Reviews on Professor Ujjwal Kumar Singh

Reviews on Professor Ujjwal Kumar Singh Lecture in Refresher Course
Prof. Ujjwal Kumar Singh gave a presentation on the theme “How to do constitution” ?
It was not made a monologue but a very creative dialogue. Prof. Ujjawalji was able to involve all the participants into theoretical understanding, the wide connotation of the subject and also the process of an evaluation of methodology, which get constructed in the process of dealing with a particular problem.
In the first part of his presentation placing a chair on the desk before the participants he ask for their ideas, views and comments regarding the observations of chair to which almost all the participants put forward their different views, suggesting its structure, color and many other thoughts. Prof. Ujjwal explained that generally as a researcher we try to empirically look into things which appear to us. Sharing a dichotomy between chair and research, he further added that for a researcher. It is also important to look a chair beyond the empirical data. He should be able to seek questions, think beyond that, what is concept of chair for a man who cut the tree, for carpenter who makes a chair, the corporater who process and market a chair all are different question, engaging different notions and importantly brining emotions of value to the chair.
Prof. Ujjwal giving an account of Marks Webber a sociologist highlighted, The role of value in research. He said all of us have value preferences and as researcher we have to identity and place the value preference “at centre of our research”.
Prof. Ujjwal while encouraging the participants and said that a researcher should place his value preferences, honestly before the world. So that it may further bring some affirmative results.
Prof. Ujjwal, pointed that “no social science research can have a methodology of its own” it shall always be interdisciplinary in its approach. Prof. Ujjwal made a point that any research begins with philosophical questions, enters Sociological, anthropological and also PSYCHOLOGICAL approach. Citing the terminology of Upendra Bhaskhi and Rajiv Bhargar to an on constitutionalism. He said that to understand constitutionalism or any other research problem we can divide the process into 3 points.
C1 - Can be reading of the text.
C2 - Can be the hermeneutics mode. In another words- interpretation of the text which is not necessarily of only one kind. There can be thousands of interpretation of a particular text. While elaborating on the C2 process. Prof. Ujjwal quoted “a text of Urvasi Bathaliya’s “Another side of silence” which interprets a feminist perspective.
In third category C3 – is the formulation of the theory or in another words ‘ideology’. He said concept of Nationalism is closely related to constitutionalism. One should not forget that nationalism is product of time in a particular context. So it is never static. He also gave a little account of positivism/legal positivism.
Prof. Ujjwal said that unlike research, there cannot be a definite definition of a constitutionalism. It is always understood in a legitimate framework. A political process to bring a social change he raised certain questions before the participants regarding why to study constitution? He added that it is important to study constitution because it’s gives us an understanding to seek the arbitrary use of power by state.
Modern state exercises power and if it go uncheck then there is possibility that it may become an oppressor. On a positive note he strongly recommended that a constitutions is essential because it restores the principles of democracy removal of untouchability is one fair example in this regard.
In concluding remarks he said that there is nothing in this world and environment – where law does not operate. The essential thing is to interpret, identify, form and protect the human dignity and value in its inclusiveness for any developments.
Chandrakant Jamadar
Asstt. Professor
P.G. Studies in Psychology
Maharani Arts & Commerce
College for Womens,
Mysore- 05
Karnataka.
Date :10-09-2011