School Of Liberal Arts & Human Sciences

• A two day International Seminar-cum-Workshop on “The Future of Humanities in the 21st Century” was organized on 24th-25th March 2018. Many celebrated academicians graced the occasion with their presence. Since this Seminar was organized in the light of the decision to launch School of Liberal Arts & Human Sciences from the academic year 2018-19 in the University, it gave an opportunity to plan and prepare framework of a premier School of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences with focus on integral education.
• An International Seminar on “Challenging Precarity” in association with Trinity College Dublin and University of Northampton, UK was organized on 27, 28 and 29 January, 2019. 29 scholars from 17 countries participated in it. The distinguished scholars included Janet Wilson, Feroza Jussawalla, Alex Tickell, Esterino Adami, Lisa Bloom, Alessandra Consolaro, Peter Arnds, Nancy Ellen Batty, and Halina Marlewicz to name a few.
• An International Workshop on “Post-Colonialism Now” in association with University of Northampton, UK was organized on 21-23 February 2019. The Distinguished scholars include Janet Wilson, Aleksander Wansbrough, Sachin Ketkar, Mahesh Dey, Sanjay Mukherjee to name a few.

• A National Seminar on ‘Critical Traditions in India’ in collaboration with the Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi was organized on 16-17 March, 2019. The Distinguished scholars include Alpna Saini, Bhagwan Das Patel, E V Fathima, Farheen Danta, Jatindra Kumar Nayak, K SreenivasaRao, K Suneetha Rani, Kamal Mehta, Kapil Kapoor, Makarand Pranjape, Malashri Lal, Nirmal Selvamony, Rajkumar, Rajnish Mishra, Rana Nayar, Sachin Ketkar, Shafi Kidwai, Sitanshu Yashachandra ,Subah Dasgupta, and Vandana Tete.
• National award winning film-maker Mr Abhishek Jain, conducted a workshop on ‘Film Making” on Feb 3, 2019.
• A National level pottery workshop was organised wherein students had hands on experience while learning coiling and pinching technique.
• An eminent artist of national repute, Mr. Gopal Patel conducted an interesting workshop on Calligraphy for the students.
• ‘Literary Forum’ was organized in association with Sahitya Akedmi, New Delhi on 29th January 2019 with internationally renowned novelist, Tabish Khair. In the ‘Literary Forum’ he read out his work and also responded to questions from the audience from diverse sections of the society.

• During his visit to SLAHS, Dr Richard Brown from School of English, Leeds University, UK, on 1st August 2018, delivered a talk on ‘Reading Literature Today’. He talked about the challenges faced by literature today in existing University systems and societies across the world.
• Mr Manoj Das, a prominent writer, and the winner of the Padma Shri and the Sahitya Akademi Award, delivered AURO Distinguished Lecture Series lectures on 11th, 12th, and 13th February, 2018 to the students of School of Liberal Arts & Human Sciences. The topics of his Talk were: ‘The Dawn of Quest Eternal: Reflections on the Vedas and Upanishads’, ‘Vaster than Life: The Epics and the Puranas’ and ‘Splendors of Experience: The Folk lore with reference to the Jatakas, Kathasaritsagara, Panchatantra.’
• Prof Janet Wilson, a distinguished professor of English and Director of Research in the School of Arts, University of Northampton, UK engaged the students in a discourse on diaspora and postcolonial writings.
• Manu Joseph, an internationally renowned journalist with The New York Times addressed the students on the topic ‘What happens when the Elite become the underclass?”

• During his visit to SLAHS, Dr Jorge Diego Sanchez from the University of Salamanca, Spain, on 14th August 2018, delivered lectures on the topic “DissemiNation of Narratives about India in Spain”.
• Prof Janet Wilson, a distinguished professor of English and Director of Research in the School of Arts, University of Northampton, UK, engaged the students in a discourse on diaspora and postcolonial writings.
• Ms Fidji Milet, on 27th September 2018 interacted with the students where she shared her life between France and India. She is the co-founder of the French Association Swayoga and the Swayoga Healing Centre to promote the Essence of Indian Traditional Yoga, Naturopathy and holistic therapies. In her lecture she introduced students to the cultural aspects of France including delicious food, inspiring artwork, politics, religion, and entertainment.
• Dr Aleksandr Andreas Wansbrough, University of Sydney, Australia, conducted a four week course on ‘Film Studies’ in the School.

• Mr Richard Eggenberger, an eminent speaker from Auroville, addressed the students on Feb 12, 2019. In his talk he encouraged students to think critically and discover themselves, while sharing his life journey.
• Prof Paresh Joshi, from Dept. of English, VNSGU, conducted an interactive session on ‘International Intelligibility in English” on Oct 12, 2018, where he explained the nuances of pronunciation and accent neutralization to the students.
• Dr Aditi Kaul from Indian Psychology Institute, Pondicherry, interacted with students on vibrant aspects of integral psychology; an approach that is based on consciousness, during her visit to the School from March 5 to March 8, 2019.

