International Conference on “Beyond Neurocentric Paradigms: Cultural Crisis, Healing and Indigenous Pathway to Well-Being” held at St. Thomas College, Bhilai.

The PG Department of Psychology, Education and English of St. Thomas College, Bhilai, hosted the International Conference on “Beyond Neurocentric Paradigms: Cultural Crisis, Healing and Indigenous Pathway to Well-Being,” .The keynote speaker of the conference was Dr.Saji Varghese Associate Professor. Dept of Philosophy north-Eastern hill University, Shillong.The other resource person were Prof John Gordano, Assumption University, Thiland. Dr.Lesley Gowland, Executive coach and corporate trainer, Italy.

The program began with a welcome speech delivered by Convenor Dr. Deepti Santosh, Principal of the College Dr. Shiny Mendonce focused on biological and neurological explanations, in perspective to deep influence of culture, community, tradition, and spirituality. The Presidential and Inaugural Address was delivered by Administrator of the College Fr. Dr. P. S. Varghese.

Dr. Varghese in his address emphasized on well-Being with reference to cultural, social, and spiritual entities.He further spoke about the identities that are shaped not only by neural circuits but also by traditions, languages, relationships, and lived experiences. The opening session concluded with a formal vote of thanks by the Dean Academics Dr. Debjani Mukherjee, acknowledging the presence of esteemed speakers and dignitaries.

The keynote address by Dr. Saji Varghese foregrounded a critical shift from neurocentrism to cultural frameworks. He argued that emotions are socially constructed and pointed to a deep linguistic and cultural disjunction in contemporary mental health discourse. Among the distinguished speakers, Prof. John Giordano from Assumption University, Thailand, delivered a lecture on “The Language of Birds and the Flight of Ideas Through.” He explored the myth of the Naga and drew a connection between Charles Darwin’s Theory of Evolution and spirituality. Dr. Lesley Gowland, an Italy-based Executive Coach, spoke on digital identities, security, and instability in contemporary life. Her talk examined personal, social, and intellectual dimensions of identity and engaged with the integrated theoretical framework of Sigmund Freud to understand modern psychological conditions.

The program was featured in  two technical sessions. First  Session  included online research scholars from North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong, while the second session  brought together both online and offline participants from within the state. Students and scholars from St. Thomas College, along with participants from outside institutions, actively presented papers and engaged in discussions .The conference concluded with a report and reflections by Dr. Nimmi Varghese, followed by feedback from Tanya Chakraborty, a postgraduate student of psychology. The Program was conducted by Dr. Sujata Koley, Asst. Prof Dept. of English.

St. Thomas College, Bhilai, organized an International Conference on Topic ‘Traditions to Innovations: Role of Indian Knowledge System for Sustainable Development of Chhattisgarh’s Resources’. The Chief Guest of the program was Prof. (Dr.) Sanjay Tiwari, Vice Chancellor, Hemchand Yadav Vishwavidyalaya, Durg. In his address Prof Tiwari emphasized the importance of research, innovation, and the integration of traditional knowledge systems with modern scientific approaches. The Guest of Honour, Shri Vishal Shukla CGM BSP, and Smt. Radhika Srinivasan, GM, BSP, addressed the gathering by encouraging the young researchers to contribute their full efforts towards the development of the Nation by igniting their minds towards fruitful results.

The welcome address was delivered by the Convener of the conference, Dr. Chanda Verma. Principal of the College Dr. Shiny Mendonce in her address spoke about traditional development of Chhattisgarh and how it can be transformed by preserving the economic heritage, thereby contribution to the border development of India. In his Presidential Address, Administrator the College Dr. P. S. Varghese emphasized the needs of contemporary society and further urged students and researchers to explore and understand the ancient wisdom enshrined in the Upanishads and Vedas. The keynote address was delivered by Prof. Dr. Reny George from Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia. Dr. George elaborated on emerging trends and future perspectives in Chhattisgarh and discussed the wide range of opportunities of employment and entrepreneurial opportunities   based on the state resources.  .

 The conference proceeded with invited lectures and multiple technical sessions conducted both online and offline modes. Resource Person Dr. Abhilash,Asst. Prof. from Christian College, Chengannur, Kerala shared his ideas  about validating herbal medicine with scientific research and ways  to promote eco-friendly products through digital platforms. Dr.Vara Prasad Kolla, Professor Amity University Raipur delivered his lecture on the topic ‘Bhartiya Gyan Parampara’. He effectively connected this concept with modern science to promote systematic and for sustainable development of Chhattisgarh. Dr. Puttaswamy Madhusudhan from Civil and Environmental Engineering  Department, Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea, discussed the key accepts  on  ancient scientific knowledge including Traditional agriculture practices like Ayurveda and herbal medicine.

Dr. Santosh Kumar Sar, Prof. of Applied Chemistry BIT Durg, presided over the Valedictory session. In his address he spoke about today’s world, where environmental challenges are increasing, and traditional methods have become necessary to offer valuable solutions. The conference concluded with a prize distribution ceremony. Best Presenter awards for PPT and Poster presentations were given at the conference.

The Program was conducted by Dr. V. Shanthi, Asst. Prof. Microbiology and Biotechnology, Ms. Riya Dutta Sharma Asst. Prof Chemistry, Dr. Neetu Raj Panikar, Asst.Prof Zoology and Ms. Tulika Harshit Asst. Prof Physics and Electronics. The vote of thanks was proposed by Dr.  Suja Varghese, Asst. Prof.  Mathematics and Computer Science.

