India’s population is rising, but at a slower pace than before. And though India is expected to be the most populous country in a few decades, India’s total fertility rate (number of children born to a woman in a lifetime) is already very close to the replacement rate of 2.1. But these are macro numbers. 

However, if we go deeper into India’s demography, social realities are complex. For instance, diversity along religion and caste is an inescapable feature of India’s population. 

On World Population Day 2022 which is 11 July, the Population Research Centre (PRC) at the Gokhale Institute has organised a lecture and a panel discussion. 

The session will begin with a discussion among three social scientists: P M Kulkarni, who is a veteran demographer and a former professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, Rajeshwari Deshpande, who is a professor of political science at Savitribai Phule Pune University, and R B Bhagat, a population scientist and director at the Department of Migration and Urban Studies at Indian Institute of Population Sciences. 

Former Chief Election Commissioner of India Dr S Y Quraishi will deliver a lecture on the topic “The Population Myth.” This is also the topic of his recent book. 

Date: 11 July 2022

Time: 3 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.

Venue: Kale Hall, Library Block 

Attend it live on Facebook here

The event will be broadcast Live on the Facebook page of Gokhale Institute. Interested folks from in and around Pune are requested to attend the event in-person.