Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 20: A one-day national symposium on ” Indian Literature and the Narratives of Conflict Zones” was organized by Department of English , University of Jammu, in collaboration with Sahitya Akademi, here today in JU Auditorium.
The symposium was inaugurated by Prof Desh Bandhu , Dean Academic Affairs, JU, who said that literature has been influenced by all the ripples occurring in the society, conflict zones being one of them. “Conflict occurs when one is displaced from comfort zone, physically , socially or psychologically to the area one is not familiar with,” he said and narrated some stories by adding that the conflict zones do provide some good stories too.
Prof Malashree Lal , convener, English Advisory Board, Sahitya Akademi, in her introductory address, delineated upon various aspects of the symposium. “Literature of the conflict zones is a very traumatizing kind of study. In this age, borders and boundaries are stringently controlled what may be called as territorial authoritarianism,” she added.
Meera Khanna, a renowned writer, in her address, talked of narratives of conflict as a genre, competing narrative spaces and how does a reader navigate through these narratives. ” These narratives reflect that brutality which no historian writes about. conflict dehumanizes both State and non-state actors; literature humanizes both,” she added.
Earlier, Prof Sucheta Pathania , Head of the host department, threw light on topic of the symposium and English Department in J&K.
Santanu Gangopadhyaya, Assistant Editor, Sahitya Akademi, in his welcome address, said that current situation in Kashmir calls for urgency of this discourse. ” Writers capture the human response, both internal and external. Conflict these days has become cataclysmic ; a business for imperial powers,” he added.
Prof Satnam Kour, proposed the formal vote of thanks while Swati Vijay conducted proceedings of this session.
Later in the day, papers were presented during the technical sessions and the event concluded with a valedictory session.
Around 100 people participated in the seminar. Certificates were distributed among all the participants Those who were prominently present, include Danish Rana, IGP Jammu Zone, Prof Poonam Dhawan, Prof Ashok Kumar, Dr Ravinder Singh, Dr Sadaf Shah and Dr Garima Gupta.
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