Indian National Seminar

in fond memory of
HERMANN HESSE


DYNAMICS OF REPRESENTATION:

Interface One

Contemporary Writing and the Arts ú
The Cultural Scenario of South India: Region, Literature and Culture

8-10, January, 2003, Trivandrum, Kerala

Jointly organized by
Indian Institute of Advanced Study
Rashtrapathi Nivas, Shimla
Centre for South Indian Studies
Gayathri, Kudappanakunnu, Trivandrum-695043, India


Topic of the Seminar:

Contemporary Writing and the Arts ú the Cultural Scenario of South India:
Region, Literature and Culture

Contemporary theoretical discourse has introduced into our cultural practice concepts such as center, margin/periphery, the postmodern, subversion, transgression, the subaltern and the like. These have in turn triggered new intellectual vibrancy into the general slackening of dynamics and direction that followed on the wake of the modernist movement of the sixties and the political radicalism of the seventies. There also exists simultaneously a transverse concern for new nationalism/ internationalism with its consequent ambivalent attitude towards the postcolonial western style modernization of society, state and the nation. How do our cultural practices respond to these? What is their present status/dynamis? Is there a need for the cultural idiom to be excessively concerned with theoretical issues? What is the role of critical theory and practice in the context of Indian literary and artistic representations? Is there a strong intellectual movement to subvert and turn the center-periphery model inside out? What has happened to the tentative attempts-- those probings and explorations towards a common Indian poetic/Aesthetic-- towards the retracing of regional ideology and narrative? The proposed Seminar would take up these issues also for debate by practicing artists, writers and critics.

There will also be Special sessions and invited presentations on Herman Hesse

You are cordially invited to participate in the seminar.

Local hospitality will be provided to all registered participants.

Trivandrum located at the southwestern tip of India which is the capital of Kerala, is bounded by the Arabian Sea on the west and Tamil Nadu on the east. The wooded highlands on the Western Ghats in the eastern and northeastern borders give the city some of the most enchanting picnic spots. A long shoreline, with internationally renowned beaches, historic monuments, backwater stretches and a rich cultural heritage make this City and places around it a much sought after tourist destination.

Organizing Committee: Conveners: Dr. S. Murali, Members: R. Raman Nair (91 471 2 730729

The Conference Office will function from 7-10, Jan 2002 at

Hotel Navaratna
Which is just a few steps from South East Gate of Government Secretariat and YMCA at Trivandrumú1. Telephones: 0471 331784, 330473-76, 333494. It is one Kilometer from Rail/Bus Station; 10 minutes drive from Airport.

Accomodation: Registered Outstation Participants will be provided boarding and lodging of ordinary teachers hostel type of rooms to be shared by two participants for the days of the seminar. Overstay if any will be at participants costs.

Special Registration: For those who Register before 7.2.2003 with an additional Rs. 750 along with Registration fee will be provided a Single Room Non AC accommodation for three days and for an additional Rs. 2500 AC Single Room Accommodation for three days at Hotel Navaratna itself subject to availability of rooms on first come firs serve basis

Participants will be free to register as Non-residential participants and arrange their own accommodation. Such accommodation can be arranged by the Centre at city hotels on advance payment. Request should reach the Centre not later than December 30th, 2002. The Tariff is for Type A: Rs. 1750- 5000, B: Rs. 1000- 1750, C:Rs. 0750-1000, D: Rs. 0500- 0750, E:Rs.0400- 0500, and F:Rs. 0300 ú0400. Please reserve your rooms directly in advance. For details please visit csis website

Indian Institute of Advanced Study set up by the Ministry of Education, Govt of India aims at free and creative enquiry into the fundamental themes and problems of life and thought. It is a residential Centre for research and encourages promotion of creative thought in areas which have deep human significance, and provides, an environment suitable for academic research, particularly in selected subjects in the Humanities, Indian Culture, Comparative Religion, Social and Natural Sciences and such other areas.

Centre for South Indian Studies is a not for profit organization with the mandate to pursue and strengthen inter-disciplinary research and studies relating to social, religious and cultural development of South India, and to promote interaction among persons, bodies and institutions engaged in Indological Studies.

The Seminar is dedicated to the memory of Herman Hesse, on whom Centre has initiated a programme under the Projects for Universal Brotherhood meant to popularize the literature, which reaffirm the eternally identical structure of the human soul in all peoples and all lands. An authentic translation of Siddhartha (1993), two volumes of Selected Stories in two volumes; Pullamkuzhal Swapnam (1994), Gertrudinu Snehapoorvam (1999) and translations of about forty stories, poems and essays of Hesse were published under the programme since 1980.

Address for Correspondence.

Director,
Centre for South Indian Studies
Gayathri, Kudappanakunnu,
Trivandrum ú695043, Kerala, India
Telephone: 0471-730729
e-mail: csistvm@yahoo.com
website: http:www.geocities.com/csistvm