INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON
‘POSTMODERNISM AND INDIAN ENGLISH LITERATURE’
21st & 22nd Feb., 2014
On the Occasion of
The Golden Jubilee Year Celebrations of Bharati Vidyapeeth, Pune
Organised by
Department of English
Bharati Vidyapeeth University
Yashwantrao Mohite College, Pune (India)
The Department of English, Bharati Vidyapeeth University Yashwantrao Mohite College, Pune (India) is organizing
a two-day International conference at Yashwantrao Mohite College, Pune, India on 21st and 22nd February, 2014.
About the conference
‘Postmodernism’ in itself is a complex phenomenon as it is neither a complete negation nor an acceptance of
modernism. Merriam Webster’s Dictionary defines Postmodernism as “of, relating to, or being any of various
movements in reaction to modernism that are typically characterized by a return to traditional materials and
forms (as in architecture) or by ironic self-reference and absurdity (as in literature)” or “of, relating to, or
being a theory that involves a radical reappraisal of modern assumptions about culture, identity, history, or
language.” Holding the realities to be plural and relative, it involves the belief that most of the seeming
realities are only social constructs, as they are relative and subject to change with the temporal or spatial
changes.
Postmodernism emphasizes the role of language, power relations, and motivations and is against the sharp
distinctions such as male versus female, straight versus gay, white versus black, and imperial versus colonial.
Perhaps, taking clue from the generalised definition of the term, postmodern Indian English writers have
taken excessive advantage and liberty to evade even the key social concerns like poverty, debt-ridden
farmers, and underprivileged sections of society.
The postmodernist discourses have made the issues of identity and nationality as all the more complex.
Postmodern in Indian English literature explores fragmentariness in narrative- and character-construction in
a different way from its British or American counterpart. In post modernism, there is a preoccupation with
insecurities in the existence of humanity. The picture of life delineated by them accommodates
meaninglessness, purposelessness and absurdity of human existence through the employment of devices
such as Contradiction, Permutation, Discontinuity, Randomness, Excess, Short Circuit and so on. Post
modernist literature manifests chaotic condition of the world. Post -modernism of Indian English literature is,
however, different from that of England or Europe which rejects western values and beliefs as only a small
part of the human experience and rejects such ideas, beliefs, culture and norms of the western.
Taking a departure from the first generation of Indian English novelists, the Postmodern Indian English
novelists have concentrated on an entirely new-fangled set of themes which are as wide-ranging and complex
as the life in the age of globalisation is. The present generation of writers seems to have buried down the
erstwhile fundamental issues and engaged with the emerging issues like globalisation and subsequent
multiculturalism, postfeminism, cyber-feminism, queer theories, cultural conflicts, diaspora sensibility,
glamour, consumerism, commodification, BPOs, upward mobility and consequent erosion of ethical values
and transforming public sphere.
Evaluation of Postmodern Indian English Literature which refers to the works of literature after 1980 is not
an easy task. It has transcended the local and transformed into global, successfully meeting the challenges of
the Bhasa literatures at home and Postcolonial literature and Anglo-American literatures abroad. If Raja Rao’s
Kanthapura marks modernism, then Rushdie’s Midnight’s Children (1981) and Nissim Ezeliel’s Latter-day
Psalms (1982) mark postmodernism in Indian English Literature. The present conference aims at a fruitful
discussion on critical analysis of the Postmodern Indian English Literature genre-wise beginning from 1980
to the present-day works. The important poets, novelists, short-story writers and playwrights like Nissim
Ezeliel, A.K. Ramanujan, Jayanta Mahapatra, Kamala Das, Shiv Kumar, Keki Daruwalla, Dom Moraes,
Amitav ghosh, Shashi Tharoor, Anita Desai, Vikram seth, Arundhati Roy, Manju Kapur, Raj Kamal Jha
and many others will be discussed from a different perspective.
Call for papers or PPT presentations:
The abstract of papers in about 200-250 words must reach the organizers before 8th February 2014 by email as an
attachment, with ‘Submission of Abstract’ typed in the subject field by email to bvduengdept@gmail.com. The
acceptance of the paper will be communicated by 10th February 2014. The abstracts or full papers accepted for
presentation will be published in ISBN numbered proceeding. The participants whose abstracts are accepted have
to submit the full paper before 13th February 2014 by email as an attachment, with ‘Submission of Full Paper
typed in the subject field to bvduengdept@gmail.com.
Conference themes
Postmodernism: A view
Postmodern Indian English Literature
Postmodernism & Cultural Conflict
Postmodernism: Textuality & Intertextuality
Postmodernism: The Role of Language in Literature
Power Relations in Postmodern India Literature
Globalisation & Multiculturalism
Postmodernism & Literature in Indian Languages
Diasporic Sensibility & Literature
Consumerism, Commodification & BPOs Reflected in Literature
Identity Crises in Postmodern Indian English Literature
Any other theme related to the main theme of the Conference
Specifications for submission of abstract/full paper:
The papers should be in MS-Word format with Times New Roman font, 12 point size, 1.5 line spacing and be in the
latest MLA style. Papers related to science fiction alone will be accepted for presentation and publication.
