Aligarh: The Bengali Section of the Department of Modern Indian Languages, Aligarh Muslim University organized a one-day international webinar on ‘Women as an Intellectual Contributor in Indian Society’, which brought together scholars, academicians and professionals to highlight the significant contributions of women to the intellectual and cultural progress of India.

The chief guest, AMU Registrar, Mohd Imran emphasized the need for greater representation of women in leadership positions across various sectors and encouraged continued efforts to create a supportive environment for women to attain intellectual and professional excellence.

The special guest, Jaheda Choudhury from Assam shared insights into the role of women in law and justice, highlighting the challenges and achievements of women in the legal profession. She underscored the critical role women play in promoting equity and fairness in Indian society.

In his keynote address, Prof Tania Hossain, Former Dean, the Faculty of Letters, Arts, and Sciences, Waseda University of Tokyo, provided a global perspective on women’s intellectual contributions and praised the resilience of Indian women in overcoming social barriers and contributing to global academia.

Earlier, welcoming the guests, Prof TN Satheesan, Chairman, the Department of Modern Indian Languages, highlighted the historical significance of women’s contributions to India’s intellectual traditions. He emphasized the importance of creating more opportunities for women to participate in academic and intellectual domains.

The Webinar Director and Incharge, Bengali Section, Dr Amina Khatun, while presenting an introductory note at the beginning of the programme, stressed the importance of acknowledging women's roles in various intellectual fields, including literature, science, art, politics and social reform.

Several eminent speakers contributed their points of view during the webinar. Prof Sipra Guha Neogi, Department of Bengali, Cotton University of Assam, explored the contributions of Bengali women to literature and culture, while Prof Vibha Sharma, Department of English, AMU, shared her views on the contributions of women in shaping intellectual thought. Dr SK Kabita, Department of Biosciences, Aliah University of Kolkata, shed light on the significant role of women in scientific research and innovation.

Dr Khasim Pathan, Incharge of Telugu Section, extended a vote of thanks.