International Conference on Post-Truth to begin on November 28
ALIGARH : The Department of English, Aligarh Muslim University is organizing an international Conference this week entitled Post-truth(s): Representations in Contemporary Literature and Cinema, scheduled for 28-29 November, 2023. The Conference is meant to take up the crucial issues of alternative truths, eclipsed facts, information bias, misinformation, motivated reasoning and manufactured news. Who knew that a careless to deliberate burial of truth could give into such Frankensteinian off springs of untruth- pushing us to the Post-truth era! An era which is marred by endangered facts, fake news, empty signifiers and emotive politics; in which one can’t rely on the ingredients of the first cup of tea-coffee to the promises of the President of a nation, as every information is camouflaged or manipulated. ‘Knowledge’ remains ‘power’ and it is played upon by the avarice of the corporates and ruling powers. In spite of Enlightenment, Modernisation, science and technology development, how did we get to this level of a forgery-stricken world? How did we reach to this situation which resembles to aspects of Neitzschean scepticism and Kafkaesque cynicism?
Aligarh Muslim University has always taken pride in its critical ability which began with the very founder of the university, Sir Syed A. Khan; he wrote vehemently against the prevalent wrong notions during his times. This Conference, thus, keeps up with the legacy of knowledge and scholarship in many ways.
The department has already seen four successful conferences during 2022-23, assembling academics and scholars from around the world to deliberate upon emergent themes of Climate change, Indian poetry, global significance of English teaching and celebration of Modern English writings.
Dr. Rakhshanda Jalil- a renowned literary historian, translator and writer is the Keynote speaker. The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mohammad Gulrez and Prof. Nisar Ahmad along with the Dean Faculty of Arts, Prof. Arif Nazir, Chairperson Prof. Asim Siddiqui will address the inaugural session. Dr. Kishwer Zafir is the Convener of the Conference, assisted by a group of faculty and research scholars to organise this important event. Eminent faculty members like Prof. Raj Kumar from Delhi University, Prof. A. R. Kidwai, Prof. S. Nadeem Rezavi, Prof. Sami Rafiq, Prof. Samina Khan, Mr. Anuj Kumar- a distinguished film critic and many others are in the list of speakers. Academics, journalists, researchers and scholars from various universities are participating in the discussions over the two days. The Inaugural session is going to see the launch of two significant books too: English translation of a monograph on Qurratulain Haider by Prof Mohammad Asim Siddiqui and English translation of Premchand’s play “Karbala” by Dr. Haris Qadeer and Professor Sami Rafiq, both books published by Sahitya Akademi( 2023).
Three speakers – Prof. Asmer Beg, Prof. Mohammad Sajjad, Prof. Aysha Munira delivered intriguing Pre-Conference lectures on different aspects of the Post-truth phenomenon during 22nd to 25th November under the aegis of the Raleigh Literary Society.
As they say that anticipation is half the joy of achievement. The Conference Committee and the Chairperson are delighted to welcome the attendees and the participants.