“Death is the possibility of the absolute impossibility of the Dasein,” says Heidegger (Being and Time, 294, 1962).

With death, a human being becomes a being in itself, a thing with no more future and no more projects. However, a teacher, a philosopher friend, lives on and transcends their death through the works and thoughts of their students and friends. Professor Satya P. Gautam dedicated his life to learning and teaching philosophy. In this journey, he transformed the lives of many of his students and friends. Like the midwife of the Socratic method, he poked them with his never-ending questions and recurring demand to “elaborate with the help of an example”, never resting until either the time had run out or some clarity was achieved.

This symposium opens a window into works that are, in one way or another, a result of the constant nagging of the midwife who helped us birth these ideas. Through these ideas, the philosopher Gautam is still living amongst us. This two-day international symposium seeks to bring together scholars, students, colleagues and friends whose academic journeys and intellectual pursuits have been shaped by Professor Gautam’s profound influence. Through engaging discussions and insightful presentations, we aim to celebrate his contributions while fostering new collaborations and ideas.

Themes:

The symposium will address several key themes inspired by Professor Gautam’s work and influence, but not limited to them:

1. Socio-political philosophy: Understanding various dimensions and regulatory theories of society, history, politics, feminism and society.
2. Ethics: Revisiting ethical frameworks in the context of modern challenges.
3. Educational philosophy and praxis: Exploring the role of education in shaping critical thought and social transformation.
4. Philosophy and literature: Exploring the relation between these disciplines.
5. Contemporary Western philosophy: Reflecting on Professor Gautam’s teachings to understanding philosophy of mind and psychology, continental and analytical philosophy.
6. Comparative philosophy: Bridging Indian and Western philosophical traditions.
7. Legacy and impact: Analysing how Professor Gautam’s work continues to influence contemporary scholarship.

Organising team:

Director: Professor Bhagat Oinam, Centre for Philosophy, Jawaharlal Nehru University.

Coordinators:

• Dr Sameema Zahra, Faculty of Theology and Philosophy, Australian Catholic University.

Dr Zairu Nisha, Department of Philosophy, Ramanujan College, University of Delhi.