.jpg)
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Friday, February 26, 2010
National Symposium: Englishing Dalits
CENTRAL UNIVERSITY OF KERALADepartment of Comparative Literature Organises
National Symposium
"Englishing Dalits: Questions of Caste, Colonialism and Nationalism"
on 11 March 2010 at
Central University Conference Hall
from 10:00am to 05:00pm
The symposium is conceived as a bouquet of invited lectures by eminent academicians/intellectuals/activists.
Prof. Jancy James (Hon'ble VC, Central University of Kerala) will inaugurate the symposium.
from 10:00am to 05:00pm
The symposium is conceived as a bouquet of invited lectures by eminent academicians/intellectuals/activists.
Prof. Jancy James (Hon'ble VC, Central University of Kerala) will inaugurate the symposium.
Courtesy for Image: bog.shashwati.com
Lectures By:
1. Prof. Kancha Ilaiah (Osmania University, Hyderabad)
1. Prof. Kancha Ilaiah (Osmania University, Hyderabad)
2. Dr. Chandra Bhan Prasad (Author/Activist, New Delhi/UP)
3. Dr. D. Shyam Babu (Rajiv Gandhi Institute for Contemporary Studies, New Delhi)
4. Prof. M. Dasan (Kannur University)
5. Dr. Sanal Mohan (MG University, Kottayam)
6. Dr. V. B. Tharakeswar (EFLU, Hyderabad)
7. Ms. Meena Kandasamy (Writer/Anna University, Chennai)
Venue: Central University Conference Hall.
3. Dr. D. Shyam Babu (Rajiv Gandhi Institute for Contemporary Studies, New Delhi)
4. Prof. M. Dasan (Kannur University)
5. Dr. Sanal Mohan (MG University, Kottayam)
6. Dr. V. B. Tharakeswar (EFLU, Hyderabad)
7. Ms. Meena Kandasamy (Writer/Anna University, Chennai)
Venue: Central University Conference Hall.
A Brief Background to the Theme of National Symposium:
One more controversial deification has occurred in India. Some Dalit groups have literally started to idolize and worship English—the language. This act is definitely the first of its kind in the history of entire human civilizations. The language is now an object of worship, not only the medium. After a careful marshalling of relevant historical data, here, English is foregrounded by Dalits as the tool of liberation. Officially, this socio-linguistic campaign was ‘inaugurated’ in a meeting of Dalit intellectuals and likeminded people, on 25 October 2006 in New Delhi. The day has its own historical importance and the selection of the day too was deliberate—it was the birthday of Lord Thomas Babington Macaulay, whom some Dalits hail as the “Father of Indian Modernity”. On the occasion, a portrait of English—the Dalit Goddess, painted by Dalit artist Shanti Swaroop Baudh, was also ceremoniously, rather religiously, unveiled. The galaxy of Dalit intellectuals assembled on the occasion also designed and resolved on a four-point programme:
i. All newborn Dalits/Adivasis will hear A...B...C...D… as the first sounds from their parents;
ii. All newborn Dalits/Adivasis will first see the picture of their Goddess English;
iii. All Dalits/Adivasis will have their own Bhagawati jagaron [a religious procession] of Goddess English on 25 October – the day Macaulay was born; and
iv. For complete emancipation, Dalit/Adivasi parents ought to give English education to their children at all costs – if necessary, work for more hours, borrow money, sell jewellery, even mortgage property.
Language being the most sensitive index of one’s identity, any debate on language has to be rightly problematized. While debating English, which is often perceived as a colonial legacy, how the caste question gets intermingled is a new turning point. In the present day socio-political context of social inequity and exclusion, Dalits and Adivasis believe that Goddess English is all about emancipation. ‘Worshipping the English Goddess’ is designed to be a mass movement against the caste order and the local languages; because Indian languages are, allegedly, more about prejudices, discrimination and hatred and less about expressions and communications. This movement draws intellectual inspiration from the earlier declarations like: ‘Through English, casteism can be destroyed and brahminical teaching can be hurled away’ (Savitribai Phule); ‘English is the milk of lioness’ (B.R.Ambedkar); ‘Dalits can use English as a weapon’ (Namishray); ‘…the vernaculars have been colonised by Sanskrit for thousands of years.’ (Omvedt); and ‘English speaking Dalits are less disrespected’ (Chandra Bhan Prasad). In addition, there is a boycott call against almost all vernacular languages of India. The ideological undercurrents and political repercussions of this particular piece of Dalit discourse are highly debatable.
