Leh, Sept 18: A guest lecture hosted by the Department of Sociology at Government Eliezer Joldan Memorial College, Leh, on Monday underscored the need for fostering critical thinking among young learners to address pressing social challenges in higher education.
Prof. (Dr.) Suresh Babu of Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, and Prof. (Dr.) Ajay Chaudhary from the Dr. Ambedkar Chair at Symbiosis International University, Pune, addressed the gathering on the theme Students and the Sites of Learning in Higher Education: Critical Reflections on India’s Education Policy. The speakers underlined that education must not be confined to the transmission of knowledge alone but should aim at bridging social inequalities through cultivation of criticality.
Invoking Ambedkar’s values of education and their relevance in today’s diverse society, the speakers urged students to view learning beyond classroom boundaries and to engage with modern social realities with analytical rigor.
Earlier, Principal Prof. Stanzin Yangdol, who presided over the session, welcomed the guest lecturers and acknowledged the importance of academic collaborations across institutions and cultural spaces. She observed that the chosen theme aligned with the broader pursuit of higher learning.
The lecture was convened by Dr. Samina Rehman, Head of the Sociology Department, and coordinated by Dr. Tsering Norphel of the same department. Faculty members and students from the social sciences attended the session and actively participated in the discussions.
