The Department of Humanities and Social Sciences
Indian Institute of Technology Madras
Presents
International Seminar & Workshop on Anglo-Indian Studies
(4-5 August 2017)
Theme:
“Midnight’s Orphans”:
Problematising the Postcolonial in the Telling of Anglo-Indian (Hi)stories
The compelling contrast between the ‘Midnight’s Children’ and the ‘Midnight’s Orphans’ has been used in multiple contexts to highlight what/who have been left behind/left out in the Postcolonial scenario. Pertinent questions in this regard have already been asked and continue to be asked in studies related to literature, culture, gender and society. This seminar cum workshop is an attempt to locate the scholarship on the Anglo-Indian community within the broad canvass of Postcolonial Studies thereby allowing an interdisciplinary and transnational approach towards the understanding of the Anglo-Indian in India and the diaspora. This is particularly significant in the contemporary period when Anglo-Indians are variously identified as, on the one hand, victims of the postcolonial condition, and on the other, as the ‘first modern Indians’ (Sealy 2007) and well positioned to take advantage of their considerable capitals, including their English language competency and access to excellent education.
The idea for this workshop originated with the realization that the Anglo-Indians and their stories need to be re-looked at from a more nuanced perspective that is not restricted to particular disciplines, genres and theories. This seminar cum workshop provides a forum for discussion relevant to the Anglo-Indian situation, informed by other relevant scholarship on marginal as well as local histories. The World Anglo-Indian Day that falls on 2 August gives an appropriate context to foreground these discussions.
Call for Papers
To collaborate with this academic initiative, we invite original research papers that are focused on Anglo-Indian studies from disciplines such as Literature, History, Anthropology, Sociology, Culture Studies and Film/Media Studies. However, we are also happy to include papers that are based on a broad range of questions and research around the following themes:
- The representation of Anglo-Indian community in films/literature/popular culture/media
- The (In)visibility of the Anglo-Indians in nationalist histories in India and the diaspora
- Home and belonging: Contested spaces, territories, identities
- The Politics of representation: in historic and contemporary times
- The relevance of transnational histories
- Writing history/histories from the margins
- Identity politics: in India and the diaspora
- Researching a community: Challenges and Crises
Key Speakers and Resource Persons
- Irwin Allan Sealy, writer
- Dr. Robyn Andrews, Massey University, New Zealand & Editor, IJAIS
- Dr. Dolores Chew, Marianopolis, Montreal, Canada
- Dr. Anjali Gera Roy, IIT Kharagpur, India
- Fr. Brent Otto, UC Berkeley, USA and Editor, IJAIS
- Mr. Harry MacLure, Anglo-Ink, Chennai & Editor, Anglos In the Wind
Venue and timings
4 Aug 2017
Hall 3, IC&SR building, IIT Madras
9.30 am to 4:30 pm
5 Aug 2017
Exhibition Hall, IC&SR building, IIT Madras
9.30 am to 12.30 pm
Important Dates:
- The deadline for sending abstracts (350 words) to merin@iitm.ac.in and R.Andrews@massey.ac.nz is 25 June 2017.
- The selected presenters will be notified by 30 June 2017 and are expected to confirm their participation before 3 July 2017.
Special Invitation
The selected participants are invited to a special screening of the documentary film The Anglo-Indians of Madras (Dir. Harry MacLure, Anglo-Ink, Chennai).
Date and time: 3rd August 2017, at 4.30 pm.
Venue: IC&SR Auditorium, IIT Madras
Presentation of Research Work
- The participants will be invited to make a 20-minute presentation of their research.
- Selected papers will be included in an edited volume to be published by Springer. The details will be provided after the Seminar.
- The presentations and proceedings will be video recorded and included in the Digital Archive on Anglo-Indian Studies hosted by IIT Madras.
Registration:
- The participants are required to register for the event before 10 July 2017. Further details will be made available after 30 June 2017.
- The registration fee of Rs.1000 (INR) could be paid at the venue on 4 August 2017.
Accommodation:
- Accommodation for Research scholars can be arranged in the student hostels within the campus (an early intimation is appreciated to ensure availability)
- The rooms in the Institute Guest House may also be made available on payment basis (subject to availability)
Requests for accommodation should be sent to merin@iitm.ac.in before 3 July 2017.
Dr. Merin Simi Raj
Assistant Professor
Dept. of Humanities and Social Sciences
IIT Madras, Chennai
India