Annual Research Seminar of the ACPI (Association of Christian Philosophers of India)
The 38th annual research seminar of the ACPI was held at St. Charles Seminary from Oct 25-28. The theme of the seminar was: “Dynamics of Development: Negations and Negotiations.” The seminar was inaugurated on Oct 25th by the Rector of the Seminary, Fr. Paulson Deepak, and the keynote address was given by Swami Sachidananda Bharathi. The Swami spoke of integral development at the personal, social and national levels. He also advocated a second freedom struggle at the national level, this time for a hunger-free, caste-free and corruption-free India.
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| A WORD OF WELCOME |
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| Fr. Paulson Deepak OP |
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| DIGNITARIES AT THE INAUGURAL FUNCTION |
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| Swami Sachidananda Bharathi |
While the theme of development seems to lend itself naturally to economic considerations, the lead paper of the seminar presented by the President of the Association, Dr. Johnson Puthenpurackal, invited the participants to focus on a comprehensive and integral approach towards development. This integral approach would need to include the corporeal, cultural, spiritual, moral, social and ecological aspects of development. The rest of the papers focused on various aspects of development, as well as the contentious issue of rival models of development based on different ideological positions.
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| Prof. Johnson Puthenpurackal OFM Cap The President of ACPI |
The ACPI has its annual seminar in October in different parts of the country. The proceedings of the seminar are later published in a book. There are already seventeen books published under the auspices of the ACPI, as well as the two-volume ACPI Encyclopedia of Philosophy, published in 2010. This is the second time that the ACPI is having its meeting in Nagpur, where different models of development have originated and influenced national policy and programmes.
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| Dr. John P. Vallabhadoss, The Secretary presenting the paper |
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| Fr. Praveen D'souza OP, The Local Secretary, addressing |
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| DRs. Selvaraj, Felix Fernandes and Nishant ready to present their paper |
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| Prof. Selvaraj presenting paper |
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| Fr. Raju Moderating a Session while Dr. Sebastian Palamoottil at the hot seat |
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| Dr. James Chellappa, Presenting the paper |
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| Prof. Kuruvilla Pandikattu, |
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| Dr. Vincent Aind, Morning Star College Presenting the paper |
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| Dr. Stephen Jeyard Presenting the paper |
The seminar concluded on October 28th, with a Holy Mass presided over by Archbishop Abraham Viruthakulangara on his 44th Ordination anniversary. Dr. Keith D’Souza (Secretary, ACPI) and Fr. Praveen D’Souza, the local secretary of this year’s seminar, were instrumental in organizing the seminar successfully. The next ACPI research seminar is scheduled to be held at St. Joseph’s Pontifical Institute, Aluva, on the theme, ‘The Symbolic.’
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| Concelebrated Eucharist at the Marian Shrine |
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| Executive Body Drs. Selva, Kieth,Johnson,Kuruvilla, Vincent, John Peter, Victor |
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| Pilar Brothers performing a mind-blowing instrumental music |
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| Brothers assisting during Mass |
Dynamics of Development: Negations and Negotiations
ACPI 2013 Seminar Statement
We the members of the Association of Christian Philosophers of India (ACPI) assembled for the 38th Annual Research Seminar on the theme Dynamics of Development: Negations and Negotiations at St. Charles Seminary, Nagpur from 25 to 28 October 2013. Our deliberations on the theme have brought us to the realization that development as conceived and practiced today is not a univocal, linear or progressive dynamics, but an equivocal, complex, ambiguous and paradoxical process having deep-rooted political bases and consequences. Therefore, as Christian philosophers of India:
1. We recognize the interplay of the existential, economic, ecological, socio-political and spiritual dimensions of development and creatively and critically respond to the challenges that emerge from the complex nexus of these dimensions of development.
2. While responding to these challenges, we bear in mind the stark and shocking realities of human rights violations both at the national and international arena, such as forceful displacement, coercive migration, exile and loss of land, resulting in uprootedness from one’s life-world and culture.
3. We acknowledge the marginalization of women in the course of historical development including that of the knowledge production of human beings. This challenges us to be sensitive to gender issues, affirming that women and men are different and equal partners in our collective human search for significance and self-actualization.
4. We realize the need to respond to scientific and technological developments and to their enhancing as well as devastating consequences, since they affect every dimension of our life. Such technological progress demands that both individually and collectively, we need to widen our moral and spiritual consciousness.
5. We recognize that philosophy and developmental theories and practices are closely related. Therefore we affirm that development should be based on an integral understanding of the human person, thus upholding the freedom and dignity of humans by responsibly appropriating the findings of economics and geopolitics. The dynamics of development can meaningfully unfold itself only in a participatory democracy of all stakeholders without which justice propelled by love cannot prevail.
6. We do not wish to blindly imitate prevailing models of development, but critically appropriate indigenous models that are not driven by mere profit-making in the market economy. Development should include persons from all walks of life, especially the poor and the marginalized, creating a conducive and sustainable environment of peace, eco-sensitivity and fulfillment.
7. As Indians, Christians and world citizens, we are committed to a vision that is all-inclusive and all-embracing. Respecting diversity in thinking, living and acting, we seek to understand each other, including our differing visions of freedom and development. To this end, we need to draw from the rich resources of Indian philosophical traditions and Christian social thinking.
Fr. Raju Felix Crasta
St. Albert's College, Ranchi
