DRAVIDIAN UNIVERSITY
Department of Folklore and Tribal Studies
SAARC
Region International Seminar
"Oral Epics of South Asia"
CALL FOR PAPERS
The
Department of Folklore and Tribal Studies is proud to announce that an
International Seminar is going to be organized during 24- 26th of July 2014. The
Primary theme and the title of the seminar is "Oral Epics of South
Asia".
Epics
in oral tradition are very much alive and vibrant in India in particular,
Indian Subcontinent in general. The epics are narrated by a system of Dependent
Castes to their right holding patron castes. This practice is very much in
vogue and many of the patron castes are patronizing their "begging sons"
or their own caste performers to propagate their own caste myth or the origin
narrative. This is very much prevalent in entire South India and also found in
other parts of India.
The
performance of the Epic is multi-faceted.
It could be the narrative of the origin of a caste or a social
community, it could be history of a God or Goddess, and it could be the
narrative of a region. It could be narrative of a classical war or the history
of a dynasty, it could be the narrative based on Ramayana or Mahabharata,
finally the epic narration is part of a big structure of a ritual. Many rituals
of village gods and goddesses cannot be completed without the narration of the
Oral Epic of that God or Goddess. The ritual narratives have a different
structure and nature compared to the epic that is narrated in a pure oral
context. The origin narrative is intended to attend to a social function. The ritual
epic narrations have different social and religious functions. As such the
narration of Epic is having multifaceted dynamisms and multi functions. The
live epic performances in South Asian Countries have social relevance and hold
a social control. The origin narratives have a control over the power structure
as the leaders claim social identity and a share in the power structure
depending on the arguments of the epics.
The
South Asian region is divided into many countries on political lines. The
concept of Indian Subcontinent is having a close relation with the South Asian
Region. Many countries make the structure in a common way. The cultural
landscape of the South Asian Region projects a picture of common culture in the
region through their time tested epics and the performances. The oral narration
of Ramayana, Mahabharata and the puppet theater knit the south Asian region
into one unit of culture. There are no boundaries for the travel of epics from
one country to another country in the South Asia and they do not need any
passport and visa. They paint a common landscape of culture with the performances
through various kinds of folk and classical performance traditions.
The
seminar for SAARC Region is intended to evaluate and make a deep study of the
existence and function of oral epics of the Region. Many epics other than
Ramayana and Mahabharata are still alive commonly in all the countries of
Indian Sub-Continent as well as the South Asian Region. The affect of caste
system is visible in epics and some of the castes of India have their existence
in other neighboring countries. Each social group of South Asian countries
irrespective of caste and tribe has its own origin narrativs. All such
narratives are epics in their structure and function. As such the Seminar is
intended to make a deep study on the social dynamics and performance dynamics
of the oral epics. The following sub themes are classified for the convenience
of the scholars working on various aspects of the oral epics of the region.
1. Origin
Narratives of various social groups in SAARC countries.
2. The
social dynamics of Caste Myths and the dependent caste system and its social
function.
3. The
pastoral epics of South Asia and their social relevance
4. The
epics of folk Gods and Goddesses and their social and ritual dynamics
5. The
performance traditions in folk tribal and classical landscapes where epics are
being performed.
6. The
multi-functional relations of epics and their performance traditions, the
analysis of various performance traditions.
7. The
'Epic Music' - an Ethno-Musicological study of epic performances.
8. The
epic of Ramayana in SAARC Region, a comparative approach.
9. The
episodes of Mahabharatha in oral tradition in SAARC region, a comparative
approach.
10. Any
other aspect of study on oral epics in SAARC region.
The
time structure, given below is strictly followed till the conclusion of the
seminar:
1.
Last date for the receipt of Abstracts: April
30.
2.
Intimation to the selected candidates May
6
3.
Receipt of full length papers and Registration May
30th.
The
Registration fee for Indians is Rs. 500/- candidates of other countries US $
50/-
The
Registration fee may be paid through a demand draft of any national bank
payable at Kuppam, India 517426.
The
candidates are requested to strictly follow the above time schedule. It is very
much necessary even for the local and our own University Participants. Beyond
May 30th no full length paper and registration would be entertained. A book of
the proceedings (papers) would be prepared and issued in the inauguration of
the seminar, hence the last date cannot be violated. In case some participants
may not be able to attend the seminar even after sending the abstract and the
full length paper on time. Such scholars are requested to intimate their
inability at least two weeks in advance. This is needed to enable the
management to accommodate another person in the vacant berth.
Dravidian
University:
The
hosting institute, the Dravidian University has been established in the year
1997 with the prime objective of an advanced study of Dravidian languages,
literatures, history, Archaeology, Culture, Folklore Tribal-lore, Classical and
Folk performance traditions. It is intended to become an ultimate resource
Centre for Dravidology and Indic Studies. It's
another important goal is to achieve the emotional integrity among various
social groups of India by making its studies with a multipronged strategy.
The
Dravidian University campus, its hilly landscapes, the sylvan woods, flora and fauna
in the month of July would be a visual treat to the participating guests. You
would enjoy a pleasant atmosphere and no need for special warming or cooling
cloths.
The Department of
Folklore and Tribal Studies:
The
Department is established in September 2003 and became fully functional from
the academic year 2003-04. It is a full-fledged department, intended to make an
advanced study of folklore and tribal lore of Dravidian Languages. A
comparative approach in studies of folk expressive genres of South Indian
languages including tribal is the combining thread of all our research
activities, teachings and Projects. The faculty are recruited, keeping the
multidisciplinary nature of the subject in view. Scholars from various
Dravidian languages and various disciplines are drawn into the Department. The
Department organized many seminars, workshops, on folk and tribal lore, festivals
and successfully completed many research projects and published books. Research
Scholars are working for M. Phil and Ph. D in various subjects.
The
Seminar place, Kuppam is a small town located in a trilingual and three state
junction and well connected by rail and road. It is in the midst of Bangalore
Chennai train route and the nearest airport is at Bangalore, 130 K.M away and
it is one and half hour journey from Bangalore on train. Feel free to contact
the under signed for any query or information.
The
finally selected Indian participants would be reimbursed with 2 A.C Train fare
on production of copies of the tickets. University would provide accommodation
and hospitality in the University Guest House and local transport at free of
cost to all the delegates.
The
Department extends a warm welcome to all the participants in and out of the
country and we again request you to take note and remember the seminar
schedule.
Thank you very much.
Prof.
P. Subbachary Dr.
M.N. Venkatesha
Organizing
Secretary and Chairman BOS Seminar Director and
Head i/c of the Department
psubbachary@gmail.com
91-9440493604 mnvkuppam@gmail.com 91-7382753182
Dr.
K. Shyamala Dr. T. Maneppa
Coordinator,
Assistant Professor. Additional Coordinator, Assistant professor
shyamala.du@gmail.com 91-9440078163,
91-966010326
91-9440926992
