AISS Guest Lecture
Topic: “Draupadi’s Negotiation with Rights and Responsibilities within the Mahabharata”
Date: 18th September 2025
Organised by: Department of Political Science under the aegis of Amity Institute of Social Sciences, Amity University, Noida
Guest Speaker: Prof. (Dr.) Smita Sahgal, Professor of History, Lady Shri Ram College, University of Delhi
Moderator: Prof. (Dr.) Aparna Srivastava, AISS- Amity University
On 18th September 2025, the Department of Political Science under the aegis of Amity Institute of Social Sciences, organised a guest lecture on the theme “Draupadi’s Negotiation with Rights and Responsibilities within the Mahabharata.” The session invited Prof. (Dr.) Smita Sahgal, an eminent historian and Professor at Lady Shri Ram College, University of Delhi, has published widely on themes of gender, politics, the state, and textbook histories. The lecture was moderated by Prof. (Dr.) Aparna Srivastava.
The talk drew upon Prof. Sahgal’s chapter, “The Mahabharata Conundrum: Querying Draupadi’s Rights and Responsibilities,” where she engages critically with Draupadi’s position in the epic, balancing questions of rights, duties, gendered expectations, and the larger moral framework of dharma.
About the Speaker
Prof. Sahgal’s academic work spans gender studies, historiography, and political thought in South Asia. She has consistently highlighted how women’s roles in ancient texts are shaped not only by cultural memory but also by the politics of narration and transmission. Her analysis of Draupadi exemplifies this approach, situating a mythological figure within the lived debates of patriarchy, state formation, and moral codes.
Title : Bridging Medicine and Humanity: The Role of Medical Social Workers in Patient Care, Psychosocial Support, and Mental Health in Healthcare Settings
Speaker: Ms. Elika Anand, Medical Social Worker at AIIMS and CAPFIMS.
Date and time, Venue: 18th September 2025, LG 13 at 2:00 PM
Organised by: Department of Social Work under the aegis of Amity Institute of Social Sciences, Amity University, Noida
Moderator: Dr. Nandini Sahay, AISS- Amity University
Brief about speaker
Ms Elika Anand is currently working as a Medical Social Welfare Officer, AIIMS-CAPFIMS, Govt. of India. Ms. Elika Anand is a dedicated Social Worker with a Master’s degree in Social Work from the Department of Social Work, University of Delhi, specializing in Mental Health, Healthcare Social Work Practice, and community-based interventions. A strong advocate for grassroots empowerment, she believes in amplifying unheard voices and ensuring equitable access to social services.
She has served as a Psychiatric Social Worker at the Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS), Delhi, under the District Mental Health Programme (DMHP). She has previously worked with prominent organizations such as Manas Foundation and The India Nutrition Initiative, TATA Trusts, gaining extensive experience across sectors including health, mental health, education, human rights, and livelihood. With hands-on involvement in both NGO and government systems, she brings a nuanced understanding of service delivery, policy implementation, and community engagement.
Brief of Guest Lecture: On 18th September 2025, the Amity Institute of Social Sciences organized an insightful guest lecture for students aspiring to pursue careers as Medical Social Workers. It was held at 2:00 PM in Room LG 13, the session welcomed students from MSW (1st and 3rd semesters) and BSW programs.
The session began with a warm welcome by Dr. Prashant Chauhan, Head of the Department (Social Work), who introduced the topic. He emphasized the crucial role of medical social work in bridging medicine and humanity.
Ms. Anand shared her extensive field experience, focusing on patient care coordination, psychosocial support, mental health interventions, patient advocacy, and working within interdisciplinary healthcare teams. She illustrated her talk with real-life examples, highlighting the impactful role social workers play in clinical settings.
A lively Q&A session followed, covering topics such as academic pathways, essential skills, internships at premier institutions like AIIMS, and managing emotional resilience.
Dr. Nandini Sahay, Faculty Coordinator, delivered the vote of thanks, appreciating Ms. Anand’s valuable insights. The event concluded with a group photograph, leaving students inspired to explore medical social work as a meaningful and impactful profession.
Topic: Amidst Global Geopolitics New Directions of India’s Foreign Policy
Date: August 28, 2025
Organised by: Department of Political Science under the aegis of Amity Institute of Social Sciences, Amity University, Noida
Guest Speaker: Dr Manan Dwivedi, IIPA Delhi
Moderator: Dr Abhishek Varma
Dr Dwivedi’s discourse was followed by a Q&A session with the members of the audience, which was moderated by Dr Varma. One interesting question asked was about the dangers posed to India’s economic and data sovereignty with the supposed re-entry of the global conglomerate Black Rock.
The one-hour session by Dr Dwivedi concluded with the remarks by Dr Ganguly, HoD, Political Science. She expressed sincere gratitude to Dr Dwivedi for visiting Amity University’s NOIDA campus and speaking on a topic of great relevance to the students of Political Science.
Amity Institute of Social Sciences (AISS) organized a guest lecture for AISS students by Prof. Jane Schukoske CEO, IRRAD (Institute of Rural Research and Development), Gurgaon on 25th September 2013.
Prof (Dr) Nirupama Prakash, Director AISS welcomed the guest and introduced her to AISS students and faculty.
