YOUNG RESEARCHERS’ CONFERENCE ON INDIAN LITERATURES
Organized by
Department of Languages, Presidency University, Bengaluru
In Collaboration with
Central Institute of Indian Languages, Mysuru and
Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi
21st & 22nd January 2022
CONFERENCE REPORT
Introduction
Young Researchers’ Conference on Indian Literatures was the latest of milestone in a series of programs held in 2021-22 academic year organized by Department of Languages, Presidency University. The conference was held on 21st and 22nd January 2021 and it was organized in collaboration with Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysuru and Sahitya Akademi (National Academy of Letters), New Delhi. The conference convener was Dr. Shibily Nuaman VZ and coordinators were Mr. Kannan and Ms. Sandhya.
A total of 110 people participated in the conference, including 16 invited guests from various esteemed institutions. The conference hosted 15 panel presentations (55 individual presentations) and 1 plenary talk. Dr. Jibu George Mathew from The English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad delivered the plenary talk on “The East-West Question in Indian Literary Studies.” Invited chairs of panel presentations are Dr. Reju George Mathew, Assistant Professor, National Institute of Technology, Calicut, Dr. Sresha Yadav, Assistant Professor, International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Naya Raipur, Chhattisgarh, Dr. Boopathi P, Assistant Professor, Central University of Tamil Nadu, Dr. Sandip Sarkar, Assistant Professor, National Institute of Technology (NIT), Raipur, Dr. Bibhuti Mary Kachhap, Assistant Professor, Indian Institute of Technology, Tirupathi, Mohammed Afzal P, Assistant Professor, Birla Institute of Technology, Pilani, Dr. T. Ganga Parameswari, Assistant Professor of English, V. V. Vanniaperumal College for Women, Tamil Nadu, Dr. Roopa Philip, Assistant professor, Department of English and Dean of Postgraduate Centre, Jyoti Nivas College Autonomous, Bengaluru, Amitha Santiago, Ph.D. Dean and Head Post Graduate Studies Department of English Studies Bishop Cotton Women’s Christian College, Bengaluru, and Dr. Sudeesh K, Assistant Professor, Department of English, Mount Carmel College, Bengaluru. Professors of Department of Languages; Dr. Dr. Venkata Ramani Challa and Dr. J. G. Ravikumar, and Assistant professor; Dr. Payal Mukherjee, Dr. Kirankumar Nittali and Dr. Narasimha Murthy S. V, also performed as chairs for different sessions at the conference.
Inauguration
The conference was inaugurated by Prof. Shailendra Mohan Director, Central Institute of Indian Languages, Mysuru at 10.30 am on 21st January 2022, Saturday. Dr. Mohan declared the conference officially open at the end of his statement and he encouraged the importance of institutional collaboration in the field of research. Dr. Tariq Khan, Central Institute of Indian Languages, Mysuru, then delivered a keynote address. He attempted to find out the possibility of the confluence/convergence between literary studies and language sciences. The talk observed that the research on literary studies primarily based on written and print materials, whereas language sciences focus on the spoken aspects of language. However, both streams of thoughts have limited its possibility of finding nuanced understanding of research areas in respective fields of study. Hence, the speaker focused on the necessity to bring the two broad fields of research together in order to mutually uniform from each other and find new dimensions of human life, since both fields primarily rooted on the aspect of ‘language.’ The possibility of convergence and intersection of both fields of enquiry can happen through translation that is even manifested in the National Education Policy 2021.
Dr. Surendra Kumar A M, Pro-VC & Controller of Examination, Presidency University congratulated the department and the conference team for organizing the conference in his address. Dr. Abdul Sharief, Dean, School of Engineering, Presidency University delivered the presidential address. The head of the department of languages, Dr. Venkata Ramani Challa, delivered the welcome address and Ms. Sudeshna Pandey, Assistant Professor, Department of Languages, Presidency University expressed the vote of thanks. Dr. Akila S Indurti, Assistant Professor, Department of Languages, Presidency University anchored the session by keeping the listeners attentive.
