National Seminar

on

“Mass Media and Modern Indian Culture”

24th and 25th February, 2017

Organized by

UGC-sponsored -Department of English and Publication Committee,

North Lakhimpur College (Autonomous)

Khelmati, North Lakhimpur, Assam, in collaboration with North Lakhimpur Press Club.

There are a number of examples of mass media being financed and controlled by individual private enterprises or political parties. Because of the sheer amount of money filtered to these institutions by this affluent class with vested interest, they create programmes to suit their political motives and design their presentations in a way that catches the public eye. It is observed that these mass media institutions become subservient either to the propaganda of a particular political party or to the selfish motives of an influential individual/ individuals instead of catering to the idea of common good. As a corollary, the welfare of the many gets blurred by the profits of a few. Hopefully, this seminar will be effective in highlighting the ways in which the various sections of the society can contribute to change this status quo. The following issues will be specifically discussed in the seminar—

Themes of the Seminar:

-The role of mass media in the growth of civilization

-The impact of mass media on Indian culture

-Sociopolitical responsibility of mass media.

-Objectivity in mass media

-Political interest in mass media

-Competition in mass media and its impact

-The social and ethical responsibility of a journalist

-Post-Truth Politics and Social Media

-or any other related issue

Proposals / Papers submission:

Proposals for presentations, workshops and poster presentations in English, Hindi, and Assamese dealing with the sub-themes of the seminar mentioned in the post as well as any other related aspects are invited. The abstract should be about 300 words and 

please send it to massmedianlc@gmail.com

 The abstract in English may be prepared using MS-Word according to the following format:

Title of the paper : Bold – in the title format, Times New Roman Font-14.

Name of the author(s) : In Capital letters, Times New Roman Font - 12.

Address : Full address with email id and phone number should be given.

The abstracts in Hindi and Assamese may be prepared using similar fonts in Adobe Pagemaker.Abstracts will be published in the Seminar proceedings. Selected full papers are likely to be published with ISBN number separately. 

Last date of submission of abstract: 15-02-2017. 

Last date of submission of full paper: 20-02-2017. 

The full papers within 3000 words should be sent to massmedianlc@gmail.com .

-Dr. Sarat Kr. Doley

Dr. Arabinda Rajkhowa

International Conference on  

History, Culture and Identity: Australian Studies in India and Australia

4-5 February, 2017

Venue: Astor Hotel Conference Room, Kolkata

Extension of deadline for abstract submission: 31.12.2016

How are Culture, identity and history re-shaped or re-interrogated in a cosmopolitan and globalized world order? In a world dominated by global political economy and new challenges of hegemonic ascendancy, it seems difficult to accept monolithic formations of history, culture and identity. History is being continuously re-written in terms of the discovery of new regimes of locational or regional priorities. This in turn redefines the overarching frame of culture and identity. In other words, the epistemic variables of cultural, political and economic ideologies bring about new modes of articulation.

Since the 70s of the last century, there has been a gradual renewal of cross-cultural linkages between Australia and India, beginning with a gradual and unabated flow of Indian migrants to Australia. This leads to the formation of various Bengali/Gujrati/Punjabi cultural societies and even Bengali/Hindi language schools in Melbourne and Sydney. The Bengali Association of Victoria (BAV), based in Melbourne, is largely responsible for establishing a meaningful cultural relationship. Gujrati Societies or Punjabi Associations have also been established along similar lines. Specific programs such as Literary Commons! (Monash University) – which brings indigenous from both countries together through their storytelling – and TRAMJATRA (RMIT) - interlinking Melbourne-Calcutta tramways - may also be regarded as significant markers of this growing cultural relationship. In Australia, the Australian Government organized such events as Utsav Australia or Indian Art Exhibitions (Museum Victoria) from time to time, thereby continuing this trend of cultural exchange.

In Kolkata Book Fair, Australia was honoured as the “Guest of Honour Country” (2006) and the “Focus Country” (2007). Moreover, Australian Government’s decision to open Uranium sales to India has brought the two countries closer in defence and security sectors. On cultural and literary fronts, the role of Australia India Council has further negotiated the formation of new establishments in terms of cultural exchanges.

Such transactions have generated new perceptions of both countries, thereby recognizing commonalities and differences: commonalities in the context of regional proximity, British colonialism, participation in World Wars, shared linguistic legacy etc; and differences in terms of settler history, configurations of Aborigine or indigenous history, cultural clashes etc. Such commonalities and differences may help us to discover new discursive strategies to locate evolving patterns of history, culture and identity of two distinctive role players in the Asia Pacific region: Australia and India.

Themes

This international conference welcomes Australian and Indian scholars from across disciplines to disseminate their ideas on how Australia and India can build a greater understanding of each other in terms of historical, cultural and strategic relationships.

This conference will be supported by Monash University and Oxford University Press.

The conference will address, but not strictly limited to, the following issues:

HISTORY AND CULTURE

Dialogue of Cultures

Traces of Culture

Re-writing History

Race and Identity

War History

Sports

Tourism and Cultural Exchange

LITERATURE AND THE ARTS

Colonial/Postcolonial/ Contemporary Writers

Literature and Socio-cultural Activism

Aboriginal Literature

Literature and Films

Arts and Environment

Verbatim Theatre and Community Theatre

Diasporic Literature

POLITICS, FOREIGN POLICY AND LAW

Nationalism

Environment and Security

Judicial Activism

Federalism

Terrorism and Conflict Resolution

International Relations

Gender Issues

Human Rights

Land Rights, Property and Environment

Immigration and Citizenship

GLOBAL ECONOMY

Liberalisation and Economic Reforms

Economic Paradigms in Bilateral Relations

Trade Union Movement

Tourism

ENVIRONMENT

Biodiversity and Conservation

Ecotourism

Ecological Sustainability

Climate Change and Culture

PEDAGOGY AND PRAXIS

Teaching Australian Studies

Australian Studies: Syllabus Formation

Australian Studies: Research and Methodology

Teaching Asia in Australia

Abstracts may be emailed to Prof.Deb Narayan Bandyopadhyay: debnarayan@gmail.com

Secretary, 

Indian Association for the Study of Australia, Eastern Region

Registration Fees (international): 100 AUD

Registration Fees (Natioinal): 1500 INR

Registration Fees include conference kit, lunch, tea and refreshments during the conference.