The Department of Philosophy, Lady Keane College, organised a Memorial Lecture on the theme "Practice of Justice from the Perspective of Hermeneutics: Gadamer's lessons from Plato's Republic" on the 8th of September, 2018, delivered by Prof B.K. Agarwala,Department of Philosophy, North Eastern Hill University, Shillong. The programme started at about 11 a. m. at the College Seminar Hall. The Vice Principal of our college Madam Bharati Sangma extended a warm welcome to all the participants for the occasion. The Resource Person Prof. Agarwala mainly focused the views of Gadamer on Plato's concept on justice. He mentioned that justice from Plato to Rawls is supposed to be the bond that holds the society together. But our practice of justice, affirmative or otherwise, instead of contributing to the cohesion of society, is dissolving the social bond to prepare ground for factional fight and violence. The civic virtue of justice has been transformed into a formal rule of equality divorced from common practices serve as a theoretical ploy in the service of power. It is in this context the Resource Person tried to mentioned the views of Gadamer on Plato. Plato philosophized when Greek city states in general and Athens in particular was facing a crisis of culture. During the dissolution of the social bonds and in midst of divisiveness and discord Plato seeks to preserve the traditional virtues and tries to reconcile with an older way of life. According to Gadamer Plato was concerned not with the right laws of the state but only with the right education for it. For Plato education in citizenship is ultimately education in philosophy. In his view only justice can bring about a state with strong and enduring bond and only he who is a friend of himself is able to win the solid friendship of others, which is the basis of civic bonds. Resource person also mentioned that for Plato Justice does not mean the advantage of the stronger, does not mean to harm the enemy rather justice is true prudence and virtue, genuine strength and real happiness. He also mentioned that for Plato the question of what justice is in itself, of its essence, is distinct from any question of power or of what is generally accepted in the state. To ask for the essence of justice is necessarily to ask what the state is essentially in itself. But what the state can be depended upon the virtue of its citizens. Resource Person also highlighted another important point that for Plato an action is just which is inconformity with the inner order of the soul is and which brings about and sustain that order. Thus the constitution of oneself as internally well-ordered soul is the true measure of one's self understanding. Conversely, the destruction of the soul means the diminution and darkening of this inner capacity to govern oneself. For Plato justice as a virtue is the health of the soul which is also the precondition of the health of the state.

The participants were mainly the Teachers and Students (Hons) of the Department of Philosophy from the various colleges of the city. There was also participation of teachers from the other Departments of our college which is very encouraging. The programme was followed by a lively discussion. The interactive session ran almost close to two hours with a lot of questions from all quarters --- teachers, students - both written and oral. The most important part of the day's programme was that the Department of Philosophy presented the Cash Award to Wansuk Shylla for securing 2nd rank and Habarica Rumnong for securing 6th rank in the Degree final examination, 2018, NEHU. The programme came to an end at around 1.30 p. m. with a vote of thanks from the coordinator of the programme Dr. Sabita Das Homroy HOD of the Department of Philosophy, Lady Keane College, Shillong. The Department also wishes to have many more such talks in future which will open the door for a better understanding of Plato's "Republic".