Professor Syed Farid Alatas attended as the seminar speaker at The Department of Sociology of East West University (EWU)
Nov 02, 2025
The Department of Sociology at East West University (EWU) organized a seminar titled “Global Sociology and Decolonization – Reimagining Knowledge for Our Times” on Saturday, November 1, 2025, at 10:30 AM, held at the Nousher Ali Lecture Gallery (Room No. 126).
The seminar featured Professor Syed Farid Alatas, a distinguished Professor of Sociology and Anthropology at the National University of Singapore (NUS), as the seminar speaker. Professor Alatas is an eminent sociologist renowned for his pioneering work on decolonizing knowledge, intellectual imperialism, and academic dependency. He is also the son of the late Syed Hussein Alatas, a prominent Malaysian Sociologist.
In his insightful lecture, Professor Alatas emphasized that decolonization must move beyond theoretical discourse and become a practice. He highlighted the importance of engaging critically with Western theories acknowledging their value while remaining cautious of Eurocentrism. He urged scholars to revisit the foundational writings of sociology and to bring forth the ideas of lesser-known social thinkers, as well as indigenous knowledge into contemporary academic discussions. Professor Alatas also encouraged educators to diversify the teaching of sociology by incorporating local traditions, literature, and cultural expressions alongside Western theoretical frameworks.
The program was chaired by Professor Dr. Mohammed Farashuddin, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees and Founding Vice Chancellor of East West University. In his remarks, Professor Farashuddin underscored the significance of decolonization in higher education and highlighted the vital role of sociology in promoting economic progress and national development.
Mr. Ishfaq Ilahi Choudhury, Treasurer of East West University, was also present at the event and gave his thoughtful remarks.
The seminar concluded with a thought-provoking question-and-answer session, where participants reflected on the challenges and scopes of decolonizing sociology in contemporary times. The event exemplified the Department’s ongoing commitment to fostering critical, inclusive, and globally relevant academic dialogue.
