INAUGURATION OF WOMEN’S STUDIES DEPARTMENT AT UTC, BANGALORE
Introductory Speech

WOMEN'S STUDIES AS PART OF A HOLISTIC THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION 
                        Dr. Gnana Robinson, Principal
                            February 21, 1994

    Education is basically for liberation and theological education has to do with the theological resources which can contribute to the liberation of the human from all sorts of bondages.  A holistic approach to the theological education thus comprehends all areas of human life - going far beyond the traditional boundaries such as spiritual, liturgical, ecclesiastical and the like.  In a holistic approach, the division between the sacred and the secular disappears and all aspects of human life come under the purview of theological education.
    Since theological education aims primarily at the liberation or the redemption of the human, all sections of humanity that suffer discrimination and oppression in any form come under the special purview of theological education.  There are various sorts of discriminations and oppressions in the world, oppression due to caste, colour, class etc, but nothing is enormous and grievous as the oppression of women, because here women constitute the largest discriminated and oppressed group in humanity, because women constitute the half of humanity, and their discriminators and the oppressors are none other than those who are known to be the companions and life-partners of women, namely, men.
    The discrimination here is grievous, because it is an old as human history and it has gone deeper into the psyche of both men and women, and it has found its manifestations in structures, both spiritual and secular.  It asserts itself more through the mascular and money power of men and is reluctant to respond to sound human reason of spiritual appeal.  Hence it is the difficulty.

    The study of problem and issues of women thus became a matter of great importance for Theological Education, both to sensitize women to became aware of their God-given equal rights as the image of God and also to challenged the male dominated structure and practices of oppression prevalent both in churches and outside.
    I am glad, we are able to think of a programme of women's studies in the United Theological College, Bangalore at least now.  We shall be inaugurating our Women's Programme on the twenty-third February 1994 and Women's Studies will be part of it.  It is our hope that we shall not be content with offering a few course on women's issues alone, but we shall also be involved in the liberation struggles of women in the context, by exposing discrimination wherever we find them and challenging those structures and forces that oppress women and deny them their legitimate rights.
    This seminar, I hope, will be the first of a series of such seminars to follow.  I am happy to note that there has been a very encouraging responses from friends, though invitations could be sent only at short notice.  This shows that there are enough people in the society who are ready to take up Women's cause and fights for their rights.  I take this opportunity to assure you all that UTC will stand with you in solidarity and extend to you its full support in the days to come.
    We are indeed greatly privilege that Dr. Mercy Amba Oduyoye, the Deputy General Secretary of WCC is here to help us with her long-standing experience with women's groups which are engaged in struggles for liberation.  Dr. Oduyoye will deliver the Keynote Address at this seminar and also inaugurate the Department of Women's Studies on twenty-third February 1994.  I wish this seminar all success.