Academics Dissect the Post-truth Phenomenon in the Two-day Conference at AMU
Aligarh : The Post-truth phenomenon in human civilizations and politico-literary theories related to it were deliberated upon in the two- day International Conference, organised by the Department of English, Aligarh Muslim University.
The Valedictory session was preceded by a series of lectures and panel discussions on the aspects of Post-truth(s) and its representation in contemporary literature and cinema by faculties from both within and outside the campus.
In his valedictory address, Prof. Shafey Kidwai, critic, translator and writer, gave a new direction to the conference discussion by bringing in the relationship of Pre-Fascism and Pre-Truth era. He emphasised on the significance of language and its role in making the reality that we live.
“How interpretation of reality is subjective and this very aspect has been exploited by the present day media to create a favourable environment for Post-truth. While the AI generated information system envelops us gradually, the contemporary situation moving towards an era will not need ‘news’ any more, which may be ‘beyond prints and poetry’”, Prof Kidwai pointed out.
The second day of the conference saw the issue of Post-truths in an interdisciplinary perspective with Dr. Raj Kumar, University of Delhi and Prof. Shah Alam Khan from AIMS, New Delhi, talking about the ramifications of Post-truth.
Prof. Raj Kumar brought a bright aspect of the Post-truth situation by his plenary lecture entitled “Dalit writings as truth speaking to power”. Leaving aside the pejorative connotations of the term, his paper tried to take the present time as an opportunity to write back to the Centre. “While a good reader may boast of loving Velutha with Rahel and Estha or pitying Lakha and Munnu, Dalit literature still has the sheen of a new and emerging area”, he said.
The audience was taken through an immersive history of Dalit writings while paying reverence to the path breaking role of revolutionaries like the Phule couple, Ambedkar, Toral Gajarwala, Bama and others in an inimitable heuristic manner.
Prof. Kumar asserted that writing can be a tool of gaining ‘dignity and self-respect’, while speaking out can help in ridding one of subalternity; “Caste is a state of mind, after all”.
Prof. Nadeem Ali Rezavi chaired the plenary session, further shedding light on the state of the Dalits known as Mehtar (better people) during the Mughal era. He said that the Muslim emperors, especially Akbar, gave a thought to them, as some of the monuments give evidence.
The day marked another riveting plenary lecture on the topic of “Post truth: Nothing is truer than truth” by Dr. Shah Alam Khan, a professor of Orthopaedics at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi.
A well- known writer and columnist, Prof. Alam initiated his talk by highlighting that perception is the biggest enemy of truth, and perception always remains stronger than truth. He interpreted Post-truth as “misinforming through rumour bombs that create a chain of lies and fake news”.
His talk focussed on literature and its significance at a time when ‘the centre cannot hold’. He mentioned the medical condition ‘Pseudologica Fantastica’ (the irresistible urge to lie), to capture different threads of Post-truth.
There was a comparison drawn by Dr. Alam between the Darwinian theory and truth. Prof. Alam also offered solutions- reading, deconstruction of meaning, distance from pseudo-science, and asked the audience to remain hopeful.
In all, 70 research papers from academics from 30 universities were read, in addition to four plenary sessions.
Professor Mohammad Asim Siddiqui, Chairperson, Dr. Kishwer Zafir, Coordinator, and Dr. Adiba Faiyaz, Co-coordinator thanked the participants and expressed satisfaction with the gains of the conference.