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MEMORIAL LECTURE IN HONOUR OF REV. FR. LO GROI

Memorial Lecture in honour of Rev. Fr. Lo Groi

13 March 206, Sonada: The Department of Philosophy of Salesian College Sonada (Autonomous), organized a memorial lecture in honour of Rev. Fr. Lo Groi in the campus on the 13th of March, 2026. The lecture was delivered by Ms. Ragani Chettri, Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology in the College on “Gender and the Body: How Society Shapes What Feels Natural.”

The day’s programme began with welcoming of the resource person and the distinguished guests with traditional khadas. Br. Jose Puthenpurackel, the Vice Principal of the College paid tribute to Rev. Fr. Lo Groi by garlanding his portrait and Fr. Tomy Augustine gave a short life sketch of his. Fr.  Mathew Cherukattuparmabil, Head of the Department of Philosophy, introduced Ms Ragani Chettri, the speaker of the day  who holds an M.A. in Sociology from the University of North Bengal. She has presented several papers in national seminars and has publications to her credit. 

In her lecture titled “Gender and the Body: How Society Shapes What Feels Natural,” Ms Chettri explained that many ideas about masculinity and femininity are not simply natural but are strongly shaped by society. She highlighted how social institutions such as family, education, religion, and media influence the way individuals learn and internalize gender roles from childhood. Referring to Simone de Beauvoir, she explained the famous statement that one is not born but rather becomes a woman, emphasizing the role of social conditioning. She also discussed the theory of Judith Butler, who argues that gender is formed through repeated actions and behaviors.

The lecture further explored the views of Michel Foucault on how institutions shape human behavior and regulate bodies. She also referred to Raewyn Connell, who discusses different forms of masculinity, and Kimberlé Crenshaw, known for developing the concept of intersectionality, which explains how gender interacts with race, class, and culture. In her concluding remarks, the speaker emphasized that achieving gender justice requires broader social change, equal opportunities, and respect for diverse identities.

After the presentation, Fr. Pritam Barla, the Campus Minister, chaired a brief session for questions and clarifications and delivered the concluding remarks. The programme concluded with  vote of thanks proposed by Br. Titus Gonmei Gaisuakpou sdb 

 

Br. Abhishek Rai sdb