Plenary Session
Dr. Jibu George Mathew from The English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad delivered the plenary talk at 12.00 pm on 21st January 2022, Friday. Dr. Mathew interacted on the topic, “The East-West Question in Indian Literary Studies.” In his address by reviewing some recent works, the speaker warns against the danger of theoretical speculations in total and neglecting the basic principles of persuasive argument and critical integrity. Against all the difficulties and challenges, however, the lecture argued for the value and validity of East-West comparative studies as an important discipline that will make significant contributions to the development of cross-cultural understanding and communication.
The session was hosted by Dr. Payal Mukherjee Assistant Professor, Department of Languages, Presidency University. Ms. Sandhya, Research Scholar, Department of Languages, Presidency University welcomed the speaker and Mr. Kannan D, Research Scholar, Department of Languages, Presidency University expressed vote of thanks.
Session 1 – Narratives of Self, Community and the Cultural Other
Dr. Sudeesh K, Assistant Professor, Department of English, Mount Carmel College, Bengaluru chaired the session on “Narratives of Self, Community and the Cultural Other” at 2.30 pm on 22nd January 2022, Saturday. Ms. Priyanka Ghosh, Research Scholar, Presidency University, Bengaluru, hosted the session and welcomed the presenters of the session. Ms. Nandana Anand, MA English, Mount Carmel College presented on “Memory and the Diasporic Consciousness: A Study of the works of Jhumpa Lahiri and Amitav Ghosh.” Ms. Debapriya Bhattacharjee, MA English, Mount Carmel College presented her paper on “The nation reimagined from the Margins: A study of the select works of Maheswata Devi.” Ms. Nupur Roy, MA English, Mount Carmel College, delivered her presentation on the title, “The interplay between Myth and Modern Reality in the works of Maheswata Devi.” Ms. Srishti Roy, MA English, Mount Carmel College, presented a paper on “Interstices of Caste Morality in Vinodini’s Daaham.” Ms. K Shanubhog, MA English, Mount Carmel College, “Re-reading Ramayana through Critical Lens.” All presenters and the chairperson of the session, Dr. Sudeesh responded queries of participants.
Session 2 – Representation of Same-Sex Relationships
Dr. Payal Mukherjee, Assistant Professor, Department of Languages, Presidency University chaired and hosted the session, “Representation of Same-Sex Relationships” at 2.30 pm on 22nd January 2022, Saturday. Ms. Pritha Mukherjee Sanyal, Assistant Professor in English, Presidency College, presented her paper on “Representation of Same-Sex Relationships in Geeli Puchi.” Ms. Neethu Mary Abraham, Assistant Professor in English, Presidency College, delivered her presentation on the title, “Representation of the Queer in the Streaming Platform in select works.” Ms. Usha Srikanth, Assistant Professor in English, Presidency College, presented her paper on, “Representation of Same-Sex Relationships in Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan.” All presenters and the chairperson of the session, Dr. Mukherjee responded queries of participants.
Session 3 – Classism and Casteism in Indian English Literature
Dr. T. Ganga Parameswari, Assistant Professor of English, V. V. Vanniaperumal College for Women, Tamil Nadu, chaired the session on, “Classism and Casteism in Indian English Literature” at 11.30 am on 22nd January 2022, Saturday. Mr. Kannan D, Research Scholar, Presidency University, Bengaluru, hosted the session and welcomed the presenters of the session. Ms. B. Revathe, M. A. English, V. V. V College for Women, presented a paper on, “The White Tiger: An Epic Journey of Balram Halwai.” Ms. E. Jeveha, M. A. English, V. V. V College for Women, delivered her presentation on the title, “Classism and Casteism in Arundhati Roy’s The God of Small Things.” Ms. R. Ramya Bharathi, M. A. English, V. V. V College for Women, delivered her presentation on the title, “Class Discrimination: Understanding of Traditional Human Exploitation in Mulk Raj Anand’s Coolie.” Ms. M. Marieswari@Roshini, M. A. English, V. V. V College for Women, presented her paper on, “Telescoping the Age of Adolescence in Ruskin Bond’s The Room on the Roof.” Ms. S. Rahmaniya, M. A. English, V. V. V College for Women, delivered her presentation on the title, “Reception of Cultural Identity in Rohinton Mistry’s A Fine Balance.” All presenters and the chairperson of the session, Dr. Parameswari responded queries of participants.
