Attempt to rediscover Ibn Khaldun as Sociologist

Hyderabad: Department of Sociology, Maulana Azad National Urdu University is hosting a two day National Seminar cum Symposium in an attempt to rediscover the pioneering contribution made by the 14th Century Muslim Philosopher & Scholar Ibn Khaldun in the field of Sociology. The seminar is sponsored by ICSSR.

Speakers at the inaugural session of the seminar "Sociology of knowledge: A perspective from Ibn Khaldun", inaugurated today, rued at the neglect of Ibn Khaldun as the founding father of Sociology. Dr. Mohammad Aslam Parvaiz, Vice-Chancellor in his presidential address stressed the need to explore and revisit Ibn Khaldun through his original Arabic texts instead of Western translations. MANUU can take the initiative, he pointed out. We need to look at the issues with our own perspective, he added.

Noted Sociologist, Prof. M. A. Kalam in his keynote agreed that Ibn Khaldun is badly neglected for a very long time. He was a genius, born in 1332 in Tunisia, left his indelible marks as Historiographer, Demographer and Sociologist. However, much of his work was relegated because of lack of translation, he pointed out.

Ibn Khaldun treated Society as a living organism. Prof. Kalam described Ibn Khaldun as an important figure in Sociology & Muslim History.

Prof. Vinod Jairath, another eminent Sociologist, formerly with University of Hyderabad, addressed the inaugural as Chief Guest. He described the seminar as a bold attempt by the Department of Sociology. He advised the students and research scholars to look into the context of every idea. Comparison without a proper context is an exercise in futility, he remarked.

Earlier, Dr. Saheed, Assistant Professor, welcomed and introduced the guests. Prof. P. H. Mohammad, Convenor & Head of the Department and Dean, School of Arts & Social Sciences introduced the theme. Dr. Md. Ehtesham Akhtar proposed vote of thanks.