ICSSR SEMINAR 2024 (ENGLISH): Thinking Dynamic Shifts: Religion and Gender in Representations of Northeast India Tetso College Dimapur, India, October 16-18, 2024 |
| Conference website | https://tetsocollege.org/englishseminar-2024/ |
| Poster | download |
| Abstract registration deadline | August 25, 2024 |
| Submission deadline | September 25, 2024 |
ABOUT THE SEMINAR:
Gender takes into account the behavioural, social, psychological, and cultural dimensions of an individual's identity as a man, woman, or other gender. Gender is a socially constructed concept encompassing roles, behaviors, and identities attributed to individuals based on their perceived sex. In North-East India, significant shifts have been occurring in the representations and perceptions on gender and religion in the media and literature of the region.
The North-Eastern region of India is the most complicated part of the country, which is also the home of numerous ethnic groups and communities with a diverse set of religious beliefs and hybrid religious beliefs. These melting pots of religious beliefs are often expressed in novels, poems, and films, apparently resulting in a body of work that is distinct from the rest of the country.
The statistics regarding the operational power of media in the North East is surprisingly impressive. Starting from the 164 year old heritage publication of Arunodoi in Assamese to the plethora of newspapers, periodicals, and other journalistic enterprises like the Meitie Leina (a magazine from Manipur), Nagaland Post and The Morung Express, Eastern Mirror (From Nagaland), Downlit Post (From Anurachal Pradesh) to name a few. The print media in the northeastern states has significantly contributed in delineating the political, cultural, religious and gender issues since its very inception. Theatrical performances like Shumang Kumhei, also known as Shumang Leela, a Meitie traditional form of theater performed open air, where male actors dressed as female and vice versa depending on which group is performing the act.
Electronic media, on the other hand, with the introduction of local TV channels like Indradhanu, Hornbill TV, NLTV Nagaland (Nagaland), TOM TV (Manipur)and the Manipuri Film Industry with films like langlen Thadoi, the first ever film produced by a Women in Manipur. Films like Lammei (2002), deals with the issue of rape. Also, films like Nana: A Tale of Us (2017), Aamis: The Ravening (2019), marks a remarkable impression on the status quo of gender issues and religious sentiments persisting in the Northeastern states.
Apart from visual media, Women writers like Temsüla Ao, Janice Pariat, Easterine Kire, Daribha Lyndem, and others, have tried to document the vanishing oral and folktales of the ethnic groups, their culture, religion, beliefs, and practices. Their writing voices the experiences of women fallen between the dual oppression of patriarchy and religion within their own society.
Redefining and representing religion and gender in literature and the media shows how different facets of society, like age, ethnicity, or gender—are portrayed to the people. The contrasts between male and female characters in books, short tales, and films are a common theme when discussing gender and religion in the media and in literary works. It looks at the "what" of redefinition and applies a gendered lens to analyze the behaviors and claims of representation in addition to the sex of the bodies. Upon examining the function of gender and religion in the media and literature, it becomes evident that news anchors, reporters, filmmakers, and literary authors adhere to patriarchal norms.
A more equitable recognition of heteroglossic voices and issues in gender and religious representation in North East India's literature and media can be achieved through improved definition and presentation. The revelations highlight how religious beliefs and practices may both empower and reinforce particular gender norms and frequently provide channels for gender expression.
The seminar aims to provide a platform for scholars and academicians to explore various facets of North-East India, with a specific focus on depiction of gender and religion in the context of media and literature. Papers are encouraged to investigate and critically analyze the narratives of religion and gender, shedding light on how they are portrayed by media and literature. The seminar seeks to initiate a robust discourse on the role of literature and media as mediums to showcase the intricacies of gender and religion in this region – whether viewed as a boon or a blessing.
SUBTHEMES:
• Folklore & Mythological Representations of Gender in the Narratives
• Traditional Beliefs and Gender Roles in the Media
• Relevance of Animistic Practices in Contemporary Religious Rituals
• Sacred Voices: Weaving SpiritualNarratives in the Literature & Media
• Exploring Religion and Divinity in literature & Media
• Media Portrayals of Religion and gender
• Socio-cultural & Gendered Violence
• Gender & Religion in Textile Narratives and Art of the Northeast
• Patriarchy in North-East Literature and Media
• Women’s Space in the Literature and Politics
• Resilience and Resistance: Women Navigating Marginalization.
• Diversity of Rituals and Practices within Ethnic Communities.
