Event Details

Guest lecture on 30 April 2026

FROM 30 Apr 2026 TO 30 Apr 2026

Venue : SMU @

Guest Lecture on “Foucault’s Theory of Power and Knowledge”

The Department of Political Science, Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences & Liberal Arts (FHSS&LA), Sikkim Manipal University (SMU), organised a guest lecture on 30 April 2026 for the master’s students of the department. The lecture was delivered by Dr Vaidyanath Nishant, Assistant Professor in the Department of English and Cultural Studies at CHRIST University, Bangalore. The topic of the lecture was “Foucault’s Theory of Power and Knowledge.”

The session aimed to provide students with a deeper understanding of Michel Foucault’s conceptualisation of power and its intrinsic relationship with knowledge. Dr Nishant began the lecture by introducing Foucault’s critique of traditional notions of power, which often view power as centralised and held by institutions or sovereign authorities. He explained that Foucault reconceptualises power as diffuse, pervasive, and embedded within social practices, institutions, and discourses.

The lecture also explored key Foucauldian concepts, including:

• Discourse
• Surveillance
• The notion of “power/knowledge”

The speaker highlighted how discourses define what is considered truth within a given society and how these truths serve to sustain existing power structures. Through relevant examples and critical insights, he encouraged students to examine the ways in which power operates through everyday practices and institutional frameworks.

The session was highly interactive, with students actively participating in discussions and posing thoughtful questions related to the application of Foucauldian ideas in contemporary political and social contexts. Dr Nishant responded to these queries with clarity, making complex theoretical concepts accessible and engaging for the participants.

The lecture concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by the Head of the Department, Dr Tenzing Doma Bhutia, who expressed gratitude to the speaker for his insightful and engaging presentation. Appreciation was also extended to Dr E.K. Santha, Assistant Professor, for taking equal initiative in ensuring the successful organisation of the event.

Overall, the guest lecture proved to be a valuable academic initiative by the Department of Political Science, contributing significantly to the intellectual development of postgraduate students and fostering critical engagement with contemporary political thought.