Session 5 – Caste and Gender in Indian Literature
Dr. Amitha Santiago, Ph.D. Dean and Head Post Graduate Studies Department of English Studies Bishop Cotton Women’s Christian College, Bengaluru, chaired the session on, “Caste and Gender in Indian Literature” at 11.30 am on 22nd January 2022, Saturday. Sharon, MA English, Bishop Cotton Women’s Christian College, presented a paper on “A Reading of Folk Literature of Karnataka: Engaging Gender and Caste in “Siri Sampige” and “Nagamandala.” Chadala Valli Padma, MA English, Bishop Cotton Women’s Christian College, delivered the presentation on the title, “Contesting Patriarchy: Women Writing in India – Fantasy and Lived Reality.” Sreesaranya. S, MA English, Bishop Cotton Women’s Christian College, presented a paper on “Eroticization of the Female Body: Selected Poetry from A.K.Ramanujam’s “When God Was a Customer.” Nikila, MA English, Bishop Cotton Women’s Christian College, delivered the presentation on the title, “Multiculturality in Autobiographical Narratives: An Analysis of Chetan Bhagat’s ‘2 States’ and K Hanumanthiah’s Life Narrative through the Lens of Caste and Cultural Difference.” Florence Blossom, MA English, Bishop Cotton Women’s Christian College, presented a paper on “The Play of Role Plays: Gender as an Essentialist Construct in Anita Nair’s “Cut like Wound.” Swetha M, MA English, Bishop Cotton Women’s Christian College, delivered the presentation on the title, “Untouchability and the Doubly Marginalized at the Intersections: Dalit Women and Adolescents in Select Dalit Narratives.” All presenters and the chairperson of the session, Dr. Santiago responded queries of participants.
Session 6 – Malayalam Literature
Dr. Reju George Mathew, Assistant Professor, National Institute of Technology, Calicut, chaired the session on “Malayalam Literature” at 10.00 am on 22nd January 2022, Saturday. Dr. Priyanka Assistant Professor, Presidency University, Bengaluru hosted the session. Ms. Annie Siby, The English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU), Hyderabad, Desire as a Disease: Abject Desire in Yellow is the Colour of Longing. Ms. Kavya R. K, The English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU), Hyderabad, “Of Vision, Connection, and Survival: Spiritual Concerns in the Poetry of K Satchidanandan and Louise Glück.” Mr. Muhammed Nibras C, Indira Gandhi National Open University, “Godly Love in the Poems of Kamala Das; Reading Das Through the Lens of Jalaluddin Rumi’s Divine Poetics.” All presenters and the chairperson of the session, Dr. George responded queries of participants.
Session 7 – Puranas
Dr. Sresha Yadav, Assistant Professor, International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Naya Raipur, Chhattisgarh chaired the session on “Puranas” at 10.30 am on 22nd January 2022, Saturday. Dr. Payal Mukherjee, Assistant Professor, Presidency University, Bengaluru hosted the session. Ms. Praveena T and Dr R. L. N. Raju, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, presented their paper on, “From Ganga to Kurukshetra: Reprisal of the Five Elements in the Mahabharata.” Ms. Preeti Dash, Gangadhar Meher University, Sambalpur, Odisha, delivered a presentation on the title, “Locating Shiva as the Ascetic and Liberal Being: A Study through the Shiva Purana.” Mr. Sreejith K Marar, John Mattai University Centre, Arnatukara and Ms. Sulaikha A, Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, Kalady, Kerala, presented their paper on, “Hawkeye view of Rama: “The Maryadha Purushotham,” Demythologization of the Ramayana.” Ms. Suyasha Dwivedi, Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies, GGSIPU, Delhi, presented her paper on the title, “Upanishadic Monism in Hayavadana.” All presenters and the chairperson of the session, Dr. Yadav responded queries of participants.
Session 8 – Kannada and Tamil Literature
Dr. Boopathi P, Assistant Professor, Central University of Tamil Nadu, chaired the session “Kannada and Tamil Literature” at 10.00 am on 22nd January 2022, Saturday. Mr. Clarence Victor Fernandes, Assistant Professor, Presidency University, Bengaluru hosted the session. Ms. Mythri Bangalore, The English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU), Hyderabad, presented on, “An Intersectional Analysis of Violence in the Works of Geetha Nagabhushana.” Ms. Keerthana S, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IITM), delivered a presentation on the title, ‘Glocalizing’ the local: The Study of Margin, ‘Malestream’ and Oppositional Consciousness.” Ms. Jesintha Devaraj, University of Hyderabad, presented on the paper, “Humor and Horror – Tamil Pop Fiction in Translation.” All presenters and the chairperson of the session, Dr. Boopathi responded queries of participants.
