Mumbai, 28 February 2025 – Somaiya Vidyavihar University, an institution committed to excellence, ethics, and societal service, hosted a public lecture by Veena R. Howard on “Dharma Dilemma in the Modern World.” Veena Howard is a professor of Asian religious traditions in the Department of Philosophy at California State University, Fresno, where she holds the endowed chair of Jain and Hindu Dharma. She also serves as the director of the M.K. Gandhi Center: Inner Peace and Sarvodaya and is a TEDx speaker.
As part of the Somaiya Public Lecture Series, the event commenced with an opening address by Dr. Abhishek Ghosh, Dean of the Faculty of Dharma Studies at K. J Somaiya Institute of Dharma Studies, and was graced by distinguished guests, including Dr. Santosh Narayankhedkar, Dean of Academics at Somaiya Vidyavihar University, and Pallavi Jambhale, Associate Professor at K. J Somaiya Institute of Dharma Studies, along with Deans/Directors of the schools at Somaiya Vidyavihar University.
At Somaiya Vidyavihar University, we strive to create platforms that encourage reflection on timeless values and their relevance in today’s world. Veena R. Howard’s lecture on the complexities of dharma in the modern era provided deep insights into how ancient wisdom can guide ethical decision-making and social responsibility. Dr Abhishek Ghosh, Dean of the Faculty of Dharma Studies of Somaiya Vidyavihar University
Dr. Howard is widely recognized for her contributions to religious studies and Gandhian thought. Her works include Gandhi’s Global Legacy: Moral Methods and Moral Challenges, The Bloomsbury Research Handbook of Indian Philosophy and Gender, Dharma: Hindu, Jain, Buddhist, and Sikh Traditions of India, and Gandhi’s Ascetic Activism: Renunciation and Social Action. She has authored numerous peer-reviewed articles on nonviolence, ethical dilemmas, and Indian philosophical traditions. A frequent speaker at international conferences, she has also served on the Board of Trustees of the Parliament of the World’s Religions. She is a recipient of the Fulbright-Nehru grant (2024-2025).
“When we look at dharma, It’s multifaceted. Dharma defies any single definition; it’s root verb ”dhr,” meaning”to hold” or “to sustain” signifies order and harmony. Hence, it can be defined as a principle that seeks to uphold personal, social, psychological, and political harmony, order, and wellbeing, said Dr. Veena Howard. “Dharma is the center and force of Indian civilization. We can all approach it differently, but is a cohesive system, despite at times challenging us to make difficult decisions. It is the whole together, maintained together, let it be society, let it be our ways of being in the family, it is the one principle that has guided us” She added.
The session concluded with an engaging Q&A, where students and faculty explored the contemporary relevance of dharma, ethical decision-making, and the intersection of tradition and modernity.
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