Release of Conference Souvenir

L-R Dr.Vandana Sharma, Prof. R K Sinha, Prof. Manoj Dhar, Prof. Ganesh Devy, Prof. Govind Singh

Two-day International Conference on Multiple Selves in Multiple Texts: Life Narratives in South Asia was inaugurated on 6^th November 2019 at the Central University of Jammu. Prof. Manoj Dhar, Vice-Chancellor, University of Jammu was chief Guest and Prof. R K Sinha, Vice-Chancellor, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University was the Guest of Honor whereas Prof. Ganesh Devy delivered the keynote address.

In his augural address, Prof. Dhar appreciated the efforts of the department of English under the guidance of VC Prof. Aima and highlighted the significance of deliberations on Life Narratives which serve as inspiring documentation of lives worth reflecting for self-realization. The Guest of Honor, Prof. R K Sinha, appreciated the theme of the conference and said that knowledge is like a globe which multiples knowledge and emphasized the interdisciplinary scope of multiplying knowledge through such academic ventures.

The keynote speaker, Prof. Ganesh Devy, a writer and cultural activist best known for the People’s Linguistic Survey of India and pioneer of the Adivasi Academy dwelt at length over the problematics of self and emphasized that the self-articulation will survive. Further Prof. Devy predicted that expression is immortal and there are innumerable possibilities of articulating the self and the way texts are outlying in various dimensions, makes the theme of the conference very much relevant.

Prof. Govind Singh, Dean, School of Languages, while speaking on the occasion highlighted the life narratives which hitherto have been less talked about topic. Reminiscing his experiences as an academic and journalist, he threw light on some noteworthy memoirs and travel diaries.

Earlier, welcoming the guest, Dr. Vandana Sharma, Conference Convener, and Head, Department of English gave an overview of the conceptualization of the conference which is to unfold the labyrinths of self and how it is constructed through life narratives. Further, Dr. Sharma said that the two day conference will have deliberations on varied aspects of life narratives in South Asia as 95 speakers are going to present their papers in the conference on Autobiography as a narrative of Personalized memory, socio biography, build roman, and how the self in navigated in biographies, memoirs and diaries. Moving in time and space across South Asia, the deliberations on life narratives will vary from indigenous autobiographies to transgender autobiographical narratives, Dalit life narratives or and many others. Moreover, a plenary panel session on Interplay of Self, Society, and History: Life Narratives in South Asia has been planned to provide a platform to eminent academics and thinkers from across South Asia, prominent among them are Prof. Chandra Mohan from Delhi, Prof. Roshan Sharma from the central University of Jammu, Sh. GRK Murty from Hyderabad, Prof. Monika Sethi, Prof. Shyam Narayan and Prof. Vishva Raksha from University Jammu. Moreover, a session on Dogri life narratives will also be there to impart glocal approach and a holistic understanding of the theme.

Ms. Nancy Sharma conducted the proceedings and Dr. Neena Gupta proposed the vote of thanks.