By Cl. Albert Antony Joseph SDB for BIS Mumbai

The licentiate students of Divyadaan: Salesian Institute of Philosophy, Nashik organized a symposium on the theme “Faith, Fear and the Future: From Secularism to Ethical Solidarity” on February 17, 2026. The symposium began promptly at 9 a.m. with a prayer service led by Br Joseph Thambi SDB, the moderator of the symposium. Fr Jacob Palaparambil SDB, the Registrar of the Institute, welcomed the gathering and explained the rationale behind choosing this timely and relevant theme. In his address, he also warmly congratulated the licentiate students for their dedication and hard work in organizing the symposium.

 Before the formal introduction of the theme, a short video presentation was screened. The video provided an overview of the central concerns of the symposium and offered a visual and reflective entry into the theme. The theme of the symposium was, then, introduced by Br M. Praveen SDB, who briefly explained its meaning, depth, and broader implications, thereby setting the intellectual tone for the sessions that followed. He briefly introduced the speakers for the day and their pertaining topics.

 A total of three talks were presented during the symposium. The first talk, titled “Fear as a Political Tool: How Insecurity Rises, Secular Reason Weakens, and Violence Spreads in Contemporary India,” was delivered by Br Albert Antony Joseph SDB. He highlighted the significance of the topic and invited the audience to examine how managed fear reshapes moral judgment and challenges the foundations of secular coexistence. The second speaker, Br Thomihie N. Kajiri SDB, presented his paper on “From Consent to Silence: How the New Normalization is Made.” He demonstrated how gradual consent to political agendas often turns into silence, thereby creating a new “normal” that calls for critical resistance and ethical reflection. The final talk, titled “From Secularism to Ethical Solidarity: Living It in Practice,” was delivered by Br Anthony Raj Dasari SDB, who emphasized the need to move beyond a merely legal understanding of secularism and toward a lived experience of ethical solidarity grounded in responsibility, dialogue, and compassion.

 The symposium concluded with an open floor for questions and discussion, which enabled participants to engage meaningfully with the themes and arrive at practical insights for responsible living in today’s world. The floor was honoured by the presence of the professors of the institute and all the students of the Baccalaureate and Licentiate. The programme came to an end with a vote of thanks proposed by Br. Antoni Wanniang OFM.