UGC sponsored 2-day national seminar on Bioethics - 24,25 January, 2007.

For the first time VPM's Joshi-Bedekar College organized a national seminar and the topic for this seminar was Bioethics. This UGC sponsored 2-day national seminar was held on 24th &25th January, 2007 at the Thorale Bajirao Peshwe Sabhagruha. The seminar was inaugurated at the auspicious hands of Shri. S.V. Karandikar, member, Vidya Prasarak Mandal. Dr. Bhuvan Chandel, who is Member Secretary, Centre for Studies in Civilization, New Delhi, delivered the key-note address. The guest speakers, Dr.Bhuvan Chandel, Justice M.F.Saldanha, Dr.Arun Bal, Dr.Sunil Pandya, Dr. Ajai Singh & Dr.Firuza Parikh, enthralled the audience with their wonderful presentations. Dr. Sunil Pandya, Neurosurgeon, Jaslok Hospital & Research Centre spoke on Medical Ethics in India today- Concerns & possible solutions. Dr.Arun Bal - General Surgeon delivered a talk on Medical Ethics. Dr.Firuza Parikh from the Jaslok Hospital enlightened the audience on topics like IVF, Cloning and Abortion. Dr.Ajai R.Singh, Consultant Psychiatrist delighted the audience with details of Medicine and the Pharmaceutical Industry. Justice M.F. Saldanha spoke on Bio-Ethics and Law.
9 Delegates from different colleges presented papers on various issues during this seminar.
Prof. Sheshadri , HOD, Khalsa College presented a paper on Organ Transplant.
Dr. Uma Shankar, HOD of SIES College, spoke on Euthanasia.
Prof. (Mrs.) Namita Nimbalkar, lecturer of Philosophy & Director of Gandhian Studies Centre in Birla College spoke of Euthanasia- the Hindu Perspective.
Dr. Trevor Allis , HOD, Sophia college presented a paper on Surrogate Arrangement- Market of Living Laboratories.
Dr. Amita Valmiki, HOD, RJ College, Ghatkopar presented a paper on Abortion- Rethinking & Revisited.
Dr. Tabassum Sheikh, HOD, G.H .Momin Women's college, Bhiwandi spoke on Ethics of IVF.
Dr. Kokila Shah , Hon.Visiting Prof. K.J.Somaiya center for studies in Jainism presented the Jaina Concept of Samlekhana- A loss or a gain?
Dr. Utpala Mody, HOD, Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan Chowpatty, also presented a paper 'Samlekhana is a step towards self-realization'.
Ms. Biraj Mehta, student doing M.Phil spoke on Cloning & Multiplicity.
Dr Vijay Bedekar addressed the audience during the concluding session.
The center of attraction of the seminar were the skits presented by the students on topics like Euthansia, Surrogacy, Abortion and Suicide. Which were written and directed by the student only. The audience was mesmerized by the impact the of these skits.

Overall, this national seminar was well received by the audience and was a wonderful learning experience for the institution.

As a sequel to the seminar on Bioethics, a special seminar on Bio-Ethics was conducted for the students on 27th January 2007. This included an important dimensio of Personality Development. The entire session was handled by Dr.Ajai R.Singh , Consultant Psychiatrist. 500 students attended and benefited from this seminar.