• In order to reinforce experiential and contextual learning, a study visit of students of the School to Bhasha Research Center, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Tejgarh, Sri Aurobindo Nivas and Lakshmi Vilas Palace & Museum, Baroda was organized on 25th September and 26th September 2018. This Visit, facilitated by Dr Ankita Khanna, faculty in the School, intended to familiarise learners with Tribal culture, language and dialects; hence providing first-hand experience of what they have been learning in the classroom. During the Visit, students attended a session by Her Highness Shubhanginiraje Gaekwad, Chancellor, MSU, Vadodara in the Baroda Festival. They also got an opportunity to have an interaction with Dr Karan Singh, an eminent scholar. By coming into direct contact with a different environment, culture and marginalised language, students better understood their place in the community and developed openness to differences in others.
• A Study Visit “Visiting Historical Sights for appreciating and understanding Heritage” facilitated by Dr Lakshmi Arya, faculty with School, was organized on 29th September, 2018. The students visited the Saraswati Mandir in Gopipura- The house of famous revolutionary Kavi Narmad. He is the legendary poet after whom the Central Library and the South Gujarat University are named in Surat. His house has been converted into a public library. Also, Balaji Girls’ School, Gopipura, within walking distance of Kavi Narmad’s house. Students also visited the Surat Fort where they learnt of the maritime history of Surat through the visit to the Fort. As a port city, Surat has been the gateway to many who entered India over the ages, including the British. The Fort has been renovated by the Surat Municipal Council and is one of the heritage monuments of Surat.

As a part of experiential learning through interaction with various sections of society, School introduced Inter/Actions from Jan 7-Jan 31, 2019. During the period the following activities were organized:

• Bhasha Research Centre & Tribal Academy, Chhota Udeypur: Students visited Bhasha Research and Publication Centre, recognized by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India, as a Center of Excellence and is accredited to provide Advisory services to UNESCO on Intangible Cultural Heritage. During their visit students were exposed to a unique educational environment for the study of tribal communities that includes tribal history, folklore, cultural geography, social dynamics, economy, development studies, ethnography, music and arts. This activity was curated by Dr Ankita Khanna.
• Artist Village, Saputara – A group of students visited Artist Village, Saputara. The students were inspired to indulge in art forms such as warli painting, paper mache, landscape painting and creation of other tribal craft (bamboo, clothes) objects. The students got to learn about tribal ways of life (social, economic, gendered) and their craft skills and also explored their ways of living in and with nature. The students got sensitized to the political and cultural issues that anthropology is fraught with: The gaze of urban people on the villagers, the museumisation and exoticisation of tribal cultures. This activity was curated by Ms Juhika Bhanjdeo and Dr Lakshmi Arya.
• I. G. Desai School, Surat – A group of students visited IG Desai School, Surat. It is a Gujarati medium school that emphasizes on teaching skill based vocational courses to their students along with the academics. During their visit, students were exposed to various dimensions of educational skills, human behavior and observing patience in the adverse situations. The students empathized with the fact that how the School helped the orphan kids from the Gujarat earthquake incident. The University students interacted with the students there about various topics such as self-awareness, team building, etc and discovered their lifestyles, challenges, thought processes and what keeps them motivated. They also discussed with the young students that how the unique concept of their school is for their betterment and how they can make most of this opportunity and progress in life. This activity was curated by Prof Santosh Kumar, Dr Vikrant Makhija and Mr Debiprasad Pramanik.
• Gujarat Literature Festival, Vadodara – Students, under the guidance of Dr Ankita Khanna, were exposed to the situations where they got an opportunity to hear and learn from different speakers who come from literary, media, film, film-writing, theatre and other backgrounds. This literature festival provided a rare opportunity to hear dozens of experts on multiple subjects and issues in a live and fun environment.

In its endeavor to train students in all the practical aspects of hospitality operations, School of Hospitality organizes Food festivals. The aim of the food festival is to train the students in the art of Sales and Marketing in addition to the practical operational skills and function catering.

• The Study Circle, coordinated by Dr Lakshmi Arya, is an initiative to spark off conversations and initiate a culture of discussion on themes of relevance. Sessions of one hour each, once a week are led by a faculty member / visiting scholar / student.
• A workshop, for the understanding of Cambridge English Assessment, was organised under the aegis of English Enrichment Program, coordinated by Dr Ankita Khanna. Mr John D’Souza, an expert from Cambridge English Language Assessment oriented the students about the utility and benefits of taking up this exam.