National Seminar

on
"Art, Architecture, and Culture of Odisha: Bridging Traditions and Global Narratives"

18th and 19th September, 2025

Organised By 

POST GRADUATE DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH, 

S.C.S. AUTONOMOUS COLLEGE, PURI, ODISHA, INDIA

Odisha, a land of timeless heritage and cultural splendour, boasts an extraordinary legacy of art, architecture, and traditions. From the intricate carvings of the Konark Sun Temple to the mesmerizing dance forms like Odishi, and from its vibrant festivals to the indigenous tribal art forms, Odisha's cultural landscape is both rich and diverse. In recent years, there has been a growing effort to reinterpret and present this heritage to a global audience through narratives. This seminar aims to explore the intersection of Odisha's artistic and cultural heritage with retellings, emphasising their role in preserving tradition while fostering a dialogue with global narratives. This seminar will highlight: 

• Odisha’s Rich Heritage: To provide an in-depth exploration of Odisha’s artistic, architectural, and cultural heritage, showcasing its historical significance and contemporary relevance.
• Preserving Tradition through Retellings: To emphasise the importance of retelling Odisha’s cultural stories in English, ensuring the preservation of its rich traditions while making them accessible to a global audience.
• Analysing Literary and Artistic Representations: To analyse the role of literature, translations, and storytelling in capturing the essence of Odisha’s heritage. This includes examining works that reflect Odisha’s visual arts, performing arts, and architectural grandeur.
• Fostering Interdisciplinary Dialogue: To encourage interdisciplinary collaboration among scholars, writers, translators, artists, and cultural practitioners, creating a holistic understanding of Odisha’s heritage and its global resonance.
• Exploring the Challenges of Cultural Representation: To investigate the challenges of accurately representing Odisha’s traditions in English narratives, including the balance between authenticity and creative freedom.
• Promoting Global Accessibility: To explore the role of digital media and translation as tools for globalizing Odisha’s art, architecture, and cultural traditions.
• Encouraging       Cross-cultural    Exchanges:         To          promote              cross-cultural exchanges              that       enrich   both              local      and       global understandings of Odisha’s heritage, fostering mutual appreciation and dialogue.
• Examining Contemporary Relevance: To examine how Odisha’s cultural elements influence modern narratives, artistic expressions, and global cultural practices.
• Inspiring Creative Engagement: To inspire writers, artists, and researchers to engage with Odisha’s traditions, encouraging innovative reinterpretations that resonate with contemporary audiences.
• Documenting and Publishing Findings: To facilitate the documentation and dissemination of insights, ensuring the seminar proceedings contribute to academic discourse and public knowledge.
• Addressing Cultural Sustainability: To discuss the role of cultural heritage in sustainable development, exploring how Odisha’s traditions can inform global practices in conservation and cultural sustainability.
• Empowering Local  Communities: To  empower  local  communities  by  highlighting the global  significance  of their traditions, encouraging pride and participation in cultural preservation.

  Themes and Sub-themes:

  • Art and Literature:
  • Representation of Odisha’s Visual Art forms in English Narratives.
  • Pattachitra and Palm Leaf Manuscripts: Bridging Traditional Art and Modern Storytelling.
  • The Role of Translation in Bringing Odia Artistic Traditions to Global Platforms.
  • Architecture:
• The Kalinga School of Architecture in English Literature: Retelling the Stories of Odisha’s Temples.
• Sacred Architecture and Its Symbolic Representations in English Narratives.
• The Use of Visual and Descriptive Storytelling to Preserve Architectural Heritage.
• Performing Arts:
• The Global Appeal of Odishi Dance and Gotipua Traditions through English Writings.
• Music And Performance as Cultural Ambassadors: Narratives of Odisha’s Performing Arts in English.
• Cultural Heritage and Festivals:
• Rath Yatra and Jagannath Culture.
• Tribal Festivals and Their Significance in Contemporary English Literature.
• Culinary Traditions of Odisha as Cultural Metaphors in English Writings.
• Contemporary Challenges and Opportunities:
• Balancing Authenticity and Creative Freedom.
• The Role of Digital Media in Globalising Odisha’s Art and Culture.
• Addressing Cultural Appropriation and Misrepresentation in Global Narratives.

PATRON

Prof. Dr. Mihir Prasad Mishra, Principal

CONVENOR

Dr Rabindra Kumar Pradhan, Asst. Prof of English

MENTOR

Sasmita Pramanik, H.O.D, P.G. Dept. of English

CO-CONVENORS

Dr Deepshikha Routray, Asst. Prof of English

Dr Upama Behera, Asst. Prof of English