Session 9 – Indian English Literature (3)
Dr. Sandip Sarkar, Assistant Professor, National Institute of Technology (NIT), Raipur chaired the third session on “Indian English Literature” at 10.00 am on 22nd January 2022, Saturday. Mr. Yadukrishnan P T, Assistant Professor, Presidency University, Bengaluru hosted the session. Mr. Sudipta Dutta, Independent Researcher, presented on “Displacement, Memory and Migration: Recognizing the Socio-political Struggle of the Indian Subcontinent from Saadat Hasan Manto’s ‘Toba Tek Singh’ to Amitav Ghosh’s Gun Island.” Ms. Jemshina M. T, Farook Higher Secondary School, Farook College Post, Kerala, delivered presentation on, “Postcolonial Eco-critical Reading of Amitav Gosh’ The Nutmeg’s Curse.” Dr. Sakshi Semwal and Dr. Prashant Maurya, DIT University, Dehradun, presented their paper on “Historical, Regional and Cultural Consciousness: A study of Oral traditions and Folklore of Uttarakhand.” Karthika K G, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, delivered a presentation on, “Class Biased and Slavery in the novel Coolie by Mulk Raj Anand.” All presenters and the chairperson of the session, Dr. Sarkar responded queries of participants.
Session 10 – Indian English Literature (2)
Dr. Narasimha Murthy S. V. Assistant Professor, Presidency University, Bengaluru chaired and hosted the second session on, “Indian Literature” at 3.00 pm on 21st January 2022, Friday. Ms. Vidya Vishwakarma Dr. B. R. Ambedkar University Delhi (AUD), presented on the title, Decoding the Postcoloniality in the Talkative Man.” Ms. Bushra Sikander Hayat Ismail, English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU), Hyderabad, delivered the presentation on the title, “Accentuating the Dualities in Anita Desai’s Fasting, Feasting.” Ms. N. Haripriyalakshmi, Sri Sarada College for Women (Autonomous), Salem, presented on the title, “Socio-Cultural Interpretations in Ruskin Bond’s Short Story “Nala and Damayanti.” Mohammed Sahal, Indira Gandhi National Open University and Ejabathul Jabbar, Markaz Garden, presented their paper on the title, “Malgudi Days to The Ministry of Utmost Happiness; a Study on Literary Trends.” All presenters and the chairperson of the session, Dr. Murthy responded queries of participants.
Session 11 – Indian English Literature (3)
Dr. Venkata Ramani Challa, Professor, Presidency University, Bengaluru chaired and hosted the third session on, “Indian Literature” at 3.00 pm on 21st January 2022, Friday. Ms. Ankita Choudhary, IIS [Deemed-to-be] University, Jaipur, presented on the title, “Language Intersection and Translations Transcending Indian Regional Writings.” Ms. Remya V. R., Dr. Rukmini V. R, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, Tamil Nadu, presented their paper on, “Tracing Trauma Tourism in War Novels: A Mahasweta Devi’s After Kurukshetra from Privileged Peripeteia.” Ms. Fiza Farheen, and Ms. Harneet Kaur, Mount Carmel College (MCC) Autonomous, Bangalore, presented their paper on, “Shah Rukh Khan and Dyer’s Star Theory: A Post 2014 Study.” All presenters and the chairperson of the session, Dr. Ramani responded queries of participants.
Session 12 – Indian Drama
Dr. J. G. Ravikumar, Associate Professor, Presidency University, Bengaluru chaired and hosted the session on, “Indian Drama” at 11.00 am on 22nd January 2022, Saturday. Ms. C. Ambiga, Sri Sarada College for Women (Autonomous), Salem, presented on “Contemplation of Myth in Karnad’s Nagamandala and Adichie’s Half of a Yellow Sun.” Mr. Sharuk Rahaman, The English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU) Hyderabad, delivered the presentation on, “Horror of Atom Bombs and Nuclear Weapons in Badal Sircar’s Plays with Particular Reference to Tringsha Shatabdi.” Ms. Madhumita Nayak, Utkal University, Bhubaneswar, presented on, “Personalizing Tropes: A Study of Bira Kishore Parhi’s Odia Autobiography Mali Dhuli Malukha as Distinct Regional Expression.” All presenters and the chairperson of the session, Dr. Ravikumar responded queries of participants.