Please forward this mail to all who you think should know about this event.
For organizing Committee.
International Workshop on Curriculum Development
Department of Comparative Literature
in collaboration with
COMPARATIVE LITERATURE ASSOCIATION OF INDIA (CLAI)
announces
International Workshop
on
CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT FOR COMPARATIVE LITERATURE:
SCOPE AND CHALLENGES
Dates: MARCH 25-26, 2010 (Thursday and Friday)
Venue: Conference Hall, Central University of Kerala, Kasaragod
In our fast shrinking world, no student of literature can limit her/his pursuit of scholarship to a single literary culture. For sometime now, it has also been generally accepted that the range of inquiry of a true literary scholar must include comparative studies of expressions other than different literatures, such as fine arts, performing arts, film etc. Comparatists in our times give great importance to theoretical acumen and the ability to consider different arts and sciences concurrently.
The interdisciplinary nature of the field of Comparative Literature has led comparatists to show active interest in the areas of translation studies, sociology, critical theory, cultural studies, media studies, history and the like. As a result, designing the curriculum for Comparative Literature programmes within universities has become a major challenge. In principle, scholars drawn from several departments may develop such a curriculum. However, this eclecticism may lead to the charge that Comparative Literature is still ill-defined, or that comparatists can easily fall into dilettantism, because of the broad scope of their work. There are also apprehensions about this breadth affecting the ability of researchers in this area to find employment in the highly specialized environment of the academia and the career market at large.
While such questions loom large before us, nobody can overlook the significance of including Comparative Literature programmes as an essential component under the Humanities in our higher education centres. In view of these, the Department of Comparative Literature, Central University of Kerala, is organizing a two-day international workshop on the topic, “Curriculum Development for Comparative Literature: Scope and Challenges” on 25-26 March 2010 at Kasaragod.
The intensive workshop will feature 10-12 specially invited resource persons, who will make academic presentations on selected topics.
Dr. UR Anantha Murthy - Inaugural Address
Dr Amiya Dev: Guest of Honour
Dr. Ipshita Chanda (CL: Methodology and Challenges in the Indian context)
Dr. Dorothy Figieura (CL: Methodology and Challenges in the US context)
Dr. Sieghild Bogumil (CL: Methodology and Challenges in the European context)
Dr. Harish Trivedi (CL and World Literature)
Dr. AK Singh: Comparative Poetics in India
Dr. Chandra Mohan (CL and the Social Sciences)
Dr. Nirmal Kanti Bhattacharjee (CL and the Humanities)
Dr. MV Narayanan (Comparative Performance Studies)
Dr. Hema Nair (CL and Women's Writings)
Dr. Rizio B Yohannan (CL and Translation Studies)
Dr. Meena T Pillai (CL and Film Studies)
Ms. Mini Chandran of the OUP has agreed to be at the open forum. Due to some other engagements, Dr. K Satchidanadan is not able to participate, but he is our resource person for INDIAN LITERATURES, and has sent us points for discussion in this area. The workshop will conclude with a Kootiyattam performance by renowned artiste Margi Madhu.
This Workshop is conceived as the first in a series of academic initiatives to create a platform for active debate that would bring out creative suggestions and recommendations to make the best possible curricula for Comparative Literature programmes in Indian Universities. Apart from the discussions after the presentations, there will be an open forum in the evening of the second day of the workshop where other panelists will also participate in the discussions. We plan more of such explorations in the days to come.
