A Two-Day International Conference on Civilizational Literature Texts, Traditions, and Transcultural Dialogues across Civilizations

 Dates: 13 and 14th March, 2026

Venue: Dharwad, Karnataka, India

Mode: Hybrid

Organized by Dharwad Katte, in collaboration with Adikavi Sri Maharishi Valmiki University, Raichur, Janata Shikshana Samity, Dharwad and Peter Lang.

                                                                           Concept Note

Civilizational literature constitutes the foundational corpus of texts, narratives, and knowledge systems through which societies have articulated their understanding of the world. Literature has historically functioned as both a mirror and a critical conscience of society. Across civilizations and historical periods, literary texts have recorded social realities while simultaneously interrogating structures of power, belief systems, cultural norms, and modes of collective life. From classical epics and philosophical dialogues to folklore, drama, and modern narrative forms, literature articulates the dynamic relationship between the individual and the social order. Literature foregrounds the reciprocal interaction between textual production and socio-historical contexts. Literary works emerge from specific material, political, and cultural conditions, yet they also shape social imagination by legitimizing, contesting, or reconfiguring dominant values. Questions of caste, class, gender, race, religion, nationhood, and community find sustained expression in literary forms, making literature a vital archive of social consciousness. Literature is an essential resource for understanding human relationships, institutional structures, and the ongoing processes through which societies imagine themselves and their futures. Indian civilization has been profoundly shaped by its great epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, which function not merely as literary masterpieces but as dynamic cultural archives embodying ethical philosophies, social structures, political ideas, and spiritual reflections. These epics articulate core civilizational concepts such as dharma, karma, righteousness, justice, sacrifice, and moral ambiguity, while simultaneously reflecting on questions of power, gender, kinship, and human vulnerability. Indian civilizational literature is one of the oldest, richest, and most continuous literary traditions in the world. It reflects the intellectual, spiritual, ethical, and aesthetic evolution of Indian society over several millennia. Rooted in the lived experience of the people, this literature is not merely an artistic expression but a comprehensive record of India’s civilizational consciousness. At its core, Indian literature is deeply philosophical and spiritual. Another defining feature of Indian civilizational literature is its holistic vision of life. Texts on aesthetics (such as Bharata’s Natyashastra), politics (Arthashastra), medicine (Ayurveda), mathematics, astronomy, and ethics demonstrate the integration of knowledge systems rather than their fragmentation. Indian civilizational literature embodies continuity amid change and unity amid diversity. It preserves collective memory, transmits values, and fosters dialogue between the material and the spiritual, the individual and the community. Its enduring relevance lies in its capacity to address fundamental human questions while remaining rooted in a pluralistic and inclusive worldview. The conference addresses such issues and concerns both in Indian civilizational literature and in the literature of the rest of the world.

                                                                                  Themes

Literature and the city

Literature as a Civilizational Memory Texts as Cultural and Historical Archives

Oral Traditions, Epics, and the Foundations of Civilization

Myth, Legend, and the Making of Civilizational Identity

Literature and the Rise and Fall of Civilizations

Empire, Colonialism, and Civilizational Narratives

Literature and the Crisis of Modern Civilization Civilization,

Alienation, and the Modern Subject

Gendered Foundations of Civilization in Literature

The Civilized Body vs. the Marginal Body

Sexuality, Morality, and Civilizational Norms

Feminist Revisions of Civilizational Histories

War Literature and the Trauma of Civilization

The Mahābhārata and Rāmāyaṇa as civilizational archives

Epic narratives as repositories of Indian philosophical traditions

Indian epics in dialogue with Greek, Persian, African, and East Asian epic traditions

Foundations of Indian Civilizational Thought

Vedic and Upanishadic worldviews Concepts of Dharma, Rita, Karma, and Moksha

The Bhagavad Gita: philosophy of action and devotion Kingship, duty, war, and justice in epic literature

Women, kinship, and power in the epics Classical Literary Traditions

Sanskrit Kavya and dramaturgy Sangam literature and early Tamil civilization Literature and Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS)

The themes of the conference are not limited to the above. Papers related to the broader area of Literature and Civilization are welcome.

Submission Guidelines Abstract Length: 200–300 words

Full Paper Length: 3,000–5,000 words

Referencing Style: MLA 9 Edition

 The conference invites writers, scholars, researchers, and practitioners from literature, cultural studies, philosophy, history, and allied disciplines to participate in a rigorous and meaningful engagement with the literary foundations of world civilizations.

 Deadline for Submission: 25 Feb, 2026

Mail Id:civilizationalliterature@gmail.com

Registration Fess: Faculty: INR. 1500/ Scholars: INR. 750/ Students :INR 500/- Bank Details Name:

Dharwad Katte A/C No: 110263286213 Bank Name: Canara Bank Branch: Karnataka A and S College, Dharwad IFSC Code: CNRB0011242 MICR Code: 58015315 Mobile No: 8861319042

Patrons Prof Shivanand Kelaginamani Vice Chancellor Maharishi Valmiki University, Raichur Dr Ajit Prasad, Secretary, Janatha Shikshnana Samiti, Dharwad Dr. Gurunath Badiger Principal, Government Degree college, Dharwad Prof Basavaraj Tallur Professor of English Govt First Grade Degree college

About the Organization: Dharwad Katte, a Literary and Cultural Forum established in Dharwad in 2016 is committed to preservation and promotion of literature, language, art and culture. Dharwad, known as the cultural capital of Karnataka, is the place where the headquarters of Katte is located. It conducts programs both online and offline programs. Initially, the Katte is meant for the teachers, employees and scholars living in Dharwad, now, it provides a platform for the people who are genuinely interested in the pursuits of literature, language, culture, art and music and such people can come together and share their experiences and thoughts. In a very short time the Katte became a household name in Karnataka and attracted a large number of scholars, artists, writers, actors and artists and the viewers of Katte are drawn from across the country.

Conference Director

Prof Basavaraj Donur HOD , Dept. of English Central University of Karnataka 

                                                                       Organizing Secretaries

Dr Vijaylekshmi Danaraddi,

Associate Professor ,Govt. First grade Degree College ,Dharwad

Dr Nirmal Joseph, Assistant Professor, Central University of Karnataka

Mr Subhamoy Kar, Assistant Professor, Central University of Karnataka

Dr Prashant Mandre, Asasistant Professor LB and SBS College, Sagar

                                                                        Resource Persons

Dr. Bhashabi Fraser Professor Edinburgh University, Edinburgh

Prof. Amitkumar English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad

Prof. Vijay Nagannavar RCU Belagavi

Prof. Alok Kumar Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gorakhpur University, UP

Mr. Mahendra M Assistant Professor CUK, Kalaburagi

Dr. Geeta Associate Professor (MANUU)

Prof. Elisabetta Marino University of Rome, Tor Vergata

Dr. Khagendra Acharya Professor Kathmandu Univeristy, Nepal

Bhavatosh Indra Guru, Professor & Head, Dr. HariSingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya, Sagar, M. P.

Dr.N H Kallur Professor of English Karnataka University,