Deliberations:
The conference will have plenary sessions, paper presentation sessions and panel discussion. Power-point
presentations will be welcomed. A paper or PPT will be given 20 minutes for presentation followed by 10 minutes
for interactions. The official language of the conference will be English. Provision will be made for the use of
standard presentation tools for the convenience of the paper presenters. If required, there will be separate sessions
of presentations in regional languages.
The Organizers: Bharati Vidyapeeth:
Bharati Vidyapeeth is the parent organization of Bharati Vidyapeeth University; Pune is one of the largest
educational organizations in the country having various colleges, schools, institutes of higher education and
research imparting education in a large variety of academic programmes. Dr. Patnagrao Kadam, the founder of
Bharati Vidyapeeth and Chancellor of BVDU, laid the foundation of this historic institution in 1964 with an objective
of ‘Social Transformation through Dynamic Education’ which is the driving force of Bharati Vidyapeeth. As an
educational institute of international repute, Bharati Vidyapeeth has been doing the momentous work by
enhancing the accessibility of higher education, making available to different sections of population on its way to
the proposed Golden Jubilee Celebrations this year. Bharati Vidyapeeth has now grown up as one of the largest
educational organizations in the country having 67 colleges of liberal and professional education with 73 schools of
Marathi and English medium. The Campuses located at Kadegaon (Sangli) and at Jawhar, the tribal area in Thane
district, which are totally devoted to welfare and all round progress of the weaker sections of the society speak
volumes about the social commitment of Dr.Patangrao Kadam. Since 2006, Dr. Vishwajit Kadam has been leading
this institution in his capacity as the Secretary of Bharati Vidyapeeth. The Year 2013-14 marks the Golden Jubilee
Year of the establishment of Bharati Vidyapeeth. Hence we propose to have this Conference as a part of the Golden
Jubilee Year Celebrations.
Bharati Vidyapeeth University:
It was one of the most glorious moments in the life of Bharati Vidyapeeth when the Government of India on the
recommendations of University Grants Commission, accorded the status of ‘Deemed to be University’ to a cluster of
12 colleges and thus the Bharati Vidyapeeth University started functioning in April 1996. The number of
constituent units has gone gradually increasing and now it is as large as 29. They include colleges of Medicine,
Dentistry, Ayurveda, Homoeopathy, Nursing, Pharmacy, Engineering, Architecture, Law, Management,
Environment, Hotel Management and Catering Technology, Bio Technology, Arts, Commerce, Science and Social
Sciences. During a short period of 15 years there has been continuous increase in the number of programmes
offered by the university. In all, we offer 200 progroammes. The University presently having 800 overseas students
on its roll. In appreciation of our efforts, the NAAC(Bengluru) has Accredited and Re-accredited our University
successively with prestigious “A” grade.
Yashwantrao Mohite College:
Our college has very unique place in the organizational set up as it is with this college in the year 1978 Bharati
Vidyapeeth entered into the field of higher education. Possibly it is one of the first few colleges in India which
preferred to become part of any University and established an example. Presently there are 278 international
students from 14 countries and almost from all states of India have enrolled with us. Our proud alumni have been
honoured with prestigious Padma Shri award and Shiv Chhatrapati Krida Puraskar. We are proud to mention that
our alumni are working in various fields of life. Our efforts have been honoured by conferring upon us titles and
awards of recognition. The present conference is a continuation of the celebrated tradition of academic endeavours.
Registration fee:
Outstation delegates: Rs. 2000.00 Local delegates : Rs. 1500.00
PG Students/ Research Scholars: Rs. 1000.00 Foreign nationals : $ 150.00
The registration fee includes conference kit, ISBN numbered Souvenir, breakfast, tea, lunch for two days and a
dinner on the first day of the conference. The moderate accommodation will be provided for outstation delegates.
Mode of Payment:
DD should be drawn in favour of “The Principal, Yashwantrao Mohite College, Pune – 38” payable at Pune. OR
One can transfer the registration fee online to the following details:
Account Name: Yashwantrao Mohite College, Pune
Name of the Bank: State Bank of India, Deccan Gymkhana (Pune) branch
Account Number: 31791360494 IFSC Code: SBIN0001110 MICR Code: 411002003
Last date of registration will be on or before 15th February 2013.
Transport:
Pune is very well connected by air, rail and road. The participants coming by Air may hire pre-paid taxi or a Radio
Wings Cab available at Pune Airport. Those reaching Pune by Train can get Auto Rickshaw at Pune Railway Station
to reach the venue. From Mumbai Airport one can get the Travels Cars on sharing basis for onward journey to Pune.
The distance from Pune Airport to venue is 20 kms, 15 kms from Pune Railway Station and 170 kms from Mumbai
Airport.
Accommodation:
Modest accommodation will be provided free of cost to the registered outstation participants. But, they have to
make prior request in this regard. Request has to be made to the Organizing Secretary on or before 15th January
2012. Foreign delegates will be provided with the accommodation in the international standard hotel. If they want
the accommodation in five-star hotel, they have to pay hotel on their own.
For any further assistance call Asst. Prof. Meharaj Shaikh, (09850034582, 09766076143)
No comments:
Post a Comment