Workshop on ‘Contemporary Spain: Culture, Society and Politics’
Aligarh : Deliberations on important aspects of Spanish history, politics and society marked the inaugural day of the two-week Global Initiative of Academic Networks (GIAN) sponsored online workshop on ‘Contemporary Spain: Culture, Society and Politics’ of the Department of Foreign Languages (Spanish Section), Aligarh Muslim University (AMU). The programme will conclude on November 30.
Inaugurating the workshop, AMU Vice Chancellor, Prof Tariq Mansoor said: “In the past few decades, Spain has undergone a transformation perhaps greater than any other country in Western Europe. Since the country has grown into one of the most advanced and dynamic European nations, it is important to discuss and explore the reasons behind Spain’s ascension”.
In the keynote address, Prof Jawaid Iqbal (Dean, Faculty of International Studies and Chairman, Department of Foreign Languages) spoke about Spain’s integration into the European Union and NATO, decentralization of Spain, asymmetric federalism, the role of the autonomous communities and immigrants, the autonomous community of Basque in Northern Spain, secular society and the Church and the challenges of globalization.
Mr Juan Angulo (Ambassador of Chile to India), Mr David Puig (Ambassador of Dominican Republic to India) and Prof Rajiv Saxena (Former Chairperson, Centre of Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and Latin American Studies, JNU, New Delhi) delivered the felicitation addresses and discussed the impact of cultural structures on the development of political life in contemporary societies.
Dr Oscar Pujol (Director, Instituto Cervantes, New Delhi), Prof Sonya Surabhi Gupta (Director, Centre for European and Latin American Studies, New Delhi), Prof Ash Narain Roy (Director, Institute of Social Sciences, New Delhi), Dr Noorin Khan (Spanish Language and Latin American Studies, Centre for European and Latin American Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi) and Dr Fazila Shahnawaz (Centre of Advance Studies, Department of History, AMU) shed light on the diversity of Spanish culture and its strong and unifying national identity.
Prof M J Warsi (Local Coordinator, GIAN Projects in AMU), delivered the opening remarks and Dr Murad Ahamad Khan (Course Coordinator) delivered the welcome address.
Abdul Rahaman Yasir and Suhail Akhtar moderated the different sessions.