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Call for Papers

Theme: Intellectual Traditions of the Northeast
Subtitle: Its Influences and Impact
Type: National Seminar
Institution: Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS)
   English and Foreign Languages University at Shillong
Location: Shimla (India)
Date: 21.–22.2.2016
Deadline: 15.12.2015

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Following S. N. Balgangadhara (To Follow our Forefathers: The Nature
of Tradition, 2011) one can define ‘tradition’ as “inherited
practices” that are internalized through a variety of mechanisms
likelanguage, imitation, instruction, repeated performances, and so
on. This brings forth the fact that given the plurality of the
mechanisms available for internalization necessary for the
continuation of ‘tradition’ itself, one cannot treat ‘tradition’ as a
term that denotes a singular ‘monolithic whole’. Traditions need not
necessarily have a singular trait that is common to them. Rather
appropriating Wittgenstein, one could argue that what traditions
share is a mere ‘family resemblance’.

Further, the characterization of ‘tradition’ as ‘inherited’ does not
entail that traditions are inert and passive. Rather this
‘inheritance’ occurs through a reflective process and thus one cannot
conceive of ‘tradition’ through a lens of historical linearity. It is
this ‘reflective aspect’, both ‘inward’ as well ‘outward’, that we
seek to capture through the term ‘Intellectual’.

Thus, for the purpose of this seminar, we take the notion of
‘tradition’ as non-monolithic and non-linear,thereby positioning it
away from the historicist arguments. By doing so, we seek to
highlight the genealogical linkages that have emerged, and that
characterize, the interactions between the various intellectual
traditions in the North-east. These linkages, both of confluence and
differentiation, are what mark the vibrancy of the various
intellectual traditions flourishing here.

In terms of the interactions between the Intellectual traditions of
India, what remains relatively less highlighted in the dominant
discourse within the academia, are the confluences and
differentiations that have emerged in the conversation between the
‘great’ traditions and the ‘little’ traditions that have flourished
largely in the periphery of the main-land. These‘indigenous’ or
‘little’ traditions have their unique signatures and their diverse
contributions have made the mainstream what it is. There is a two-way
flow; one that marks the drawing from the mainstream by the ‘little’
traditions, and the other that marks the reverse process where the
unique and differentiated cultural forms (‘little’ traditions) have
become reflective of the great tradition. This whole process in the
Indian context has made pluri-cultural formations possible.

For instance, the Brahmaputra stream which is one of the
representatives of the traditions of the North-east is complex and
its intellectual knowledge domains are part of, and reflect upon, the
mainstream culture in their local adaptation and the rest remain
indigenous in their formation. Likewise, some of the traditions of
Assam and Manipur are clearly a part of the pan-Indian Bhakti
movement (eknamsaran of Sankardev’s Vaishnavism in Assam and
Vaishnavism in Manipur). Further, Assam is clearly a part of tantric
Buddhism along with its own homegrown Tantra culture.Arunachal has
been an ancient seat of Buddhism apart from its own ‘animistic’
traditions.The seminar seeks to highlight these aspects of
interactions and the ensuing redefining of the boundaries of the
engaging traditions.

Further, the Seminar also would seek to explore and understand the
influences of various other ‘reformatory movements’ upon these
‘little’ traditions of the North-east. For Instance, how did the
Ramkrishna and Vivekananda Missions, which are the oldest educational
missions in the states of Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh influence
the contours of the thriving traditions there?Or how did
Christianity, which came with the advent of colonialism in most of
the states of North-east, reshapes these traditions?

In view of the links the present seminar intends to have an in depth
and inclusive deliberation on Indian intellectual traditions with
reference to the Northeast. The seminar will have the following
sub-themes:

- Indian intellectual Traditions with reference to the Northeast:
  Localizing the mainstream
- Introduction of other Religions in North-east and its impact on the
  ‘indigenous’ religious practices in Northeast
- The impact of Folk Knowledge systems on the ‘Great’ Traditions.
- Ethnic knowledge domains (Traditional medicine and healing
  systems): Influences and impact
- Performing Arts in the Northeast: Influences and impact

Submissions

A limited number of participants will be invited for the Seminar at
EFLU Centre, Shillong. Those interested in participating should send
title and a synopsis (500-700 words) of the proposed paper along with
their C.V. to:

Professor Kailash C. Baral, Director
English and Foreign Languages University Shillong
Email: mail2ba...@gmail.com
 
Dr. Pravesh Jung Golay, Fellow
Indian Institute of Advanced Study
Email: iiasj...@gmail.com
 
Shri Kamal Sharma, Academic Resource Officer
Indian Institute of Advanced Study
Email: a...@iias.ac.in 

The last date of submission of title/synopsis of paper alongwith
abstract is 15 December 2015. Invitation letters to all participants
will be sent by 31 December 2015.

It is the policy of the Institute to publish the proceedings of the
seminars it organizes. Therefore, all invited participants will be
expected to submit complete papers to the Academic Resource Officer,
Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla – 171005 by 12 February
2015.

IIAS, Shimla and EFLU Shillong will be glad to extend you their
hospitality during the Seminar period and is willing to reimburse, if
required, your rail or air travel expense from your place of current
residence in India, or your port of arrival in India, and back.


Contact:

Shri Kamal Sharma, Academic Resource Officer
Indian Institute of Advanced Study
Rashtrapati Nivas
Shimla - 171005
India
Phone:  +91 177 2831385
Mobile: +91 94 18450024
Email: a...@iias.ac.in
Web:
http://iias.ac.in/event/intellectual-traditions-northeast-its-influences-and-impact




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