Re-thinking Age-ing, Disease and Death in 21st century

Age-ing, disease and death are considered to be the parts of the biological process of evolution of mankind. Behind this natural phenomenon, there is a cultural process that makes or unmakes human life. The focus of the seminar is to turn the torch-light on to its dialectics. Instead of taking the process for granted, we need to look at the various socio-cultural contexts closely,find the loopholes both in theory and practice and come up with stable remedies that would contribute to policy making.

There are a lot of misconceptions surrounding human growing which are tradition-based. Even with our education in 21st century leading to liberation and enlightenment, we are not able to come out of the stigmas. Even though a lot of research in social science is going on, based on findings by the researchers, no positive steps are taken so far by the government, NGOs and various agencies for the welfare of the citizens. Delaying ageing and resisting disease ought to be the prime focus of time. Contemporary politics is more for its own sake than well-being.

Besides various sections of the people of society, women are the worst sufferers. They are doubly marginalised, first because of their gender, second, because of their vulnerable status in society for belonging to lower class, community or religion.Again, Corona virus in recent time has harmed humankind in general and the old people in particular. There is greater casualty among old people who have succumbed to death and further complicacies. The need of the time is to treat them with special care and specialized knowledge based on their age and senility. Noted below are some of the sub-themes based on which proposals are invited.

Sub- themes:

a. Age-ing and its compatibility with socio cultural thinking and practice.

b. Socio-economic response to disease

c. Death and socio-cultural implications

d. Death and psycho-social dynamics

e. Cultural representation of ageing, disease and death

f. Contests of gender representation and misrepresentation

g. Gender disparity in attitude, treatment and medical care 

h. Politicizing ageing, disease and death

i. Death in the broad framework of COVID-19

j. Religion and old age

k. Environment in relation to ageing, disease and death

l. Old age and wisdom for the sustainable development of mankind

m. Representation of old, diseased and disabled