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Call for Papers "Rethinking Religion in India II: Rethinking Secularism" International Conference Research Centre Vergelijkende Cultuurwetenschap, Ghent University Centre for the Study of Local Cultures, Kuvempu University Karnataka Academy of Social Sciences and Humanities (KASSH) New Dehli (India) 10-13 January 2009 __________________________________________________ The conference will explore one central question: Is it possible to say that the descriptions of the Indian culture and its traditions are the products of the Western experience of India? In the domain of religious studies, in postcolonial studies and in the field of comparative science of cultures, scholars have begun to argue that the questions and conceptual framework for the study of India and its religions are firmly embedded within the Western cultural history, namely within the theological framework of Christianity. How true is this? If true, what are the possible alternatives? This concern will be addressed by an elaboration of the following themes: 1. Reconceptualising Religion in India 2. Colonialism and Religion in India 3. Evolutionary Explanations of Religion 4. Indian Religion and the Aryan Immigration 5. Inter-religious Dialogue 6. Religious Conversion in India 7. Secularism and Tolerance in India 8. Western Representations of India 9. The Caste System and Indian Religion 10. Religious Pluralism and Rivalry in India Rethinking Religion in India II is the initiative of a group of intellectuals who think this clash between secularism and Hindutva is pernicious. Within the general aims of the five-year conference cluster, this conference intends to move beyond the framework which presents liberal secularism as the only possible solution to communal strife. Under the motto of "Rethinking Secularism," it will examine the limitations of the conceptual framework shared by Hindutva and secularism. Rethinking Religion in India II invites scholars and intellectuals for four days of reflection on questions such as: What if the Indian culture and its traditions cannot be characterized in terms of religion? What if communities in Indian society cannot be delineated according to religious identities? What if conflicts are neither religious strife nor communal violence? What if secularism and communalism are not opposites, but rather feed on each other? What if liberal secularism is the cause of communal conflict, rather than its antidote? The point of reflecting on these questions is not only to work towards a new understanding of the problem situation of secularism in India. The ambition is to identify the constraints of the western liberal paradigm of political theory, when it comes to religion. Therefore, both scholars of western political theory and scholars of Indian religion will be invited. To achieve the overall objective of developing a new paradigm for the study of religion in India, a conference format with distinct conference modules and recurring conference themes will be adopted. Each module will approach the ten themes and questions from different angles: (1) Platform sessions; (2) Roundtable sessions; (3) Parallel Paper sessions; (4) "How to...?" workshops. Platform Each year, there will be three plenary Platform sessions. These address one particular theme from Rethinking Religion in India. In the Rethinking Religion in India II, the Platform Sessions will consist of a one-on-one debate between representatives of these two positions. Both participants will have the opportunity to select a fellow advocate of their position, who can be requested to take over the task of developing a particular argument or countering an argument of the opponent, in the midst of the debate. Roundtable The Roundtable participants will consist of two groups: (1) an expert group of representatives from the opposing sides of a controversial debate in the religious studies will defend their respective standpoints in the form of a short presentation. (2) A group of respondents will challenge these different positions. The aim of the Roundtable is to generate fresh and novel questions. The main part of the session will be dedicated to discussions among the participants of the Roundtable, but there will be sufficient room for questions and reactions from the audience. Parallel Papers The Parallel Paper sessions provide young and promising scholars a place to actively participate in the conference, and to present and discuss innovative research results. The number of parallel paper sessions has been kept limited so as to ensure the possibility of focused and qualitative discussions. The Parallel Paper sessions form an integrated whole with the Platform and Roundtable sessions and a cross-fertilisation between the different modules will take place: On the one hand, these sessions prepare the grounds for the Platform and Roundtable sessions of the subsequent year. On the other hand, they also provide a space to to continue the discussions of the previous year and of the intermediary activities. "How to...?" workshops An overall remark that we heard during the first conference was that there were too few occasions for the audience to actively participate and respond. In order to allow the participation of a larger audience, while at the same time retaining our emphasis on focused discussions, we will introduce How to ? workshops. These workshops may also lead to policy recommendations. In the first year, we will have one workshop on the question How to teach about the Indian traditions? Moreover, along with a call for papers for the parallel paper sessions we will launch a call for workshop proposals, dealing with similar questions. Workshop proposals should explain why this workshop is relevant in India today and why it is important vis-à-vis the general objectives of the conference cluster. A call for proposals is invited for the: - Parallel Paper sessions: We invite submission of 300-word abstracts on the following themes: (1) Indian Religion and the Issue of Conversion; (2) The Caste System and Indian Religion; (3) Colonialism and Religion in India; (4) Religion and Law in India. Please not that only those abstracts that clearly address the outlined themes of the Parallel Paper sessions and their guiding questions will be taken into consideration. - "How to...?" workshop sessions: We invite proposals for workshop sessions that address a concrete question such as 'How to teach about the Indian religions and traditions?' Even though the aim of these sessions is to involve the audience in a more active way, the structure of these sessions is left open: the sessions could consist of presentations, a discussion among a group of experts on a theme, a discussion with the audience introduced and moderated by a chair. Workshop proposals should explain why this workshop is relevant in India today and why it is important vis-à-vis the general objectives of Rethinking Religion in India. They should also contain an outline of the planned structure of the session with the number and, if possible, the names of speakers, moderator and/or other participants. Deadline: 30 September 2008. For more information please visit the conference website: http://www.cultuurwetenschap.be/conferences/RRI/ Contact: Research Centre Vergelijkende Cultuurwetenschap Ghent University Complex Rommelaere Apotheekstraat 5 9000 Ghent Belgium Tel: +32 (0) 9 264 93 71 Fax: +32 (0) 9 264 94 83 Email: [email protected] [email protected] Web: http://www.cultuurwetenschap.be/conferences/RRI/ __________________________________________________ InterPhil List Administration: http://interphil.polylog.org Intercultural Philosophy Calendar: http://cal.polylog.org
