There are immense benefits in being the last speaker since everything of relevance has been covered by the previous, more knowledgeable, speakers. I shall, nevertheless, observe the ritual.

 

I begin with a confession. I never studied sociology as a discipline and cannot therefore comment on what it is to be sociologist. My own calling was in proximate disciplines where I learnt that the human being is a social animal and normally lives in company of others to improve his or her conditions of existence. How this happens, or has happened in human history, is what constitutes the subject matter of sociology. It therefore relates to, and impinging upon, all human sciences and in a diverse and complex society like ours necessitates diligent study and research.

 

In this context I cannot but mention a strange news item in the Hindu newspaper on October 15 in which the head of ICSSR is

 

 

reported to have said that social science research has no positive role in solving national problems.

 

This audience knows well the academic work that Prof. Oommen has done and continues to do. Personally, my knowledge of it is limited. I can only claim acquaintance with four of these:

 

• The Sachar Committee Report (2006) to which he contributed.
• The monograph on Non-Traditional Security (2006).
• The volume on Reconciliation in Post-Godra Gujarat (2008).
• His book on Social Inclusion in Independent India: Dimesions and Approaches (2014).

 

The first drew attention, for the first time officially, to the deficits and deprivations in practically all dimensions of development that characterize the Muslim minority in the country; the second is a pithy summing up of non-traditional insecurity manifesting itself through genocide, culturocide and ecocide; the third to the limited impact of reconciliation work in post-riot situations, and the last to the imperative need of linking inclusion to citizenship.

 

Each of these has enabled a layman like me to comprehend the complexity of the problems conceptually and in terms of our national imperatives. The author dilates upon them in the book before us.

 

I congratulate professor Oommen for sharing his experience and thought process with fellow citizens. I thank him for inviting me this evening.

 

Jai Hind.

 

 

 

Shri Justice  Rajinder Sachar

Dr. George Mathew

Shri  Dr. T.N. Madan

Prof. T.K. Oommen

Shri  K.P.R. Nair

 

Distinguished Guests

Ladies and gentlemen