The B.Ed Department of St. Thomas College organized a National Seminar on “Transforming Teacher Education Under NEP 2020: Strengths, Challenges and Opportunities”.

The program began with a cultural welcome for the guests through traditional dance and music, creating a warm and respectful atmosphere for the occasion. The welcome address was delivered by the Convenor, Dr. Deepti Santosh, who greeted the august gathering. The seminar was formally inaugurated by Principal In-charge Dr. Shiny Mendonce, who delivered the inaugural address. In her speech she spoke about the challenges and adaptability required in implementing the National Education Policy 2020.

Administrator of the College Fr. Dr. P. S. Varghese gave an enlightening speech. In his address Fr. Varghese gave references from the Upanishads.  He reflected on the deep roots of Indian knowledge traditions and connected them to modern education.

The keynote session was delivered by Dr. Alka Panda from the State Council of Educational Research and Training, Raipur. Her lecture explored the concept of Panch Kosha in relation to the Sustainable Development Goals, highlighting the importance of holistic and experiential learning. She demonstrated an innovative pedagogical tool through origami Foldscope, designed by Manu Prakash, to show how simple methods can unlock scientific curiosity among students.

Dr. Hrushikesh Senapaty, Director of NCERT, delivered his lecture focusing on inclusivity in education, multidisciplinary learning, content mastery, and the importance of deeply understanding teaching material. He highlighted how NEP 2020 encourages teachers to move beyond rote learning and develop a more integrated and inclusive approach to education. Dr. Shishirkana Bhattacharya, Assistant Professor at DIET Raipur, spoke about teacher assessment standards, continuous professional development, and curriculum reforms required to strengthen teacher education under the new policy framework.

The seminar also included paper presentations by scholars and participants, followed by discussions that reflected on the strengths, challenges, and opportunities in transforming teacher education under NEP 2020.

Rev. Father Jacob Thomas, Principal of Mar Baselios School, was invited as the Chief Guest for the valedictory session. Father Thomas appreciated the initiative taken by the department of education and highlighted the importance of such academic discussions for improving the quality of teacher education. The entire event was anchored by Ms Shilpi, Ms. Sandra Regi,  B.Ed Sem IV students, who conducted the program with grace and confidence making the event meaningful and successful. The vote of thanks delivered by Dr. Sonia Popli, who expressed gratitude to the distinguished speakers, college authorities, organizers, participants, and students for their contribution to the success of the seminar.

Students of St. Thomas College, have achieved a remarkable academic milestone by securing 7 gold medals in the University Merit List announced by the Hemchand Yadav Vishwavidyalaya, Durg.

Ms. Vaibhavi Yadu of M.A (English) , Ms. Muskan Khan of M.A (Psychology),Ms. Nivedita Singh of M.A (Psychology), Ms. Riya Dutta Sharma of M.Sc (Chemistry),

Ms. Divya Jaiswal of M.Sc (I.T), Ms. Garima Nirmalkar of B.Com, Ms. Sakshi Chourasia of B.C.A bagged Gold Medal for their outstanding performance in the university examinations. The academic reflects the student’s consistent hard work and academic commitment. The success is also attributed to the state- of -the – art infrastructure and student – conducive academic environment of the college. Equipped with academic, cultural, sports and research oriented learning facilities, the college also follows a structured mentoring system that supports students both academically and personally.

 The Management, College administrator and Principal congratulated the students and faculty members for their collective efforts and reiterated the institutions commitment to academic excellence.

सेंट थॉमस महाविद्यालय भिलाई की राष्ट्रीय  सेवा योजना इकाई का सात दिवसीय विशेष शिविर ग्राम मोहलाई में सम्पन्न हुआ| इस कार्यक्रम के मुख्य अतिथि ग्राम मोहलाई के सरपंच डॉ. नरेंद्र निषाद थेl महाविद्यालय के रासेयो कार्यक्रम अधिकारी श्री महेंद्र इखार ने शिविर के सात दिवसीय गतिविधियों की संक्षिप्त जानकारी प्रस्तुत की| महाविद्यालय की प्रभारी प्राचार्या डॉ शाइनी मेंडोंस ने शिविर के सफल आयोजन पर स्वयंसेवकों को अपनी शुभकामनायें दी| महाविद्यालय के प्रशासक रेवरेंट फादर डॉ पी एस वर्गीस ने सभी स्वयंसेवकों को अपना आशीर्वाद प्रदान करते हुए कहा कि इस प्रकार के शिविर में भाग लेने से आप के व्यक्तित्त्व का सर्वाँगीण विकास होता है| मुख्य अतिथि डॉ  नरेंद्र निषाद जी ने स्वयंसेवकों द्वारा शिविर में किये गए स्वच्छता कार्यों की विशेष रूप से सराहना की| इस अवसर पर हेमचंद यादव विश्वविद्यालय की राष्ट्रीय सेवा योजना के कार्यक्रम समन्वयक श्री जनेंद्र दीवान ने स्वयंसेवकों को  संबोधित करते हुए कहा कि आप शिविर में समाज कल्याण एवं गांव के विकास के लिए जो भी कार्य करते हैं वो बहुत पुण्य का काम है जो आपको जीवन में सदा सफल बनाएगा| सभी अतिथियों द्वारा स्वयंसेवकों को शिविर का सहभागिता प्रमाणपत्र प्रदान किया गया| कार्यक्रम का संचालन स्वयंसेविका इसवी साधू ने किया एवं धन्यवाद ज्ञापन स्वयंसेविका मधुप्रिया साहू ने दिया|