Human civilisation faces an existential crisis, Tapodhir Bhattacharjee warned

way2barak, May 22: The Centre for Biodiversity and Natural Resource Conservation, under the Department of Ecology and Environmental Science at Assam University, Silchar, organised the International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) 2026 on Friday, 22 May at the Departmental Conference Hall. The programme aimed to raise awareness among students about biodiversity conservation and sustainable environmental practices.

The focal point of the event was the keynote address, titled “Literature, Society and Biodiversity Conservation,” delivered by Prof. Tapodhir Bhattacharjee, former Vice-Chancellor of Assam University, Silchar. In his discourse, Prof. Bhattacharjee initiated a comprehensive epistemological inquiry, tracing the lineage of ecological thought to the Vedic corpus, cosmological narratives, and primordial concepts of universal coexistence encompassing both sentient and nonsentient entities. He posited that no structural or organic element functions in isolation, fundamentally asserting that disparate academic domains, specifically science, literature, and philosophy, exist within an intrinsically interrelated continuum.

Furthermore, Prof. Bhattacharjee argued that biodiversity extends beyond empirical scientific taxonomy to constitute a vital philosophical paradigm. He maintained that literary discourse derives its meaning from structural differentiation, plurality, and coexistence. Drawing textual evidence from the Rig Veda, particularly its ontological reflections on the terrestrial realm, cosmogony, and the enigmas of existence, he demonstrated that ancient canonical texts inherently recognised multiplicity and the imperative to respect all life forms.

Advancing an eco-critical argument, Prof. Bhattacharjee warned that human civilisation faces an existential crisis if it persists in the anthropocentric destruction of ecosystems, river systems, and biodiversity. Utilising frameworks from Bengali literature, notably the eco-poetry of Jibanananda Das and the narrative landscape of Advaita Malla Burman’s ‘Titas Ekti Nadir Naam’, he illustrated how literature serves as a critical repository for documenting environmental degradation and resultant social fragmentation.

To reinforce this relational ontology, he synthesised modern theoretical perspectives from Mikhail Bakhtin, Jacques Derrida, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Amitav Ghosh, validating the premise that existence is fundamentally plural and dialogic. He concluded with the potent philosophical assertion that “all pursuit is a continuum,” suggesting that knowledge is devoid of absolute closure. Instead, it remains an ongoing, open text defined by coexistence, perpetual dialogue, and ethical responsibility toward the “Other”, encompassing both human and non-human subjectivities.

Earlier, the programme began with a welcome address by Prof. Aparajita De, Head of the Department, followed by speeches from Prof. Ajit Kumar Das, Dean of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, and Prof. Parthankar Choudhury. Various activities such as poster presentations, group discussions, and interactive sessions were conducted. Around 120 students and faculty members actively participated.

The event was anchored by Abantika Pradhan, a Research Scholar from the department. The vote of thanks was offered by Dr. Panna Deb, who convened the event along with Dr. Shovan Duttagupta.