The inauguration of the Christ Economics Association (CEA) for the academic year 2020-21 was organized by the Department of Economics on 30th September, 2020. The inauguration ceremony was presided over by the Chief Guest, Dr. N.R. Bhanumurthy, the Vice- Chancellor of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar School of Economics, Dr. Fr. Biju K C, the Director of the CHRIST School of Business Studies and Social Sciences, Bannerghatta Road Campus, Dr. Jyothi Kumar, Dean, CHRIST School of Business Studies and Social Sciences, and Professor Emmanual P J, the Head of Department of Economics.
After the addresses of the Director and Dean of CHRIST BGR campus, Dr. Bhanumurthy took over the session to encourage the students to be more open and rational and develop a critical way of looking at things. He graced the students with his educated insight into the Indian economy and hoped that the Christ Economics Association proves to be a platform for these discussions to rise.
Dr. Bhanumurthy talked about the negative growth of GDP of Indian economy, which was being reported to be implications of lockdown and COVID-19 plaguing the world at large. He stated the importance to analyse the slowdown of the economy, with a critical view, and look at the possibility of it being a repercussion of the continuation of slowdown during FY 2019-20.
Dr Bhanumurthy also emphasized on the importance of relativeness as opposed to absolute terms and while making an assessment of COVID-19 cases reported in India.
He enlightened the students about the need to look at new measures to increase competitiveness of the Indian economy and gave careful observations about the burden on agriculture sector.
Concludingly, Dr. Bhanumurthy emphasised that the philosophy of doing research becomes very important as the method just becomes an instrument. He advised the students against being inclined to one school of thought for a long time and reiterated the need to be pragmatic, look empirically at real life problems and be critical in their views. Extending his thanks to the Department of Economics,
Following the inaugural address, the Secretary of the Christ Economics Association, Gurmeet, took over to talk about the various activities of the Association and a highlights video was played.