Date: Thu, 17 May 2001 17:09:25 +0530
From: jaidka <vjaidka-AT-sancharnet.in>
Subject: MELUS-India Conference, Jan 2002


Please post:


MELUS-INDIA
(the Society for the Study of the Multi-Ethnic Literature of the United
States ^Ö India Chapter)


CONFERENCE CALL

MELUS-India International Conference
at the
 Indo-American Centre for International Studies, Hyderabad, India

January 3-5, 2002


THEME: POLITICS OF LOCATION IN LITERATURES OF THE AMERICAS


CONFERENCE CALL
Theme: POLITICS OF LOCATION IN LITERATURES OF THE AMERICAS


In the past two decades the politics of location has repositioned and
reconfigured literatures in the American continent. It has generated
controversies, redefining the American canon in binary opposition and
sometimes paradoxical terms ^Ö such as American solidarity and
multiculturalism, globalization and Diasporic ties ^Ö and has given rise
to narrower special group associations based on sexual preferences,
ethnic loyalties and religion. Understandably this has started a culture
war where each side tries to relocate its literature from the literary
margins into the center, thereby displacing the center. Obsession with
reconstitution of identities and redefinition of location has changed
the way we understand the literatures of both the Americas today.
Political-ethical differences have created a rupture in human ^Óhorizons^Ô
that make cross-ethnic, cross-gender, cross-regional reconciliation more
difficult than before (since Nietzsche, ^Óhorizon^Ô has become a central
philosophic concept and a metaphor for what is forever receding, but
nevertheless orients human thinking). Issues relating to racism,
exclusion, violence, the power of language, unalterable hierarchies and
remapping borders, alterity and appropriation not only define the
politics of location but also the metaphysics of presence.

The theme of the Conference: POLITICS OF LOCATION IN LITERATURES OF THE
AMERICAS calls for a broadening of our ^Óhorizons^Ô and the need for
strengthening inter-disciplinary studies. With this thought in mind we
propose to have discussion panels on the intellectual histories of the
Americas, media studies, law and society, popular culture, gender
issues, border/frontier politics, race, identity and alterity.  The
primary focus will continue to be on literatures of the United States.
There will also be a special panel to draw attention to comparatist
studies of Indian literatures, thereby expanding and redefining the
scope of American Studies in India.

Abstracts on the above and related subjects, not exceeding 250 words,
are invited from all interested participants.
Deadline for abstracts is May 15, 2001 (somewhat flexible)
Deadline for completed papers (2500 words approximately) will be October
1, 2001.

Abstracts may be e-mailed (not as attachment but as part of the text)
to:
Mukesh Williams at kk000004-AT-s.soka.ac.jp
with a copy to
Manju Jaidka at vjaidka-AT-sancharnet.in

and by regular mail to:
Dr Manju Jaidka
Dept of English
Panjab University
Chandigarh 160014
(ph/fax: 91-172-541975 ^Ö please note the change)

If you don^Òt get an acknowledgement of your abstract immediately (by
email) or within 2 weeks (by regular mail) follow it up with a letter,
phone call or email.


AS WE CONTINUE TO OPERATE ON A SHOE-STRING BUDGET, PARTICIPANTS WILL BE
EXPECTED TO TRAVEL ON THEIR OWN EXPENSE.  IN ADDITION THERE WILL BE A
DELEGATE FEE TO TAKE CARE OF HOSPITALITY.

DELEGATES FROM INDIA, PLEASE NOTE:
Enrollments (April 2000 to March 2002) are on.
Some of you have not renewed your subscription.  Please do so at the
earliest.
You need to be a member in order to participate in the Conference.
Membership fee may be sent by bank draft only, payable to MELUS-India at
Chandigarh. This may be sent (with your name, mailing address and areas
of interest) by registered post to: Dr Anil Raina, (Treasurer,
MELUS-India), Reader, Dept of English, Panjab University, Chandigarh -
160014.

The fee for New Members is Rs. 200.
For Old Members/Renewals, the fee is Rs. 150.

DELEGATES FROM ABROAD do not need to enroll at this point  [We will
adjust your dues when you come for the conference.]


President:
Dr. Manju Jaidka (Chandigarh)
Vice-President:
Dr. R.K. Dhawan (New Delhi)

Conference Committee:
Dr. Mukesh Williams (New Delhi)
Dr. Dipankar Purukayasta (Silchar)
Dr. Anil Raina (Chandigarh)
Dr. Vijay Sharma (New Delhi)
Dr. Sachidananda Mohanty (Hyderabad)
Dr. Somdatta Mandal (Calcutta)


International Advisers:
Prof. Amritjit Singh, Providence, RI, USA
Prof. Bonnie TuSmith, MELUS, USA
Prof. Avis Payne, MELUS, USA
Prof. Richard Cohen, IACIS, Hyderabad

Patrons:
         Prof. Isaac Sequeira (Hyderabad)
         Prof. E. Nageswara Rao (Hyderabad)

[MELUS-India was founded in 1997, as the India Chapter of MELUS, the
Society for the Study of the Multi-Ethnic Literature of the USA.  An
international chain, MELUS is the outcome of a collective desire of
students and scholars of American Literature to form a global network
for mutual interaction.  One of its important aims is to encourage the
pursuit of art and literature from de-centered perspectives.
MELUS-India, after MELUS-Europe, is the second MELUS Chapter set up
outside the USA.  After succesfully organizing the Founding Conference
in October 1998, and an International Conference in January 2000,
MELUS-India is now ready to hold another International Conference at
Hyderabad in January 2002.]








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