MAHENDERGARH, 04.11.25-The Department of Sociology at the Central University of Haryana continues its long-standing academic tradition of hosting the Thursday Colloquium, an interactive platform designed to expose students and research scholars to interdisciplinary research, contemporary debates, and cutting-edge knowledge from scholars across India and abroad.
Reflecting on this sustained initiative, the Head of the Department, T. Longkoi Khiamniungan, noted that the colloquium has been a hallmark of the department for several years, contributing immensely to its culture of openness, debate, and academic vibrancy. “Such engagements strengthen our students’ intellectual foundations and widen the horizons of learning. Our aim is to position the Department of Sociology among the most dynamic academic spaces in the country,” she said. Dr. Khiamniungan also expressed her gratitude to Vice-Chancellor Prof. Tankeshwar Kumar, whose consistent encouragement and visionary leadership have played a pivotal role in strengthening the department’s academic culture. She noted that Prof. Kumar’s unwavering support for intellectual engagement, interdisciplinary dialogue, and student-centric initiatives has enabled the department to conceptualize and sustain platforms like the Thursday Colloquium. His commitment to fostering a vibrant academic environment, Dr. Khiamniungan added, continues to inspire faculty and students alike to strive for excellence and expand the university’s scholarly horizons
Under Thursday Colloquium, this semester, three intellectually stimulating sessions have been delivered by distinguished scholars—Dr. Suraj Beri (Nagaland University), Dr. Pooja Sharma (Hull York Medical School, United Kingdom), and Dr. Vinay Gupta (District Civil Hospital, Kaithal). Together, the sessions reflected the Colloquium’s core aim: to bridge disciplines, foster critical engagement, and expose students to contemporary debates shaping the social sciences.
Dr. Suraj Beri’s session enriched the audience with an analytical unpacking of Pierre Bourdieu’s field theory, habitus, and classificatory struggles, demonstrating how these concepts illuminate patterns of social inequality, cultural hierarchy, and political power in Indian society. His discussion showcased the strength of sociological theory when applied to real-world social transformations, resonating with the colloquium’s commitment to nurturing theoretical clarity and methodological rigour among students.
Dr. Pooja Sharma’s talk transported the audience into the expanding world of Medical Anthropology, illustrating how culture, political economy, and global capitalism shape disease, suffering, and care. Her reflections on cancer ethnographies, waiting as a condition of domination, and structural violence highlighted the urgent need for interdisciplinary thinking—one of the foundational principles of the Thursday Colloquium. The session helped students understand how sociological and anthropological lenses deepen our understanding of health inequities and lived experiences.
The third session, “The Digital Mind Trap: How A.I. Shapes and Shakes Our Mental Health,” delivered by Dr. Vinay Gupta, engaged the audience with emerging concerns at the intersection of technology and mental health. Discussing technostress, algorithmic amplification, digital loneliness, dehumanization, and AI-enabled therapies, Dr. Gupta revealed how rapidly advancing technologies are reshaping human behaviour, cognition, and emotional well-being. This session underscored the colloquium’s role in helping students critically navigate contemporary transformations and ethical challenges posed by artificial intelligence.
Across all three sessions, the colloquium succeeded in creating a space where theory, empirical research, public health, technology, and everyday life converged. The vibrant participation of students, research scholars, and faculty reflected the department’s dedication to cultivating a culture of dialogue, debate, and interdisciplinary learning.
Under the guidance of Head of Department, Dr. T. Longkioi Khiamniungan, the colloquium is coordinated by Tanvi Bhati, with active support from other faculty members Dr. Reema Gill, Dr. Yudhvir, Dr. Kashmira and Sh. Som Chand. The Thursday Colloquium continues to emerge as a flagship academic initiative of the department. The participation and enthusiasm of MA students and research scholars form the backbone of the colloquium, making it a living space of dialogue and inquiry. The Department remains committed to sustaining this academic momentum and will continue to walk on this path, with plans to organize thought-provoking sessions every week in the coming months.