Event Details: 📅 Date: 29th September, 2024 🕡 Time: 5:30 pm onwards. 📍 Location: Firodia Auditorium , Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute , Law College Road , Pune.
SYNOPSIS Professor Deshmukh’s session explores the critical role civil societies play in shaping national narratives and movements, emphasizing their impact on governance, stability, and national security.DESCRIPTION In a thought-provoking session, Professor Deshmukh shed light on the significant influence civil societies exert in shaping national narratives and driving social movements. He highlighted the dual nature of these organizations as powerful catalysts for positive change and potential tools for political or external manipulation. This dual role necessitates comprehensive understanding and oversight to protect national stability. Professor Deshmukh emphasized the importance of legal frameworks such as the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, which ensure transparency and accountability within civil society organizations, preventing them from becoming conduits for foreign influence. He pointed out that while civil societies contribute meaningfully to civic engagement, they must be regulated to safeguard national interests. A significant part of the session revolved around the concept of the ‘Deep State’—referring to the covert potential for foreign interference through civil societies. Professor Deshmukh called for vigilance in recognizing and mitigating such risks to uphold national integrity. The discussion also touched on misinformation campaigns that can be fuelled by civil society groups, potentially skewing public opinion and disrupting social harmony. Professor Deshmukh proposed the emergence of counter civil societies that promote constructive narratives and actively combat the spread of misinformation. Concluding his talk, Professor Deshmukh emphasized the delicate balance required between empowering civil societies to foster democratic engagement and ensuring they operate in a way that supports, rather than compromises, national security. He underscored the importance of education and critical thinking in equipping citizens to engage thoughtfully and discernibly with civil society activities, thereby enhancing societal resilience to external influence and misinformation.
