Chandigarh February 19, 2024- The 71st Colloquium lecture titled "The Relevance of Sri Aurobindo Today" was delivered by noted academician, Prof.Sachidananda Mohanty, Vice Chancellor, Central University of Odisha and Governing Board Member of Auroville Foundation, administered by the MHRD, Government of India, at Bhatnagar Auditorium, Dr. SSB University Institute of Chemical Engineering & Technology, Panjab University today under the patronship of Prof.RenuVig, Vice Chancellor. Panjab University, Chandigarh, conveyed Prof. Monica Munjial Singh, Coordinator, Colloquium Committee. Prof.Mohanty was a member of India's Commission of Education to the UNESCO, Consultant to the Ford Foundation and Senior Academic Associate at the American Studies Research Centre (ASRC), Hyderabad. He is the recipient of several National & International Awards including Katha, British Council, Fulbright, Charles Wallace and The Salzburg. He has published extensively in the field of British, American, Gender, Translation and Post-Colonial Studies.

Prof.Mohanty's talk outlined Sri Aurobindo's futuristic vision for mankind. It chronicled the reasons, generally neglected, that explain the current crisis we face at the National and International level. The talk came up with some answers to overcome the crisis in human civilization that Sri Aurobindo underlined in his magnum opus The Life Divine.Sri Aurobindo’s teaching and philosophy according to Professor Mohanty encompassed respect and compassion for minorities and women.  He recognized multiculturalism as well.  Professor Sachidananda Mohanty also talked about the New Education Policy which reflects the above said aspects of Sri Aurobindo’s teachings and hence concluded that this policy is very relevant to our times.  The Dean University Instructions, Panjab University, Professor Rumina Sethi gave the concluding remarks. The Colloquium was organized very well by Prof. Monica Munjial Singh, Coordinator, Colloquium Committee and her team members.