee (CWS) and Krithika Narayanswamy (Sociology) and thirty student volunteers.
Prof. Nagaraju Gundemeda and Prof. Aparna Rayaprol felicitating Prof. Maitrayee Chaudhuri.
The audience at the Conference