Concept Note:

‘Exploitation, ‘violence, and ‘resistance’ are terms intertwined in the complex concept of Gender. The conference intends to discuss the ways in which these augmentations of the true idea of ‘gender’ occupy the sites of culture, academia, media, literature, art, philosophy, linguistics, discourse and critical theory. The prominence of gender bias, exploitation, violence and resistance in South and South-east Asia’s rich literary fabric, is undeniable. Understanding and analysing such literature offers readers an opportunity to empathise with characters’ experiences and gain a deeper, more nuanced understanding of the emotional and psychological aspects of gender-based violence often in the forms of ‘slow violence’ (Nixon 2011). In addition, the pivotal role of films, television shows and online media in consolidating the trajectories of gender-based violence and perpetrations stands undeniable. Through films, the fictional narratives, depicted through these mediums, however, also aid readers to develop empathy for survivors. Nonetheless, the crucial contribution of these mediums in deep-rooting gender roles and bias, and normalising gender-based exploitation, further seems problematic and questionable in the present day. Additionally, our quotidian language too is laden with gender expectations and prejudices. Gender bias, gender-based violence, exploitation, and resistance, thus, are scenarios common across all major terrains of English studies. This interdisciplinary conference on gender, therefore, aims to bring together participants from all academic fields to engage in wide-ranging conversations and multifaceted exchanges on “normative” gender role assumptions, gender-based marginalization, violence, exploitation, resistance, capitulation, negotiations and the like from domains of literature, linguistics and popular culture. By fostering a deeper understanding of these dynamics, the conference aims to contribute to the advancement of gender scholarship and promote social justice and equality.

Key Themes:

●      Intersectionality: Examining how gender intersects with other identity markers such as class, caste, religion, and ethnicity in South and Southeast Asian literature.

●      Representation and Resistance: Analysing the portrayal of gender in literary works and linguistic expressions. Exploring instances of biased gender expectations and resistance against gender norms and stereotypes.

●      Linguistic Perspectives: Investigating the linguistic mechanisms through which gender is constructed and communicated in South and Southeast Asian linguistic and literary scenarios, including the role of gendered language, pronouns, and linguistic sexism.

●      Feminist Discourses: Tracing the evolution of feminist discourses within South and Southeast Asian literature and languages and assessing their impact on social and cultural norms.

Possible topics may include, but are not limited to:

●      Gender: Expectations and Bias, Exploitation and Resistance

●      Gender and Use of Languages

●      Trauma in South and Southeast Asian Narratives

●      Rooting gender bias through literature / linguistic expressions.

●      Exploitation through linguistic expressions

●      Gender Exploitation, Violence, and Resistance in South and Southeast Asian Popular Culture

●      Gender Exploitation and Resistance in Film and Fiction

●      “Invisible violence”

●      Mini-narratives on Facebook and Instagram

●      #MeToo Movements and #MeToo Narratives

Keynote Speakers:

1. Anita Singh, BHU 
2. Priyanka Tripathi, IIT Patna 
3. Nalini Iyer, Seattle University 
4. Geetanjali Gangoli, Durham University
5. Rajinder Dudrah, Birmingham City University

Guidelines for Submission of abstract

 Abstracts within 300 words and a brief bio-note should be uploaded on this link: https://bit.ly/4cH5mZh

Or Scan the QR Code 

Deadline: 15th October 2024

Decision: 30th October 2024

Registration Fees will include Conference Kit, Accommodation, and Food.

Faculty Members with Accommodation: INR 3000

Research Scholars: INR 2000

PG Students: INR 750

Foreign Participation: $60

Limited subsidy to offset travel costs, not exceeding domestic 3AC train fares (up to 3000 INR), may be made available for participants. This is typically meant for selected postgraduate students and research scholars.

Selected papers will be published in an edited volume by Peter Lang Academic Publishing.

Patron:

Dr P Sathyanarayanan, Pro-Chancellor

Prof. Manoj K. Arora, Vice-Chancellor

Prof. Premkumar R, Registrar

Prof. Vishnupad, DEAN, ESLA

Dr. Sayantan Thakur, HoD, Dept of Literature and Languages

Convenor:

Partha Bhattacharjee

Co-convenors:

Soni Wadhwa

Rajni M.

Rajoshree Chatterjee

Priyank Varma

Advisory Committee:

Sayantan Thakur

Srabani Basu

Organizing Committee:

Bidisha Pal

Stella C. Biswas

Abhilasha Gusain

Sheetal Yadav

Amlan Baishya

Nikhilesh T.

Executive Committee:

The Research Scholars of Literature and Languages