Three-day International Conference on Commonwealth Literature Osmania University Centre for International Programmes, Hyderabad Theme: Major Writers and Literary Movements: Exploring Last Three Decades of Globalization Three-day International Conference on Commonwealth Literature, 8-10 February 2018, Osmania University, Hyderabad “A room without books is like a body without soul.” (Cicero)
In today’s multicultural and multi-lingual society, the focus of literary studies has drastically changed. The focus has shifted to postcolonial theory, lesbian and homosexual writing, diaspora, ethnic studies and corporate fiction. In the last three decades, writers across the globe have enriched the literary scene by dealing with contemporary themes and issues. Some of these writers are Margaret Atwood, Peter Carey, David Malouf, J.M. Coetzee, Gunter Grass, Kazuo Ishiguro, Milan Kundera, Rohinton Mistry, Toni Morrison, Ben Okri, V.S. Naipaul, Michael Ondaatje, Zadie Smith and Ngugi wa Thiong’o. Today Indian English literature has registered a remarkable growth and many of our writers like Anita Desai, Bharati Mukherjee, Amitav Ghosh, Vikram Seth, Salman Rushdie and Jhumpa Lahiri have achieved international recognition. As Indian writing in English has come of age, it is time to examine where it stands in terms of other literatures in the world, and what are the reasons of its popularity.
Comparative Approach
Some of the books published during last three decades have made indelible impact on us. We now are the citizens of the world and can no longer afford to neglect the excellence of other literatures in the world. Just as national literature is the reflection of the national history, so is the world literature a by-product of comparative literature. We are glocal—both local and global. While comparing Indian writers/ movements with overseas writers/ movements, we are mainly concerned with relationships, resemblances and differences. Such an approach will give wider dimensions to the realm of contemporary literature. Humanities/ Social Sciences
The conference is both comparative and interdisciplinary in character. Literature is closely related to humanities and social sciences. Certain political and social movements have all-pervading influence on common people as also on literary milieu. A writer is essentially the conscience bearer and moral watchman of his people. The conference will therefore discuss, apart from literature, like Terrorism, Popular Culture, Human Rights, Feminism, in all spheres of knowledge. Papers are therefore invited from scholars in the disciplines of History, Political Science, Philosophy and Psychology, within the larger framework of the theme of the conference. Important Dates
Abstract Submission: 20 December 2017
Registration Fee: 10 January 2018
