Amartya Sen to deliver prof. Hiren Mukerjee lecture

Noble Laureate Prof. Amartya Sen will deliver the Inaugural  Prof. Hiren Mukerjee Memorial Parliamentary Lecture in Parliament House on 11 August 2008 at 1800 hours.  The theme of the Lecture is "Demands of Social Justice".  Hon'ble Vice-President of India will preside over the function and Hon'ble Prime Minister will be the Chief Guest. Hon'ble Speaker, Lok Sabha, will deliver the Welcome Address while Secretary-General, Lok Sabha, will propose the Vote of Thanks. A portrait of Prof. Hiren Mukerjee will also be unveiled on the occasion.

Prof. Hiren Mukerjee, an exceptionally gifted intellectual and a brilliant orator, served the Lok Sabha for five consecutive terms from 1952 to 1977.  During his illustrious parliamentary career, Shri Mukherjee made an effective use of the forum of Parliament to raise  the grievances of the people and for ushering in a society which would ensure a dignified existence for every citizen. Revered as an outstanding parliamentarian with a deep insight into the challenges facing the nation, he spoke eloquently on the issues of the times and the need for public policies that would lead to an egalitarian society.  His informed views on diverse issues have acquired greater urgency in recent times as the nation confronts the task of uplifting deprived and the downtrodden.   It is in this context that the Lok Sabha Speaker, Shri Somnath Chatterjee, has taken the initiative to institute the Prof. Hiren Mukerjee Memorial Parliamentary Lecture to carry forward  Prof. Mukerjee's illuminating discourse on issues of contemporary relevance.

Prof. Amartya Sen, who will deliver the Inaugural Lecture, is   Thomas W. Lamont University Professor and Professor of Economics and Philosophy at Harvard University.  He received the Nobel Prize in Economics in 1998.  The President of India bestowed India's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, on Prof. Amartya Sen  in 1999.