Lecture on Role of Social Media in Governance by Panjab University
6th August, 2021
Panjab University organized a lecture on Role of Social Media in Governance, on the occasion of 2nd Punya Smaran of late Smt Sushma Swaraj, an alumna of Department of Laws, Panjab University. It was conducted in the presence of Ms. Bansuri Swaraj, Barrister at Law,Advocate, Supreme Court of India as the chief guest, Mr. Satya Pal Jain, Additional Solicitor General, Supreme Court of India, Prof. Raj Kumar, Chief Patron and Vice Chancellor, Panjab University, Dr. Devinder Singh, Chairman, Department of Laws, Panjab University, Ms. Anju Sufi, Dean, International Students, Dr. Jyoti Rattan, Dr. Supinder Kaur, Dr. Shalini Marwaha, faculty members, Department of Laws, Panjab University.
Prof. Jyoti Rattan welcomed the dignitaries and elaborated on the life of late Smt. Sushma Swaraj who achieved momentous feats as an advocate, Member of Parliament and Minster of External Affairs. She then discussed the growing use of social media in governance, acting as a double edged sword which has both pros and cons.
Dr. Devinder Singh, remembered late Smt Sushma Swaraj as a women who bought honor to name of her alma mater, remembering how everyone in Department of Laws mourned her passing away, the passing away of a jewel of the Department.
The Special Guest of the event, Mr. Satya Pal Jain, Additional Solicitor General of Supreme Court of India remembered Late Smt Sushma Swaraj, as an accomplished orator who left a lasting impact on all those who listened to her speeches, leaving them awestruck and mesmerized. He also remembered her as a learned scholar of Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi and English languages, delivering enthralling lectures and speeches in all these languages. He described late Smt Sushma Swaraj as a woman who played multiple roles of that of a daughter, sister, mother, lawyer and Member of Parliament, performing each role to the best. Mr. Jain then described the role of social media in governance as an indispensable tool which has brought the people closer to the government, doing away with the need of expensive and time consuming surveys to gauge public opinion as all this is now performed by the social media.
Ms. Bansuri Swaraj, Barrister at Law, Advocate, Supreme Court of India and the Chief Guest for the day started her speech by thanking the educationists of Panjab University, which has continued to produce great personalities like late Smt. Sushma Swaraj. She outlined the importance of social media as that of a paramount way to stay in touch with the government and people, especially in the current times of corona pandemic. She attributed its growing role in the country’s governance to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a tech savvy leader who has used social media since his election campaigning in 2014 till current times, to gain advice from people on various issues, like the most recent one being renaming of Khel Ratna Award as Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. She also showed how a single tweet Allan prove to be lifesaving, as was proved in the rescue of nurses from ISIS, victims of Nepal earthquake, etc. But this is a two channel, as government too can use it to give directions to the citizens, she pointed out. She explained how late Smt. Sushma Swaraj, a pragmatic leader used social media for greater outreach that accorded her the titles of ‘Ironlady’ and ‘Super mom.’
Ms. Anju Suri, Dean, International Students paid her reverence to late Smt. Sushma Swaraj as one from whom the lesson of humility could be best learnt how ably she took strategic decisions and official business conducted with dignitaries of foreign states, which is a reflection of India’s great culture and heritage.
Dr. Supinder Kaur, concluded the lecture with a vote of thanks for Ms. Bansuri Swaraj and Mr. Satya Pal Jain, who took out their valuable time and shared their views on social media’s role in governance and summarizing the life and journey of late Smt. Sushma Swaraj. She also thank Prof. Raj alums, Vice Chancellor, Panjab University, for supporting and organizing the event. A vote of thanks was also extended to Ms. Anju Suri, Dean, International Students for her words of wisdom shared. In the end, a vote of thanks was extended to Dr. Devinder Singh, Chairman, Department of Laws, Panjab university, for organizing the lecture.
