Srinagar, Aug 19 (KNO): A two-day national conference on “Gender Equality in the 21st Century, Perspectives & Pathways to SDG-5” concluded at Government College for Women (GCW), M.A. Road, Srinagar, on Wednesday, with speakers stressing the need to translate academic discussions on gender equality into meaningful social change.
Prof. Mufti Mudasir, Professor and Head of the Department of English, University of Kashmir, was the special guest at the valedictory session and delivered the valedictory address, a spokesperson said in a statement issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).
He said Prof. Mudasir examined gender justice through religious, intellectual and legal traditions, calling for critical and creative engagement with tradition rather than viewing tradition and reform as incompatible.
“Referring to Islamic intellectual history, particularly the ideas of Allama Muhammad Iqbal, he said questions concerning women, justice and legal interpretation had long been debated within the intellectual tradition itself.”
He also highlighted the historical challenges faced by women in matters such as marriage and divorce, besides Iqbal’s concerns over interpretations that could lead to inequitable outcomes.
The spokesperson said Prof. Mudasir maintained that commitment to religious and spiritual traditions could coexist with a vision of gender justice rooted in human dignity, compassion and fairness.
He stressed the need for an open-minded approach to gender-related issues while remaining mindful of the cultural and religious contexts of different societies.
Earlier, Prof. Shabir Ahmed Parrey, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, delivered the welcome address, while Prof. Mustafa Majid, Assistant Professor, Department of Education, presented a consolidated report of the technical sessions.
“Principal Prof. (Dr.) Yasmeen Farooq said the conference brought together diverse perspectives on gender equality, covering education, economy, political participation, literature, media, technology, environment and everyday social experiences,” he said.
The valedictory session was moderated by Dr. Suhail Ahmad, Assistant Professor and Head of the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, while Prof. Sheba Drabu, Co-Convener of the conference, proposed the vote of thanks. The conference concluded with the distribution of certificates among participants—(KNO)