Justice Ranade Memorial Lecture

Justice Ranade was a scholar, historian, economist, social reformer and a thorough patriot who devoted his life for the national cause. His ideas on economy, history, society and national development continue to be relevant even today. Unlike many, he was not only a scholar par excellence, but was equally a man devoted to social and national cause who attempted to use his scholarship and expertise for the betterment of society and nation. We at MFIS draw a lot of inspiration from his works and ideas and the purpose of constituting the memorial lecture is to keep the same zeal and dedication alive. Each year, the Justice Ranade Memorial Lecture is organized on 16th of January – which is the death anniversary of Justice Ranade -as a tribute to exemplary, scholarly and visionary work of Justice Mahadev Govind Ranade.

Please support our initiative and join hands in understanding India in an Authentic Indian Way.

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5th Justice Ranade Memorial Lecture: Colonial Reset -How British Undermined India’s Institutions

About The Event:

The 5th Justice Ranade Memorial Lecture by Dr. Meenakshi Jain examines how British colonial rule dismantled India’s indigenous systems of justice, education, and knowledge—and how this legacy still shapes Indian institutions today. Followed by an interaction with Dr. Uttara Sahasrabuddhe at the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics. The lecture explores critical questions such as: What happened to India’s traditional courts and dispute-resolution systems? How were indigenous schools, gurukuls, and learning networks sidelined? Who defined “modern” knowledge—and why was indigenous wisdom labeled “backward”? Was colonial reform truly about progress, or was it a tool of control? How does this colonial legacy continue to shape Indian institutions and mindsets today?

Memorial Lecture

Resource Person:Dr. Meenakshi Jain

Noted Historian and Author

4th Justice Ranade Memorial Lecture:

New Data, New India: Policy Perspectives

About The Event:

Lecture uncovers how new data insights—from food consumption patterns to vehicle ownership and housing trends—reflect India's progress in reducing income inequality. This lecture highlights the latest research techniques to analyze poverty and inequality, offering innovative solutions for policymakers and researchers alike.

Memorial Lecture

Resource Person: Dr. Shamika Ravi

Dr. Shamika Ravi is currently a member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, and Secretary to Government of India.

3rd Justice Ranade Memorial Lecture

पेशवेकालीन समाज आणि प्रशासन

About The Event:

न्यायमूर्ती रानडे ह्यांनी अथक प्रयत्नांद्वारे ब्रिटिशांकडून पेशवाईतील जवळपास ५०,००० कागदपत्रे मिळवली आणि त्यातील काही निवडक, महत्त्वाची कागदपत्रे 'पेशवा डायरीज्' म्हणून प्रकाशित केली. संकलित केलेल्या ह्या कागदपत्रांतून पेशवेकालीन समाज आणि प्रशासन कसे होते ह्यावरील संशोधनपर पुस्तक, 'पेशवेकालीन समाज आणि प्रशासन', नुकतेच प्रकाशित झाले जे श्री. चाफेकर यांनी डॉ. जी.बी. देगलूरकर आणि श्री. दामले ह्यांच्याबरोबर सहलिखित केले आहे. तिसर्‍या न्यायमूर्ती रानडे स्मृतिव्याख्यानामध्ये श्री. चाफेकर ह्याच संशोधनातील निरीक्षणांवर बोलणार आहेत.

Memorial Lecture

Resource Person: डॉ. श्री अविनाश चाफेकर

श्री. चाफेकर हे प्रसिद्ध लेखक, अभ्यासक आणि सध्या महाराष्ट्र ग्रंथोत्तेजक संस्था, पुणे ह्याचे पदाधिकारी आहेत.

2nd Justice Ranade Memorial Lecture

Understanding Dharma - A Necessity to Understand India

About The Event:

Indian Civilization is primarily based on Dharmic Principles. The nature of Dharma, however, is extremely subtle. Often, naively Dharma is equated with religion, and this further results into confusing or misleading interpretation about India. It is therefore extremely important to correctly understand the contours of Dhamra, to understand India and its value system. 2nd Justice Ranade Memorial Lecture attempts to do precisely that. It delves deeply into different meanings and interpretations of Dharma into the Indic texts and provides a perspective to understand India.

Memorial Lecture

Resource Person:Dr. Pankaj Jain

Professor - Philosophy and Religious Studies

1st Justice Ranade Memorial Lecture

Right to Dissent in Indian Constitution: Thoughts and Ideas

About The Event:

In the inaugural Justice Ranade Memorial Lecture, Adv. Vikramjit Banerjee talks about how the concept of 'dissent' has evolved over the years, how different societies and polity incorporated it and how India has incorporated it in the constitution and some of the practical implications of the same.

Memorial Lecture

Resource Person: Adv. Vikramjit Banerjee

Additional Solicitor General of India