Centre for Comparative Literature University of Hyderabad Hyderabad, Telangana, India – 500046

A National Seminar

on Exploring the Self: Autobiography in the Indian Context 15-16 September, 2016 Concept Note Call for Papers:

  Next to short story, the genre of autobiography is an effective means in the literary and philosophical representation of lived experiences. Autobiographical tradition, writing about one’s life story, is a recent phenomenon in India though there existed self-narratives from the ancient period. Ardhkathanaka (1641) is said to be the first full-fledged Indian autobiography written by Banarasidas. The concept of an enlightened self was a late phenomenon. Indian autobiographies are complex in their forms and structures fraught with caste and cultural disparities. The genre of autobiography has unlimited boundaries which can be discovered in poem, fiction, drama, travelogue, etc. In fact, autobiographical expression is a source of truth, culture and history. It is the best source of reading personality and psychological development, gender and even subaltern experiences. Autobiographical writings can be discussed as personal narratives which represent the social and communal issues embedded with philosophic underpinnings. Making ‘self’ would reflect the ideological leanings of the autobiographer and his/her contemporary social environments as well. Though autobiography might not have been a traditional genre, it is an autonomous form of ‘self-writing’. It is a compatible genre for all sections of people to reflect on their different world views and to assert their uniqueness. Autobiographies of famous Indian personalities like M.K.Gandhi. Jawaharlal Nehru, Mulk Raj Anand, Nirad C. Chauduri A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, Boria Majumdar and Sachin Tendulkar have drawn the attention of researchers in India. Autobiographers narrate both private and public self. The autobiographies of dalits, tribals and other margins including women stand unique in their negotiation with the society. These marginalized classes started writing their self very late due to denial of education and freedom to them for centuries. Their narratives hold different world views in tune with the changing times in our social system. This national seminar is intended to explore socio-cultural and historical phenomenon discovered through individuals writing their ‘self’ through different stages of their life in a particular period of time. The seminar will focus on emergence of autobiography and its formation as an autonomous literary genre mirroring the contemporary private and public self of the autobiographer with his/her achievements and failures standing on the two sides of the same coin.

Sub-themes:              

Historicizing/Theorizing Autobiography Modes of Self-Writing: Autobiography and Personal Narratives Memoirs and Confessions Women’s Autobiographies: Dalit, Non-Dalit, Tribal, Minority and other Marginal Self Diverse Themes and Structures in Autobiography Autobiography as (autonomous) Genre Autobiography as Identity Politics Autobiography as Writing Selfhood Autobiography as Narrative Autobiography as Literature Autobiography as Socio-Cultural and Historical Document Shifting Priorities in Autobiographical Study Narrating Private and Public Self Autobiographical Criticism/Discourse Feminine Psyche in Writing the Self

Registration Details   Deadline for Submission of Abstracts: 25th August, 2016 – Confirmation: 28th August, 2016 Submission of Full Papers: 12th September, 2015 Registration Fee for Faculty: Rs.2000/For Student Scholars: Rs. 1500/(Only DDs payable at SBI Hyderabad, in favour of J.Bheemaiah, Seminar Coordinator, can be accepted) Note: Abstract(s) in about 300 words in Times New Roman font/12 can be sent to the seminar coordinator. Delegates’ Registration fee includes Seminar Kit, free accommodation and boarding in the university guest house. They would also be honoured with certificates in the valedictory session. No T.A will be reimbursed.

Contact No: 040-23133356 Mobile:

08184840171

Email ID: [email protected] [email protected]

(Dr. J.Bheemaiah, Seminar Coordinator) Centre for Comparative Literature, University of Hyderabad Hyderabad-500046, TS