DOIMUKH, Sep 14: A two-day long national seminar on ‘Decoding the New in New English Literature; Theory and Praxis’, organized by the Department of English, Rajiv Gandhi University, in association with ICSSR (NERC) in the University began here on Thursday.
On the inaugural day, Professor K C Bharal of EFLU, Hyderabad University explored the concept of ‘newness’ in English literary discourse and spoke about the essence of Indian literary tradition and folk literature that had always existed within as part of culture and universality of the human experience.
Professor K C Bharal in his address also emphasized the significance of transnational literature in contemporary times and the need for effective standardized translation of the literary works.
Padmashree Mamang Dai shared her views on freedom of writing and independent thinking. She urged the writers and scholars to not be overshadowed by the influence of preconceived notions of established English literature while writing. She also emphasized on promoting the scholarship towards Arunachal history and oral literature.
RGU Vice Chancellor, Professor Tamo Mibang spoke on the essence of literature as a medium of human thought and experience and also on the role of literature as inspiration for revolution.
Earlier, Assistant Professor, Department of English, Doyir Ete introduced the objective of the seminar and said that it aims at generating useful discussions on the literature based on social issues, historical circumstances, regionalism and communalism by negotiating the cultural and geographical specificities in local and global social conditions.
Participants from various colleges of the state, besides Tezpur University, NEHU, Hyderabad University, Gauhati University and RGU are participating in the two days national seminar.