• Exploring the Supernatural in Narratives of the Northeast
• Deconstructing and Reconstructing Gender Identities in Narratives of the Northeast Exploring LGBTQI+ fluidity and spiritual expressions in Literature and media
• Necromancy, the Occult, and Incantations in Religions of the Northeast
• Goddesses and Matriarchs: Women as Sources of Strength and Wisdom in Narratives
• Influence of Religion on Political Narratives of Northeast India
SEMINAR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:
CONVENOR
Dr. Putchong Thai, Assistant Professor, English (+91 96124 03789)
ADVISORS
Dr. Rosy Tep HoD, English Member of BPGS (English) Nagaland University
Dr. Anjan K Behera, Acting Dean, IQAC Coordinator
Dr. Kahor Raleng, Assistant Professor, English
MEMBERS
Dr. Alik Roy, Assistant Professor, English
Hawaibam Loiyumba, Assistant Professor, English
Chibeni Merry, Assistant Professor, English
Senjumbeni K Jami, Assistant Professor, English
Chubamenla, Assistant Professor, English
Tenipumei Phom, Assistant Professor, English
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:
All papers must be original and not simultaneously submitted to another journal or conference. Authors must ensure that the papers are original works, have not been published, and are not currently under consideration for any other publication. They must warrant that their contribution does not infringe on any copyright or trademark rights of other authors.
1. Papers selected for presentation, and those selected for publication must sign a declaration confirming the same.
2. Authors are requested to follow the MLA 9th Edition style only. Just so you know, plagiarism will not be tolerated.
3. The Abstract should be within 300 words, including Keywords.
4. Full papers: 2500 - 3500 words (10-15 pages).
5. Abstract to be emailed to: englishdepartment@tetsocollege.org
6. Selected papers will be published in an ISBN anthology publication. Hard copy certificates will be provided to all paper presenters.
7. Names of both presenters will be mentioned on both copies of the certificates for joint paper presentations.
8. E-certificates will be given to all registered participants who attend all sessions.
9. As mandated by ICSSR, certificates will be awarded only to those presenters who submit their full papers.
INVITED SPEAKERS:
• Bano Megolhusau Haralu (Journalist & Senior Conservation Consultant)
Bano Megolhusau Haralu is an Indian journalist and a conservationist from Nagaland. She has previously worked as an editor for the Eastern Mirror, NDTV, and Doordarshan. In the year 2001, Haralu was awarded the Chameleon Devi Jain Award for Outstanding Women Mediapersonsand the highest civilian honour for women in India, Nari Shakti Puraskar, by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India, for her outstanding contribution towards the cause of women empowerment in 2016. She is currently working with communities to conserve critical tiger habitat regions in northeastern India as part of a wildlife conservation program. She also serves as the Project Lead for the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)-India and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)/Integrated Tiger Habitat Phase-II Project.
• Dr. Lakshmi Priya Daniel (Associate Professor, Dept. of Fine Arts, Stella Maris (Autonomous) College, Chennai)
Dr. Lakshmi Priya Daniel joined the Department of Fine Arts, Stella Maris (Autonomous) College,Chennai in 1996 as a faculty member. She is currently the Director of Stella Maris Centre for Human Resource Development (SMCHRD) and has also served in various capacities such as IQACCoordinator from 2019 to 2023 and as Dean of Student Affairs from 2014 to 2017 in Stella Maris College. She received her doctoral degree in 2013 from the University of Madras and her research focus has been on gender and Indian art. Lakshmi Priya has several honours to her credit including receiving the United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia (UBCHEA)fellowship 2018-19 as part of which she attended a ‘Leadership Development Program in July 2018 at Harvard Graduate School of Education, Harvard University, Massachusetts, USA and was also placed for two months in the University of Melbourne, Australia. Dr.Lakshmi is specialized in Gender Studies and Fine Arts and has an interest in Indian Art.
• Prof. Rakhee Kalita Moral (Dean, Faculty of Humanities, Languages, Literature & Linguistics, Cotton University, Guwahati)
Prof. Rakhee Kalita Moral is a Professor of English and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Languages, Literature and Linguistics at Cotton University. She is known for her work on women in conflict and Northeast India studies, and has published in various national, and international journals and books - At the Frontier and Beyond (Macmillan 2005), Gender and Society in Northeast India (Cotton Women’s Forum 2010), to name a few. Dr. Moral has been part of an international research consortium, Humanities Across Borders, and has been a visiting faculty with the Centre for the Study of Social Systems. Dr Moral is also closely engaged with the European Association for South Asia Studies (Bonn, Germany) and has most recently edited South Asian Review’s special issue on Northeast India’s Anglophone Literature, 2023(Taylor and Francis, UK). She also has been awarded WISCOMP’s (Women in Security, Conflict Management & Peace) national Saahas Prerna Award in 2020 for her work in gender equity interventions towards fostering gender justice in higher education campuses in Northeast Indi
DETAILS TO BE SUBMITTED ALONG WITH THE ABSTRACT
1. Abstracts: 300 words (must include Keywords)
2. Abstract Submission: 25th August, 2024 3.
Acceptance Notification: 30th August, 2024
4. Deadline for full paper Submission: 25th September, 2024
5. Full Paper: 2500 - 3500 words (10-15 pages)
6. Email ID for submission: englishdepartment@tetsocollege.org
7. Name:
8. Designation: (PhD Scholar, M.Phil, Assistant/Associate Professor, Independent Scholar, MA)
9. Contact Number:
10. Correspondence Address
CONTACT
CONVENOR
• Email ID: Department Of English
• Dr Putchong Thai Assistant Professor, Department Of English (+91 96124 03789)