Prof Sen to deliver Prof Hiren Mukherjee Memorial Lecture

New Delhi, Aug 10 (UNI) Nobel Laureate Prof Amartya Sen will deliver inaugural Prof Hiren Mukherjee Memorial Parliamentary Lecture in the central hall of Parliament House tomorrow on the theme of ''Demands of Social Justice''.

Vice President Mohammed Hamid Ansari would preside over the function, where Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would be the chief guest. Lok Sabha Speaker would deliver the welcome address.

A portrait of Prof Hiren Mukherjee will be unveiled on the occasion, according to a Lok Sabha release here today.

Prof Mukherjee, an exceptionally gifted intellectual and a brilliant orator, served Lok Sabha for five consecutive terms from 1952 to 1977. During his illustrious parliamentary career he made an effective use of the forum to raise the grievances of the people and for ushering in a society which could 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 wuld lead to an egalitarian society.

His informed views on diverse issues have acquired great 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 Somnath Chatterjee has taken the initiative to institute the Prof Hiren Mukerjee Memorial Parliamentary Lecture to carry forward Prof Mukerjee's illuminating discourse on the issues of contemporary relevance.

Dr Sen is associated as professor with Thomas W Lamont University and Harvard University. He received the Nobel prize in Economics in 1998 and the President of India bestowed India's highest civilian honour, 'Bharat Ratna', on him in 1999, the release added.

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