Lecture commenced with Prof Jane briefing about IRRAD’s mission of furthering the well-being of rural communities, with emphasis on community participation in integrated village development. She highlighted on the models adopted for rural development : water management, good governance, agricultural income enhancement, local institutions and citizen participation. Mewat district of Haryana is the focal area where IRRAD has undertaken development activities in order to address and resolve soaring and disturbed social indicators. Sustainable village development model was implemented in Mewat, which was designed and tested by IRRAD.
Prof. Schukoske left the house open for discussion among the students on an Ideal Village Model. Some of the suggestions and viewpoints which came from the audience were: adequate infrastructure, access to services and basic necessities, technological enhancements. Emphasis was also given on institution building, ownership,capacity building and partnership.
While concluding, Prof Jane gave importance to learning by doing. She highlighted on access to justice by accelerating legal literacy and spreading awareness among the rural folk. She also gave emphasis on training teachers and community workers so that they can guide people who live in rural areas and bring them to the mainstream of development at the earliest.
Professor Jane Schukoske encouraged students to apply for internships at IRRAD. She explained the objective of internship was and how this internship could help the students gain exposure to the outside world and develop themselves as professionals. Vote of Thanks was administered by AISS faculty Ms. Nancy Chopra. Students interacted with Prof. Schukoske and found the lecture very stimulating, especially those pursuing Social Work and Development Studies.
Department of History, AISS invited Prof. Mehr Farooqi of University Virginia to talk on Ghalib and the Persian Culture in Medieval India. The event took place on 23rd January, 2020. It was attended by significant number of students and faculties of AISS.
Guest Lecture on "Migrants and Refugees: The South Asian Experience"
SPEAKER: Prof Partha S Ghosh
DATE: 12 .09.19(Thursday)
TIME: 02:00 PM- 03:30 PM
The Department of Political Science, AISS organized a guest lecture at AISS at Room no 13 from 2pm -3.30 pm.
The total numbers of faculties present in the event were 10, Phd students 4, Masters Students 5, Bachelor students 20. There were in total 50 participants from Political Science and non-political science background. The sessions wereto engage and discuss on one of the most challenging issue and concern in India and to a larger context South Asia – Migration and Refugees. Also information on scope of research and emerging challenges due to migration and refugee problem was shared and were of immense knowledge.
Prof Ghosh began with historical accounts of all the South Asian countries and events that connect issues with India and how South Asia has been the most vulnerable and yet remains the most interesting region and attention for the West and the East.
Prof Ghosh referred to stories and events as experienced firsthand during his course of research on South Asian migrants and indigenous population whose plight of partition, sorrows of identity crisis and economic pressures remain noteworthy.
Many questions were asked relating to detailed explanation of issues that concern the region and why some solutions are more challenging then easy to deal with. He explained how some questions remain difficult to answer because of absence of political will and constant historical conflicts.
Guest lecture on Gender issues and Social Work by Ms. Kamla Bhasin, renown social activist on Feb 12, 2018
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Amity Institute of Social Sciences (AISS) organized a guest lecture for AISS students by Prof. Jane Schukoske CEO, IRRAD (Institute of Rural Research and Development), Gurgaon on 25th September 2013. Prof (Dr) Nirupama Prakash, Director AISS welcomed the guest and introduced her to AISS students and faculty. Lecture commenced with Prof Jane briefing about IRRAD’s mission of furthering the well-being of rural communities, with emphasis on community participation in integrated village development. She highlighted on the models adopted for rural development : water management, good governance, agricultural income enhancement, local institutions and citizen participation. Mewat district of Haryana is the focal area where IRRAD has undertaken development activities in order to address and resolve soaring and disturbed social indicators. Sustainable village development model was implemented in Mewat, which was designed and tested by IRRAD. Prof. Schukoske left the house open for discussion among the students on an Ideal Village Model. Some of the suggestions and viewpoints which came from the audience were: adequate infrastructure, access to services and basic necessities, technological enhancements. Emphasis was also given on institution building, ownership,capacity building and partnership. While concluding, Prof Jane gave importance to learning by doing. She highlighted on access to justice by accelerating legal literacy and spreading awareness among the rural folk. She also gave emphasis on training teachers and community workers so that they can guide people who live in rural areas and bring them to the mainstream of development at the earliest. Professor Jane Schukoske encouraged students to apply for internships at IRRAD. She explained the objective of internship was and how this internship could help the students gain exposure to the outside world and develop themselves as professionals. Vote of Thanks was administered by AISS faculty Ms. Nancy Chopra. Students interacted with Prof. Schukoske and found the lecture very stimulating, especially those pursuing Social Work and Development Studies. |
Prof. Jane Schukoske CEO, IRRAD addressing the gathering
Students during the lecture session
2. Two eminent academicians in Social Work gave a lecture at AISS on the 4th of December 2014.
(1) Professor Madhu Bala Kasiram, Professor of Social Work, School of Applied Human Sciences(Social Work) , Howard College, University of KwaZulu Natal, Durban, South Africa . Professor Kasiram's presentation was on Post Grduate Research and Teaching in Social Work. (2) Ms Dorethee Holscher, Lecturer and Post Graduate Coordinator, School of Applied Human Sciences(Social Work) , Howard College, University of KwaZulu Natal, Durban, South Africa The topic covered by Dorothy was Human Values and Social Work Audience was AISS Social Work Students including Ph.D students.