The concept of subalternity, rooted in Antonio Gramsci’s theoretical framework and later expanded in postcolonial studies by thinkers like Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak, has been central to understanding the dynamics of power, representation, and marginalization. Subalternity refers to those groups and individuals excluded from hegemonic structures of power, whose voices are systematically silenced by dominant discourses. In contemporary literature, the subaltern is no more a passive subject of marginalization but an active agent of resistance, contestation, and self-articulation. Contemporary literature has become a critical space for the articulation of subaltern experiences, foregrounding the voices of those who have historically been denied agency. Authors across the globe have sought to challenge traditional narratives by representing the lived realities of marginalized groups, including women, indigenous communities, Dalits, racial minorities, and migrants. These representations often serve as a counter-narrative to dominant cultural and historical accounts, exposing the mechanisms of exclusion and asserting the subaltern’s right to narrate their own stories. However, the act of representation itself is fraught with complexities and tensions. Spivak’s provocative question, “Can the subaltern speak?” continues to resonate in debates about literary representations of subalternity. Who speaks for the subaltern? Can representation by dominant voices accurately capture subaltern experiences without perpetuating the very power dynamics it seeks to dismantle? These questions become even more pertinent in an era marked by globalization, commodification of identity, and the rise of literary markets that sometimes fetishize the marginal as a consumable product. In contemporary literary studies, the interrogation of subalternity is further complicated by intersectionality. Subaltern identities are shaped by overlapping and interlocking systems of oppression, including caste, class, gender, sexuality, and ethnicity. For instance, the experience of a Dalit woman in India cannot be understood solely through the lens of caste or gender but must account for the unique interplay of these identities. Similarly, the narratives of Afro-Caribbean writers cannot be separated from the histories of colonization, diaspora, and systemic racism.

This seminar critically examines the multifaceted representations of subalternity in contemporary literature, exploring how texts navigate the politics of voice, agency, and authenticity in portraying marginalized communities. It will address how such representations contribute to discussions on justice, equity, and resistance while highlighting the challenges modern writers face in crafting authentic subaltern narratives for global audiences. In an era shaped by transnational cultural and economic flows, the seminar will question how literature preserves the specificity of subaltern experiences without losing their local contexts, fostering a deeper understanding of its role in the struggle for representation and empowerment.

In this national seminar, we invite papers that would explore subaltern representations in contemporary literature. Scholars are invited to submit abstracts of 250-300 words that address the following (but not limited to) issues contextualized in the narratives and discourses in literature:

• Narratives of Resistance: Subaltern Agency in Contemporary Fiction

• Counter-Histories in Literature: Interrogating Hegemony

• Intersectionality in Literature: Gender, Caste, and Class

• Postcolonial Feminism: Voices from the Margins

• Translation and Subaltern Voices: Ethics and Politics

• Neocolonialism and Global Subaltern Representation

• The Politics of Voice: Dalit, Tribal & Indigenous Narrtives

• Coloniality and Environment: Subaltern Ecologies in Literature

• Digital Subalternity: Social Media and New Narratives

• Transculturality: Migrant and Refugee Narratives

• Memory and Trauma: Subaltern Testimonies in Literature

• Queering the Postcolony: LGBTQIA+ Narratives from the Margins

• Literature and Protest: Subalternity in Political Resistance

• Reimagining Subalternity: Speculative and Dystopian Fiction

• Children as Subalterns: Marginalized Childhood Narratives

• Subalternity in the Global South: Comparative Perspectives

• Statelessness and Displacement in Literature

• Aesthetic Resistance: Art, Literature, and Subalternity

• Empire and Extractivism: Resistance to Capitalist Exploitation

Timelines:

Last date for submission of abstracts: 10th January 2025.

Information about acceptance of abstracts: 14th January 2025.

Registration: 9th December 2024 – 10th January 2025.

Full paper submission (3500-6000 words): 31st January 2025.

Submission must be made only in PDF format. MLA 7th, 8th or 9th Edition should be followed for citation and referencing.

Submit your abstracts along with a brief bio-note to: subalternseminar@gmail.com. Once your abstract is selected, you will need to fill out the Google Form and register at: https://forms.gle/3Zi4NnARaDMGVUv78

Date and Venue:
The seminar will be held in both the offline and the online mode from 6th – 7th February 2025 with provisions for virtual participation to ensure inclusivity and accessibility.