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