Press Statement
25th Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer Memorial Lecture
20/01/2025
“The culture of impunity means that the use of violence in public life – whether by police and security forces, or by vigilantes attacking minority communities – goes largely unpunished”, said Prof. Thomas Blom Hansen, prominent scholar and author, while delivering the prestigious 25th Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer Memorial Lecture on 18th January, 2025. The lecture organized by Centre for Study of Society and Secularism was titled “Violence and Democracy: On Impunity and Protection in Indian Public Life” and chaired by Dr. Bhalchandra Mungekar, noted Economist and former Member of Parliament. The Lecture was preceded by conferment of the Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer Lifetime Achievement posthumously to Fr. Stan Swamy. It was received by Fr. Frazer Mascarenhas, former Principal of St. Xaviers College, Mumbai and eminent social activist.
While elaborating on impunity in Indian public life, Prof. Hansen highlighted that “this culture of impunity means that most Indians today understand political power as a process of ‘redress’ – extending or withdrawing protection (of livelihoods, property and security) from arbitrary state action and vulnerability vis-à-vis powerful interests and communities; or as ‘revenge’ – punitive actions by state agencies or by vigilante mobs against dissenters, or against political enemies or social and religious minorities”. Agreeing with Prof. Hansen, Dr. Mungekar, emphasized that this culture of impunity in India poses a challenge to democracy and its institutions.
Fr. Mascarenhas while accepting the Award recounted the contributions of Fr. Stan Swamy to the discourse of civil liberties and rights of Adivasis in India. He urged the civil society to uphold the legacy of Fr. Stan Swamy fearlessly to promote the rights of the marginalized. Irfan Engineer, Director of CSSS, proposed the vote of thanks. The Lecture was attended over 80 eminent participants including academics and journalists. In the past, the Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer Memorial Lecture was delivered by celebrated scholars including Prof. Romila Thapar, Prof. Christophe Jaffrelot, Prof. Nivedita Menon and Prof. Pratap Bhanu Mehta.
Video Link – Conferment Ceremony and Lecture