Theme of the Conference

The ever expanding study of myth, orality and folklore encodes deeper understandings of the world order, including people’s relationships within the social set up, with nature, with metaphysical entities and of the cosmic order. Folklore and community literature suggest the way in which human mind, various relationships within and outside the society function. Apart from these, the study of myth, orality and community literature sheds light on the creation and evolution of life.

Writers world over have been drawn to the intriguing myths, folklore and community literature of their country. They have used and reinterpreted them in very many creative ways. In India, writers such as Aurobindo Ghosh, Rabindranath Tagore, Ramnath Shastri, A K Ramanujan, Baisnab Pani, Jayanta Mahapatra, Salman Rushdie, Kamala Das, Sitakant Mahapara, Vijay Tendulkar, Girish Karnad J. P. Das, Amitav Ghosh, Mahasweta Devi, to name just a few from our times, have drawn copiously from these sources. Similarly, in Britain, writers such as W B Yeats, T S Eliot, E M Forster, W H Auden, Iris Murdoch, D H Lawrence, William Golding, Ted Hughes; in the U S, well known authors such as Robert Graves, William Faulkner, Toni Morrison, Alice walker and others; in the African world, writers such as Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka and a host of others have interpreted and reinterpreted myths according to different needs of their times. The fertile terrain of interdisciplinary scholarship has added to the richness and diversity of oral/traditional genres, such as epic, ballad, and folktale. The primacy of the oral over the written text and/or the texts in other mediums, such as film, Internet, blog etc. problematizes this area of study in a special way.

The proposed seminar hopes to deliberate on various aspects of issues relevant to the study of myth, orality and community literature in the works of the writers of the world in all their diversity and complexity.

While the works of writers from all over the world will be discussed and debated in the Conference, the Indian iconic writer Rabindranath Tagore, author of the celebrated Lok Sahitya and numerous masterpieces of valuable community literature, music and art, will have a special focus. The Conference will focus primarily on the writers of the twentieth and the twenty first centuries, with special focus on the local and the regional writers, such as Ramnath Shastri’s use of farmland myths of Jammu in his monumental play Bawa Jitto and the Odiya poetic playwright Baisnab Pani’s dexterous use of the Ramayana and Mahabharata myths. Participants will have the opportunity of amplifying the scope of the subject and the critical discourse with reference to authors of their own nation, region and sub-region.

Abstract Submission:

Contributors may send a hard copy of abstract of about 500 words along with a soft copy and registration fee and form to the Seminar Coordinator latest by January 26, 2012. The soft copy of the abstract may be sent as an e mail attachment to : This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Please make the title of the abstract in bold capital letters in Times New Roman font of 12 size. The name(s) of the presenting authors should be underlined. The complete paper is expected to be submitted by Mar. 10, 2012.

Registration Fee

Plan A ( Local): Rs. 1250/- (Academics/Students/Scholars) includes Registration Fee, kit, snacks, lunch and transport facilities from Jammu to SMVDU during conference days.

Plan B ( Outstation): Rs. 2450/- / $25 USD (Academics/Students/Scholars) includes registration fee, kit, snacks, lunch, dinner, accommodation in University Guest House, pick up and drop facility from the Railway Station/Airport and transport facility to Katra for shrine visit after the Conference.

Spouse/Guest Registration

Participants coming along his/her spouse/guest will be required to pay a nominal charges of Rs.400 (extra) under Plan A; or Rs. 1800 (extra) per person under Plan B towards Registration Charges. The information about the participation of spouse/ guest is to be given well in advance if accommodation is required.

Mode of Payment:

The payment towards registration and accommodation may be sent through the demand draft of any Nationalised Bank drawn in favour of the Registrar, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University payable at Jammu, J&K or via electronic transfer to account no. 0477040100000023 in Jammu & Kashmir Bank { IFSC: JAKA0SMVDUN}. Oversees delegates can also remit by electronic transfer to account no. 0477040100000023 in Jammu and Kashmir bank by using the SWIFT code JAKAINBBSRJ.

Cheques / credit cards will not be accepted.

** Accommodation cannot be guaranteed to spot registered participants.

Registration From

Registration Form

IMPORTANT DATES & DEADLINES

ABSTRACT SUBMISSION : Jan. 26, 2012

ABSTRACT ACCEPTANCE : Jan. 30, 2012

EARLY REGISTRATION : Feb 20,, 2012 Fee: Rs. 1250 ( Plan A) Rs. 2450 (Plan B)

LATE REGISTRATION : Mar. 01, 2012 Fee: Rs. 1350 ( Plan A) Rs. 2550 ( Plan B)

On SPOT REGISTRATION : Mar 29, 2012 Fee: Rs. 1500 ( Plan A) Rs. 2700 ( Plan B)

ACCOMODATION REQUEST DEADLINE : March 10, 2012

**No T.A will be paid to the participants

GENERAL INFORMATION:

Climate: The average temperature (min-max) in Katra during the period of the Conference is about 25 -30 degrees celsius.

Special Attractions: Jammu - the Duggar land where the past still has a living presence is a land of grand ancient temples, and beautiful palaces. Known as a city of temples, Jammu has famous temples like temple of Goddess Kali and has emerged as a vibrant city of museums, malls and tourist spots like Mansar lake and is surrounded by enchanting hill stations like Patni Top located within an area of 100 kms. tow.

Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University is located on 470 acres of land in the lap of Trikuta Hills, the abode of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi in the serene and enchanting ambience. It is located 40 Kms. North of Jammu, overlooking Jammu Srinagar national highway and is easily accessible through road, rail and air routes.

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Organized by:-
School of Languages and Literature.