MMTTC, JMI concludes two-week Interdisciplinary Refresher Course on ‘Social Inclusion and Inclusive Policies: Towards Equity and Inclusion’
TNN News : The Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Centre (MMTTC) at Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) has successfully completed its Online Two-Week Interdisciplinary Refresher Course titled ‘Social Inclusion and Inclusive Policies: Towards Equity and Inclusion,’ which took place from July 14th to July 26th, 2025. The program witnessed active participation from 126 faculty members across 48 disciplines, representing universities from over 20 Indian states, including central and state institutions as well as deemed and private universities. The sessions were conducted from various multidisciplinary viewpoints.
The Refresher Course was inaugurated by the Hon’ble Vice Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia, Prof. Mazhar Asif. At the outset, Prof. Kulwinder Kaur, Honorary Director, MMTTC, warmly welcomed participants and introduced the Chief Guest Prof. Mazhar Asif, and the Course Coordinator, Dr. Arvind Kumar from the Centre for the Study of Social Inclusion, JMI.
In her introductory remarks, Prof. Kaur shared the vision behind conceptualizing the course on the ‘Idea of Inclusion’. She emphasized its objective—to critically examine historical and ongoing exclusions across various axes of identity and to empower educators to foster reflexive and inclusive classrooms.
Honb’le Vice Chancellor in his inaugural address underscored how India as one of the oldest civilizations has championed the cause of social diversity and pluralism. He emphasized that the fundamental identities of caste, religion, or ethnicity are socially constructed, and we are born free from these influences.
Prof. Asif, citing data of All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) Report 2021-2022 noted that the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in the Higher Educational Institutions is a reflection of increasing representation of students belonging to marginalised communities such as Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and other Backward Classes (OBC). He further shared the data on various religious minorities and their representation in Higher Education Institutions. He discussed the role played by Bhakti saints like Kabir, Nanak Dadu, Raidas, and social revolutionaries like Mahatma Gandhi, Savitribai Phule and Dr. Ambedkar, who despite being born into disadvantaged backgrounds changed the lives of millions. Prof. Asif emphasized that NEP-2020 marks a crucial step to champion inclusionary visions which are engrained in Article – 14, 15, 16 and 46 of the Indian Constitution. He ended his enriching inaugural address with an Urdu couplet by Mirza Ghalib:
‘Bas-Ki Dushwar Hai Har Kaam Ka Aasaan hona
Aadmi Ko Bhi Mayassar Nahi Insan Hona’
Thereafter, the course Co-ordinator Dr. Arvind Kumar explained that the course was a blend of three components: (i) theoretical and academic interventions; (ii) sensitization on the issues of caste, gender, ethnicity, language etc.; and (iii) action oriented interventions from those implementing inclusive policies.
The lectures featuring theories and practices of inclusion were delivered by Prof Farhat Nasreen, Department of History, JMI, Prof. Nishikant Kolge from MANUU, Prof. Rajesh Gill, Department of Sociology, Punjab University, Dr Gomti Bodra Hembrom, Dept. of Sociology, JMI, Dr Vibhuti Nayak from CSSS, Kolkata, Prof. N. Manimekalai, Director Centre for Women and Development Studies, Dr Prashant Negi, Prof. Raziuddin Aquil, from Department of History, DU, and Prof. Charu Gupta.
The component of sensitization included lectures by Prof. Archana Dassi, Anti-Discrimination Officer of JMI, Prof. Nishat Zaidi, Hony. Director, Sarojini Naidu Centre for Women Studies, JMI, Dr Nitin Tagade from University of Hyderabad, Prof. Santosh Singh from Ambedkar University, Prof Chinna Rao from CSSI, JNU, Dr. K. Kokho from Centre for North East Studies and Policy Research, JMI, Dr Korsi D. Kharshiing, Prof. Ramesh Bairy from IIT, Bombay,
The lectures on action oriented approach to make a more inclusive society were delivered by experts such as Dr. Dhrub Kumar Singh, Department of History, BHU, Prof. Nisar Khan, Department of Architecture, JMI, Dr Deepti Mulgund, Shiv Nadar University, Dr Pradyumn Bag, Dept of Sociology, JMI, Prof. Ravi Kant form CSDS and Prof Vishal Chauhan.
Some other prominent academics included Dr Ravikant Mishra, (Joint Director, Prime Minister’s Memorial Museum and Library), Shri Abhay Kumar, IFS, (Deputy Director General of Indian Council of Cultural Relations), Shri Naval Kishore Ram, (Commissioner, Pune, and Ex-Director, PMO, Ex-Joint Secretary, Ministry of Finance) and Shri Chittranjan Tripathy, Director National School of Drama.
As per the UGC mandate, the participants were made to undergo intensive assessment exercises to check their learning outcomes. These included the MCQ Test, group presentation on themes related to questions of equity and inclusion. The participants during the feedback session unanimously echoed that the course was unique in its imagination and execution. They communicated that the learnings from this programme will help them to work towards inclusive classrooms in their institutions.
