JUBILEE CONFERENCE ON WOMEN'S EDUCATION AT BANASTHALI UNIVERSITY
10:00  am - 11:30 am
          Venue - Auditorium

	Inaugural Session                                                        	
1	Welcome Address by                                               * Prof. Aditya Shastri                                                                Vice-Chancello                                               Banasthali University, INDIA	
2	Convener's Note by                                                * Prof. Alka Sh                                                         Coordinator, WSRC,                                                        Banasthali University, INDIA	
3	Inaugural Address
* Prof. Suma Chitnis
  Former Vice Chancellor
  SNDT University, Mumbai, INDIA	
4	Keynote Speakerr                                                                       * Prof. Miriam David                                                                 Associate Director, Higher Education, University of London, ENGLAND
	
5	Presidential Address by
 * Prof. Diwakar Shastri
   President,
   Banasthali University, INDIA
	
6	Vote of Thanks by                                                            * Prof. Siddharth Shastri                                                               Dean, Social Sciences & Management                                                           Banasthali University, INDIA	

SESSION REPORT                         

The conference commenced with a glittering inaugural session at the Gyan Mandir auditorium of the university campus. The session, chaired by Prof. Diwakar Shastri , President of the university and inaugurated by Prof. Suma Chitnis, former Vice Chancellor, SNDT women's university began with the lighting of the lamp and the chanting of Banasthali University prayer that hailed the well being of everyone and reaffirmed the resolve to take the cause of education to the dizzier heights. The prayer ended with a verse which prayed for universal peace and brotherhood. Prof. Aditya Shastri, Vice Chancellor of the university detailed the academic metamorphosis that the institution underwent during 75 years of its existence. The first 25 years devoted to the ardous task of bringing women to the forefront of women's education, the next 25 for consolidating their access to the mainstream education and the latest 25 years for shaping women to take up leadership roles. Like a true visionary he also assured the gathering that the institution is not oblivious to the fact of education changing focus from awareness and enlightenment planks to utilitarian purposes. He exhorted the participants to brainstorm themselves during the conference deliberations and find ways and means to find a fine balance between the two aspects. While welcoming the foreign and inland participants, he also reminded the teaching faculty in higher and school education of the university that the conference is primarily meant for them to take stock, introspect, revamp and forge ahead with a renewed vigour. 

Prof Alka Sharma, convener of the conference, introduced the theme of the conference to the audience. While emphasising the importance of education for the overall development of the individual and appreciating the role of policy makers in waking up to the need of female education she made the point that much needs to be done to bring the gender equality and to balance private and public domains in the women's field of work by suitably modifying the approach to women's education in the global era. Prof. Suma Chitnis called Banasthali University as a sacred place of education (tirth sthan) and added that sacred mission being pursued at Banasthali University can only be sustained with a high degree of commitment , courage and confidence which can be rarely seen at other places. She underscored the need for women universities to take challenges to make them stand on their own feet and thereafter, enable them to fly high in various fields, cashing in on opportunities. She also pointed towards the challenge of the crisis of culture.. While expressing dissatisfaction at the tardy pace of development in India, she asked everyone to work hard and honest to reverse the trend. She completed her address by saying that education should create individuals who are socially responsible and enjoy life but are not driven with the desparate urge to earn. 

Prof Miriam David, Associate Director (Higher Education) University of London, while delivering her keynote address, spoke about bringing those polices and practices in higher education which widen the participation of women and make them march on the road leading to their emancipation. 

While delivering his presidential address, Prof. Diwakar Shastri expressed his belief in having an agenda which is different from that followed by universities in general because needs and aspirations of women at the present juncture are different than those of men. He said that the arduous task in front of us is how to make women believe in themselves, in their abilities and their strength and make them understand that they have an identity of their own.

He wished the conference success by quoting a Vedic verse which meant that all participants think together with positive minds. You all speak together with positive minds. All move together with positive minds.

The inaugural session concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Dr. Siddharth Shastri, Dean, Faculty of Social Science.