CALL FOR PAPERS
The Department of English, Holy Cross College, Agartala, Tripura, is organizing a two-day International Seminar on the theme “Representing the Self: Addressing Issues of Ethnicity and Identity across domains” from 9th – 10th of November , 2017.
We cordially invite faculty members, research scholars and academicians across the world to participate and present papers in the conference, which will explore a wide variety of topics related to ethnicity and identity. The standard papers of the seminar will be considered for publication in the form of a book. The theme of the seminar as well as the diverse sub-themes is illustrated below, for further reference.
Concept Note:
Literature, language and society play a vital role in constructing, expressing and sustaining our identities in the world around us. Even culture and music has an essential role in supporting the identity that we build either by our endeavors or the one we acquire by inheritance. However, people, often, feel the need to confirm, and sometimes re-confirm, this identity of theirs, over time. Affirmation and authentication of identity becomes mandatory to validate their familial, social, ethnic and also cultural heritage – their legacy, on which the individuals not only have their birthright but they are also proud of. The issues of endorsing identities arise when people, either voluntarily or is forced to, migrate from one country to the other or from one region to the other; are physically separated from their native land and indigenous people; come in contact with other communities - their customs, traditions and language. Such instances are very much evident in post-colonial societies, in post-independent countries, in immigrants, in regional and linguistic conflicts, in the race of asserting superiority over neighboring or connected communities, and so on. Even language vitally contributes to the social and psychological development of ethnic identity. Diasporic identities, too, depends on the common language of communication in the society. Therefore, as social creatures, declaration and assurance of people’s ethnic and socio-cultural identities is one of the urgent and much attended to concern today, not only at the social level but also in research and studies. It is a thought that adheres to the existence of every particular individual and an awareness that needs to be created in every member of the upcoming generation.
It is our identity that constitutes our sense of ‘self’ – who we are – that reflects our ethnicity and enable us relate with others. ‘Ethnicity’ functions as a tool for asserting our identity – which leads to the search for ‘the self’. Therefore, it is interesting to examine the evolution as well as the maintenance of identity across diverse domains and spheres in our society. The seminar will thus, provide a platform to question, examine and explore how identity and ethnicity stands centrally positioned to our sense of ‘ourselves’.
Sub-themes:
1. Identity crisis
2. Diasporic literature
3. Gender identities
4. Ethnicity in northeast literature
5. Post- colonial literature and ethnic identity
6. Afro-American literature and ethnic identity
7. Intercultural and cross-cultural studies
8. The position of local languages in global culture
9. Indigenous culture and language preservation
10. Language teaching in ethnic groups
11. Education and indigenous communities
12. Films, media and ethnic identity
13. Music and ethnic connections
14. Language and construction of ethnic identity
15. Insurgency and threat to loss of ethnicity
Guidelines for submission of Abstract and Full papers:
1. The abstract as well as full papers must be composed in MS Word, Times New Roman, 12 pt. font, with a line spacing of 1.5 inch, in A4 size format.
2. The abstract should be accompanied by at least 3 keywords.
3. The length of the abstract should not exceed more than 300 words.
4. The APA style of referencing should be used.
5. Biography of the author(s): The name(s), designation, correspondence address, contact number, email id of the author(s) should be mentioned at the end of the abstract.
6. An author / person can submit a maximum of one single paper and one joint paper.
Deadlines:
a. Last date for submission of Abstract: 1st of October, 2017
b. Notification of the acceptance of Abstract: 10th of October, 2017
c. Last date for submission of Full Paper: 30th of October, 2017
The Abstract as well as the full paper must be sent to the email id: hcc.englishdept@gmail.com
Publications:
This is to inform the interested paper presenters that the standard papers, presented in this seminar, will be considered for publication in the form of a book.
Registration details:
1. All paper presenters and participants will have to register themselves.
2. There will be spot registration.
3. Only the registered paper presenters and participants will be entitled for certificates, lunch and seminar kits.
4. In case of joint authors, both paper presenters will have to register separately.
5. Accommodation for outstation paper presenters will be provided.
6. Registration fee per paper presenter: Rs 600/- only.
Contact Details
Ms. Moumita Dey:
Convener of the Seminar & HoD, dept. of English,
Holy Cross College, Agartala,
Tripura, India.
Mob:8794938820.
