On April 10, 2023, the Department of Philosophy at PGGCG-11 in Chandigarh, in association with Nostalgia: Alumni Association of PGGCG-11, organized the Fifth Lecture of the Seminar Series “Dialogue”. The event, entitled ‘Why study Philosophy: Narratives from Class and Experience”, was delivered by Dr. Shivani Sharma, an alumna of PGGCG-11 and Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Panjab University, Chandigarh. Under the able guidance of the College Principal, Prof. (Dr.) Anita Kaushal, the lecture encouraged the around 50 students in attendance to self-reflect on their actions and beliefs.
During her lecture, Dr. Sharma highlighted the difference between philosophical and non-philosophical questions and emphasized the relevance of philosophy in other disciplines. She compared the significance of Philosophy to that of grandparents, saying that just as we need our grandparents to learn something from the wisdom they have gained from their experiences, we need philosophy and its various theories to inculcate wisdom in us. Dr. Sharma also urged the students to be a window rather than a mirror and to doubt every piece of information given to them. According to her, the very essence of a good philosopher is the ability to entertain a thought without accepting it.
Dr. Sharma also emphasized the importance of educating the heart as well as the mind, stating that educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all. She challenged the belief that whatever surrounds an individual is reality and instead argued that reality is what remains unaffected by space and time. The lecture was followed by a thought-provoking discussion, during which students asked several questions. The session was chaired by Ms. Bhumika Thapa of BA First Year, and the vote of thanks was extended by Dr. Sadhna Verma, Dean of the Alumna Association and Head of the Department of Chemistry, and Dr. Ambuj Sharma from the Department of Philosophy. Overall, the event was a truly informative seminar that left the participants with much to think about.
