Theory at Work : Text, History and Culture International Conference

Theory at Work: Text, History and Culture International Conference

November 9-11, 2010

Department of English, Banaras Hindu University,

Vanarasi, India

 

From 9-11 November 2010, I attended the Theory at Work: Text, History and Culture International Conference which was held in Vanarasi and organized by the Department of English of Banaras Hindu University (BHU). Organized in collaboration with Sahitya Akademi (New Delhi) and the Indian Council of Social Sciences Research (New Delhi), the conference brought together scholars from different regions of India and international scholars from renowned institutions including; King’s College (London), Macquarie University (Australia), University of Pisa (Italy) and Deakin University (Australia) amongst others. Focusing on the interplay between theory, textuality, history and culture, the conference provided for a meaningful and informative interdisciplinary dialogue on the development and deployment of theories with regards to the major fields and themes of literary studies, social and intellectual history, gender studies, anthropology and philosophy. My own research paper presentation, entitled “Mapping the Unknown: Empire, Gender and the Oriental ‘Other’ in Women’s Travel Narratives of Colonial Southeast Asiaanalyzed the visual and textual cultural representations of the people, places and cultures of Southeast Asia in women’s travel writing by exploring the nexus between race, gender, empire and the politics of narration.

 

Ranked Number One this year on a survey of the top universities of India by India Today Magazine, the effort and work put in by BHU and the conference organizers to ensure the conference was an engaging and successful one for participants is testament to their dedication towards academia and the arts. Participants were treated to a theatre performance of Bhisham Sahni’s acclaimed play Madhavi, staged by students of the department. The play was first translated from Hindi to English by Prof. Alok Bhalla of the department and revolves around the human desire to achieve fame, recognition and its tragic consequences when pursued ruthlessly. The city of Vanarasi itself was a delight to explore; from a panoramic boat ride down the Ganges river, to the 110 feet tall Dhammekha Stupa at Sarnath where Buddha preached his first sermon, to the colorful busy bazaars and temples and the winding maze of serpentine alleys that make up the city. Held in a historical and legendary centre of learning which combines a picturesque, yet, apt blend of the spiritual, commercial, mystical and modern, the conference was a truly enriching experience.

 

Sheena Kumari

M.A Student

Department of History

National University of Singapore

Plenary Session 1: Keynote Address and Open Lecture by Prof. Amitav Roy,Head, Dept of English, chaired by Malcolm Voyce, Macquarie University, Australia
Plenary Session 1: Keynote Address and Open Lecture by Prof. Amitav Roy,Head, Dept of English, chaired by Malcolm Voyce, Macquarie University, Australia
Students of the Dept of English : Main leads of Bhisham Sahni’s play Madhavi
Students of the Dept of English : Main leads of Bhisham Sahni’s play Madhavi
Students of the Dept of English : Staging of Bhisham Sahni’s play Madhavi
Students of the Dept of English : Staging of Bhisham Sahni’s play MadhaviFaculty of Arts Building, Banaras Hindu University
Ganges River: Funeral Rites and the Burning of Corpses along the ghats
Ganges River: Funeral Rites and the Burning of Corpses along the ghatsScene along the Ganges River: A majestic royal ghat
Colourful Scene along the Ganges River: Devotees, Pilgrims and Tourist Boats
Colourful Scene along the Ganges River: Devotees, Pilgrims and Tourist BoatsSarnath-An Important Buddhist Site: 110 feet tall Dhammekha StupaSarnath-An Important Buddhist Site: 110 feet tall Dhammekha Stupa
Sarnath-An Important Buddhist Site: 110 feet tall Dhammekha Stupa
Sarnath-An Important Buddhist Site: 110 feet tall Dhammekha Stupa

Registration for CS4880 Digital Entrepreneurship

Registration for CS4880 Digital Entrepreneurship for ARS3 and ARS4/SOC4 students in Sem 2, 2010-11

Professor Juzar Motiwalla will select students for his module, CS4880, on Digital Entrepreneurship.  The maximum enrollment in CS4880 is 40 students, and 30 are expected to be reserved for undergraduates.

 

If you wish to sign up for CS4880, please write to him (juzar@comp.nus.edu.sg) by 12 Dec 2010, 12.00 noon with responses to the following points.
1) Please explain why you wish to take this module. 

2) Please list any special achievements, internships or attachments, or entrepreneurial experience. Please also indicate any entrepreneurship plans.

3) Please point out if you have acquired similar knowledge elsewhere (for example, TR3002) or intend to take such courses in the same semester as CS4880.

In your email to him, please state in front your name, matriculation number, e-mail, stage of study, module type code, home faculty and department.

Please check with your department the module type code for this module before submitting.

The students to be preallocated for the module will be known by 22 Dec 2010.

NUS Quality Service Award 2010 Winners

The Faculty would like to congratulate the following FASS staff on receiving the NUS Quality Service Award 2010!

Name Award Department
Rosmani Binte Roslan Service Achiever Centre for Language Studies
Kanaga d/o Muthuveloo Service Achiever Communications & New Media
Hannah Lim Mong Yee Service Achiever Dean’s Office (Arts & Social Sc)
Yau Geok Hwa Service Achiever English Language & Literature
Chong Mui Gek Service Achiever Geography
Cavin Teo Tat Wee Service Achiever Political Science
Lillian Low Pee Choo Service Achiever Political Science
Lim Shan Shan Service Achiever Social Work
Nur Jannah Bte Mohamed Service Achiever South Asian Studies Programme
John Yap Yin Gwee Service Advocate Dean’s Office (Arts & Social Sc)
Jamunarani d/o Danakkody Service Advocate Dean’s Office (Arts & Social Sc)
Eileen Shen Yanling Service Advocate History
Jasmine Sim Bee Lay Service Advocate History
Tan Ching Lin Service Advocate Social Work

Calling out to all FASS Postgrad students

FASS Graduate Student Gathering with the Indonesian Academics from Islamic Universities 

Organised by the Asia Research Institute (ARI) and the Faculty of Arts and Social Scicences, NUS (FASS), all FASS Postgrad students are invited to attend a gathering with the Indonesian Academics from Islamic Universities on:

Tuesday, 16 November 2010
Time: 2.30pm – 4pm (Registration begins at 2.15pm)
@ the Faculty Staff Lounge at Arts Deck (2nd Floor next to Burger King)

FASS Assistant Dean, A/P Bruce Lockhart will be presenting a talk on the Graduate Studies in FASS followed by the ARI Writing Series Workshop, by Dr Kay Mohlman.

Meet and Mingle over snacks and tea after the session.

Please click here to register if you are interested.