Coordinators
Dr. Rizio B Yohannan: 09406192947
Dr. Prasad Pannian : 09446460202
Dr. Joseph Koyippally: 094956833616
Dr. Vellikkeel Raghavan: 08089746089
.
in collaboration with
COMPARATIVE LITERATURE ASSOCIATION OF INDIA (CLAI)
announces
International Workshop
on
CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT FOR COMPARATIVE LITERATURE:
SCOPE AND CHALLENGES
Dates: MARCH 25-26, 2010 (Thursday and Friday)
Venue: Conference Hall, Central University of Kerala, Kasaragod
In our fast shrinking world, no student of literature can limit her/his pursuit of scholarship to a single literary culture. For sometime now, it has also been generally accepted that the range of inquiry of a true literary scholar must include comparative studies of expressions other than different literatures, such as fine arts, performing arts, film etc. Comparatists in our times give great importance to theoretical acumen and the ability to consider different arts and sciences concurrently.
The interdisciplinary nature of the field of Comparative Literature has led comparatists to show active interest in the areas of translation studies, sociology, critical theory, cultural studies, media studies, history and the like. As a result, designing the curriculum for Comparative Literature programmes within universities has become a major challenge. In principle, scholars drawn from several departments may develop such a curriculum. However, this eclecticism may lead to the charge that Comparative Literature is still ill-defined, or that comparatists can easily fall into dilettantism, because of the broad scope of their work. There are also apprehensions about this breadth affecting the ability of researchers in this area to find employment in the highly specialized environment of the academia and the career market at large.
While such questions loom large before us, nobody can overlook the significance of including Comparative Literature programmes as an essential component under the Humanities in our higher education centres. In view of these, the Department of Comparative Literature, Central University of Kerala, is organizing a two-day international workshop on the topic, “Curriculum Development for Comparative Literature: Scope and Challenges” on 25-26 March 2010 at Kasaragod.
The intensive workshop will feature 10-12 specially invited resource persons, who will make academic presentations on selected topics.
Dr. UR Anantha Murthy - Inaugural Address
Dr Amiya Dev: Guest of Honour
Dr. Ipshita Chanda (CL: Methodology and Challenges in the Indian context)
Dr. Dorothy Figieura (CL: Methodology and Challenges in the US context)
Dr. Sieghild Bogumil (CL: Methodology and Challenges in the European context)
Dr. Harish Trivedi (CL and World Literature)
Dr. AK Singh: Comparative Poetics in India
Dr. Chandra Mohan (CL and the Social Sciences)
Dr. Nirmal Kanti Bhattacharjee (CL and the Humanities)
Dr. MV Narayanan (Comparative Performance Studies)
Dr. Hema Nair (CL and Women's Writings)
Dr. Rizio B Yohannan (CL and Translation Studies)
Dr. Meena T Pillai (CL and Film Studies)
Ms. Mini Chandran of the OUP has agreed to be at the open forum. Due to some other engagements, Dr. K Satchidanadan is not able to participate, but he is our resource person for INDIAN LITERATURES, and has sent us points for discussion in this area. The workshop will conclude with a Kootiyattam performance by renowned artiste Margi Madhu.
This Workshop is conceived as the first in a series of academic initiatives to create a platform for active debate that would bring out creative suggestions and recommendations to make the best possible curricula for Comparative Literature programmes in Indian Universities. Apart from the discussions after the presentations, there will be an open forum in the evening of the second day of the workshop where other panelists will also participate in the discussions. We plan more of such explorations in the days to come.
Coordinators
Dr. Rizio B Yohannan: 09406192947
Dr. Prasad Pannian : 09446460202
Dr. Joseph Koyippally: 094956833616
Dr. Vellikkeel Raghavan: 08089746089
.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
The Bekal Visit
Students with Faculty at the Bekal Fort
We took our students to the Bekal Fort the other day. It was a promise postponed several times!! After the busy schedules of the First Semester, it was a relief both for the teachers and students. The Historical Bekal Fort stood magnificent in the evening light.
Splashing Waves: The Bekal beach
Dr. Koovakkai introduces modern library system to PG studetns
Dr. Koovakkai in the class His presentation centered around how to effectively retrieve information gathered in a modern library, facilities in the CUK library, Dewey Decimal Classification System it uses, CUK library website which lists many open access academic sites for books and journals, and Library Science in general.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)