Synopsis - Report on Symposium

REPORT : INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON: REJUVENATION - CHALLENGES AND REMEDIES CONDUCTED BY ST. XAVIER’S COLLEGE, MUMBAI.

On the 21st. February. 2024, the Department of Inter-Religious Studies (DIRS), at St. Xaviers College, Mumbai hosted an International Symposium on Rejuvenation- Challenges and Remedies. We live in a world that’s extremely dynamic. As a country, we are on the cusp of ushering in a golden era of prosperity and advancement in all spheres of life- economic, social, political, scientific and spiritual. More than ever, we need transformational tools to help us navigate the choppy waters that come with the times. With this in mind, the DIRS department of St. Xaviers college had invited several dignitaries from various walks of life to engage in thought provoking discussions on how rejuvenation is the key to nurturing a renewed outlook on the way forward.

The first speaker of the day, Father Bryan Lobo, SJ, Professor, Gregorian University, Rome spoke via video conference on how rejuvenation is required in the areas of religion, spirituality and secularism to suit the requirements of the modern era. The second session saw a moderated presentation on the challenges faced in Rejuvenation delivered by four eminent speakers. Pandit Balkrishna Iyer, a tabla exponent, spoke on the topic of Rejuvenation in Rhythm: A Myth or a Reality? The next speaker was Ms. Varsha Apte, Professor of Computer Science at IIT Bombay, who provided her insights on how the life of an academician is a constant cycle of learning, unlearning and relearning. The third speaker, Mr. Shankar Krishnan, Group Head, HR, IT, and Corporate Communications,Shapoorji Pallonji Group, presented his thoughts on ‘Rejuvenation in the context of modern corporate life’.The session was brought to a close with a very invigorating talk by Gynaecologist, Dr. Varsha Degwekar who shared her wisdom on a very relevant topic for today’s times - Is PCOD a 20th Century Disorder?

Post lunch, the group reconvened for yet another interactive discussion on the remedies that can be followed to counter the challenges in rejuvenation. Mrs. Kalyani Patnaik, Principal, Hiranandani Foundation School, Powai, led the proceedings with an extremely engaging talk on ‘Rejuvenate the Path to Holistic Development'. Her expertise in the field of education was evident as she urged the audience to inculcate a compassionate and collaborative attitude to facilitate the process of holistic development of individuals. Mr. Vilas Shirhatti, Technical Director, Nutrition and Science Technology, Naturell India Private Limited, presented his views on ‘'Stress Management Through Optimum Nutrition'. The penultimate session was an interaction led by Dr. (Fr.) Keith D’Souza, SJ, Director, DIRS and XICP, Rector, St. Xavier's College on the Topic: 'Imagining Rejuvenation.’ The final event of the day was a valedictory function by Prof. Bartholomew McGettrick, Emeritus Professor, University of Glasgow with a discussion on ‘Education as Rejuvenation’. His erudite views, shared through video conference, were indeed very enlightening and informative.

The Hiranandani Foundation School, led by its dynamic head, Mrs. Kalyani Patnaik has always been a lighthouse, guiding its students, staff and the community alike. Mrs. Patnaik believes that rapidly adapting to changing scenarios in the field of education, holds the key to achieving high standards of excellence and expertise. She maintains that teachers must constantly improvise and re-skill themselves to meet the requirements of the changing world. For this reason, she deputed six teachers of the school to attend the Symposium at St. Xaviers. Ms. Sejal Parikh, Ms. Shivani Gharat and Mr. Raj Moses from the HFS International Section and Ms. Sheweta Singh, Ms. Sabina Shaikh and Ms. Supriya Ramchandran from the ICSE section attended the prestigious event. The school provides several such opportunities for self development not only for its students but also to its staff by offering arenas for professional enrichment. The teachers came back highly energized and armed with renewed strategies and fresh perspectives to rejuvenate their class rooms.

Reported by:
-Supriya Ramchandran.

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