Session 13 – Feminism
Dr. Kirankumar Nittali, Assistant Professor, Presidency University, Bengaluru, chaired and hosted the third session on, “Feminism” at 2.00 pm on 21st January 2022, Friday. Ms. Amya Roy, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi, presented on, “Mother Daughter Relationships: A Study of Contemporary Women Writers’ Voices in Indian Novels.” Ms. Sanjana Chakraborty and Dr. Dhananjay Tripathi, National Institute of Technology, Sikkim, delivered their paper on the title, “The Screams of Silence: Other side of Gender Based Violence through re-reading of a Feminist Text.” Ms. Asha K. R. and Dr. Syed Hajira Begum, JSS College of Arts, Commerce and Science, Mysore, delivered their paper on the title, “Women as Victims and Quiet Resilient of Socio-Political Milieu: A Study of Arupa Patangia Kalita’s The Loneliness of Hira Barua.” All presenters and the chairperson of the session, Dr. Kirankumar responded queries of participants.
Session 14 – Myth and Folk Tales
Dr. Bibhuti Mary Kachhap, Assistant Professor, Indian Institute of Technology, Tirupathi chaired the session on “Myth and Folk Tale” at 10.00 am on 22nd January 2022, Saturday. Ms. Sudeshna Pandey, Assistant Professor, Presidency University, Bengaluru hosted the session. Ms. V.S. Nandhini Devi and Dr. A. Selvalakshmi, Sri Sarada College for Women (Autonomous), Salem, presented their paper on, “Ayurveda and India: Exegesis Reading of Amish Tripathi’s Writings.” Ms. Sorinchon Rimai, The English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU), Hyderabad, delivered a presentation on, “The Bat’s Quarrel: Cultural Sensibility in the Performance of Speech.” Ms. Priyanka Ghosh, Presidency University, Bengaluru, presented on, “Tribal Displacement and Political Injustice in Adivasi Will Not Dance.” All presenters and the chairperson of the session, Dr. Kachhap responded queries of participants.
Session 15 – Metaphysics
Dr. Mohammed Afzal P, Assistant Professor, Birla Institute of Technology, Pilani, chaired the session on “Metaphysics” at 10.00 am on 22nd January 2022, Saturday. Dr. Ben J Anthrayose, Assistant Professor, Presidency University, Bengaluru hosted the session. Dr. Barnashree Khasnobis, Kristu Jayanti College (Autonomous), Bengaluru, presented on, “The Minstrels’ Metaphysics: Phenomenology of the Bauls.” Ms. Meera Vinod, The English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU), Hyderabad, delivered on, “Of Indian Robots: A Transhumanist Reading of Select Translated Bengali and Marathi Science Fiction.” Ms. Sukanya Kar, Cooch Behar Panchanan Barma University, West Bengal, presented on, “The Politics of Rituals: the Rajbanshi Way.” All presenters and the chairperson of the session, Dr. Afzal responded queries of participants.
Valedictory Session
The session started at 4.00 pm on 22nd January 2022, Saturday and the Head of the Department, Dr. Venkata Ramani Challa presided over the function. Ms. Sreelekha, Assistant Professor, Department of Languages, Presidency University hosted the session and invited all dignitaries. Dr. Tariq Khan, Central Institute of Indian Languages, Mysuru, Dr. Amitha Santiago, Ph.D. Dean and Head Post Graduate Studies Department of English, Studies Bishop Cotton Women’s Christian College, Bengaluru, Dr. T. Ganga Parameswari, Assistant Professor of English, V. V. Vanniaperumal College for Women, Tamil Nadu, Dr. Sudeesh K, Assistant Professor, Department of English, Mount Carmel College, Bengaluru, and Dr. Sheshadri K N – Head Librarian, Presidency University expressed their feedback on the conference and congratulated all paper presenters. Dr. Ramani, in her presidential remark assured the commitment of the department to conduct academic events in collaboration with other esteemed institutions. Dr. Shibily Nuaman V.Z, the convener of the conference expressed vote of thanks.
