19th International Biennial Symposium on Literature and Culture in the Asia-Pacific region 26 -27 November, 2022
Aligarh: The Department of English, Aligarh Muslim University is on the way to become a premier global platform to discuss the alarming and emergent issue of climate change as it hosts the 19th International Biennial Symposium on Literature and Culture in the Asia-Pacific region on 26 -27 November, 2022. It goes with the topic – Literature and the Non-human: Abrogating the Anthropocene. The previous symposia in this series have been hosted by institutes of Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong and other flourishing places.
The present symposium is a two-day event in hybrid mode, seeing luminaries like the Jnanpith awarded author Amitav Ghosh, Prof. Dennis Haskell (Australia), Prof. Scott Slovic (University of Idaho, US), Dr. Annu Jalais (Krea University), Prof. Raj Dubey (University of Waterloo), Prof. Sara Tlili (University of Florida), Dr. Shiv Talwar (Canada) and many others. Around hundred faculty members, scholars, scientists, critics and artists from different parts of India and the world are joining together to discuss the various issues related to Climate change, causes and effects as portrayed directly and indirectly in literary and other art forms. The very topic of the event is stirring, questioning the present scenario and provoking thoughts. Humanities has always played a crucial role in every social change- ranging from local vendetta to global renaissance with innovative concepts and philosophies. The Department of English expresses allegiance to this belief of changing for the better. Prof. Sumana Roy, Prof. Savyasaachi and many other scholars associated with the particular area of literary environment studies are on the list of speakers.Based on the themes of the Symposium, the Raleigh Literary Society of the Department, is also organizing a story writing, poster making, spoken word poetry competitions.
Another interesting event during the symposium is the release of a book of poems by Professor Sami Rafiq. The book titled ” Woman in the Trees: Poems on Climate and Nature is voices ecological concerns of the poet.
The Convener, Prof. Sami Rafiq- a senior faculty, creative writer and translator, along with her efficient committee, is organising the entire event under the accomplished guidance of Chairperson, Prof. Mohammad Asim Siddiqui and Prof. Imtiaz Hasnain, Dean Faculty of Arts. Prof. Tariq Mansoor, the Vice Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University and the patron of the event has expressed great interest in the ongoing preparation.
So, expect the Faculty of Arts, AMU to be abuzz with various activities and discussions this weekend (26-27 November); dazzling as a trend setter for the coming times!