The Government College University (GCU) and Center for Social Justice (CSJ) Lahore signed an accord for indigenous research on issues of human rights, gender equality, minorities' protection, civil liberties and democracy here on Monday.
"We need to stop following Western parameters and paradigms in almost all disciplines including philosophy. The idea of universality of philosophy is no more in vogue," said eminent philosopher and writer Professor Dr Mirza Athar Baig while laying a stress on indigenous research on social issues at the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signing ceremony, organised by the GCU Directorate of Academic Planning and External Links, at the university's Syndicate Committee Room.
GCU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Hassan Amir Shah and CSJ Lahore Executive Director Peter Jacob signed the agreement and also agreed upon organising invited lectures, seminars and conferences for raising awareness in the society about issues related to social justice. As per MoU, GCU would also introduce a course titled "foundation on human rights" for its graduation students.
Speaking on the occasion, Professor Baig said that philosophy must be done in its local and socio-cultural context; without which entire exercise would ultimately remain non-productive. "The concepts of rights, human dignity, freedom, equality etc must be done in indigenous background," he said.
GCU Philosophy Department Chairperson Dr Sobia Tahir said the subject of philosophy is needed to be promoted among the youth, as the very ideas of rights, justice, representative government and human freedom have emerged from it, and it's the only discipline which produces visible and pronounced difference in the mindset of students regarding the alternative point of view.
GCU Dean Faculty of Social Sciences Professor Dr Tahir Kamran highlighted the increasing religious and sectarian influence in Pakistani society. Peter Jacob said that tolerance was the need of hour. However, he said, it was virtually impossible without justice and strong democratic institutions. Vice Chancellor Professor Hassan Amir Shah said that GCU had always upheld the human and tolerant values in South Asia, and had never been hijacked by the extremism of any sort.