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Call for Papers "Contemporarizing Tagore and the World" International Conference Department of International Relations, University of Dhaka Academy of Third World Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia Visva Bharati University Dhaka (Bangladesh) 29 April - 1 May 2011 __________________________________________________ Two countries in the South Asia region, Bangladesh and India, are jointly going to organize International Conference on the theme “Contemporarizing Tagore and the World” to celebrating the 150th Birth Anniversary of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore. Tagore is known the world over as one of the greatest poets of all time. His reputation outside India, particularly in Europe and Latin America, is based on ‘Gitanjali’, the book of verse which won him the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913. Location /Arrangement The entire Conference is a joint Indo-Bangladesh venture. The conference will be held at Dhaka, Bangladesh on 29 April-1 May, 2011. The conference is jointly organized by the Visva Bharati University, Santiniketan (West Bengal) and the University of Dhaka (International Relations Department), Bangladesh, who has a formal arrangement for academic collaboration with Jamia Millia Islamia (Academy of Third World Studies), New Delhi. Conference Topic: Under the broad theme of “Contemporarizing Tagore and the World”, the discussions may focus on the following sub-themes: A. Nationalism, Internationalism and Cosmopolitanism Tagore dreaded the nationalism sweeping across Europe and raising its ugly head in Japan during his days. He was among the few who spoke out with an uncompromising stand against fascism. This could not but bring in its wake large scale sufferings, destruction and devastation. His well known essay on nationalism, including fascism, graphically brings out the ominous implications of these ideological pursuits. During his visit to Japan, he frontally opposed the rising tide of nationalism in that country. In the context of the independence movement in India, he expressed his apprehensions regarding the aggressiveness, xenophobia and hatred to which excessive fervour of nationalism and patriotism could degenerate. At the same time, he was fully dedicated to the cause of India’s freedom movement. At each critical moment of this movement, he was solidly behind the people whom he inspired through his ideas, songs and personal acts of courage like the surrender of his title of knighthood in 1919 after the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. He advocated for an internationalism which included sharing of knowledge and learning and free exchange of ideas across nations. His vision of international solidarity needs to be revived at a time when the “realist” school of thinking is dominating actions of major powers in the world and morality as a basis of international governance has all but disappeared. In this context, the conference may also reflect on Tagore’s understanding of the state and society. B. Crisis in Modern Civilization The point of departure for discussion of this theme could be the lecture he delivered on his 80th birthday under the same title. This could include discussion of unilateral resort to force, genocide, transnational violence perpetrated by organised groups of terrorists, domestic violence rooted in inequality and injustice, arms race and decline of institutions originally designed to free mankind from the scourge of war and provide collective and cooperative security. So perspicacious was his critique of ‘modern civilization’ that E.P Thompson went on introducing him as a ‘post-modern thinker’ (Tagore, Nationalism, 1992 edition). C. Tagore’s Humanism: Life, Gender and Religion: Human unity and equality is a recurrent theme of Tagore’s writings. It has found the finest expression in numerous poems of Gitanjali. It is also reflected in conversation with Einstein, a report on which was published in the New York Times in 1930 and his debate with Gandhiji. Tagore was particularly concerned about issues related to the emancipation of women, religious tolerance and a holistic approach to life and happiness. His views were deeply influenced by the mystic traditions, including Sufism. D. Education and Creativity Tagore came to this theme again and again in his writings and speeches. He made his own contribution to the spread of education by establishing an open-air school in 1901 at Santiniketan (where his father had founded an ashram in 1863), and through his writings for children which include a very popular and celebrated text book for children for learning Bengali. During his visit to Russia, what impressed him most was the expansion of basic education in the country. In his letters from Russia written originally in Bengali and published in 1931, he brings out the sharp and sad contrast between the efforts of the Russian authorities to expand education and the acquiescence of the British Administration with widespread illiteracy in India. Tagore was concerned with the problems of both access as well as the quality of education. His concern about wrong pedagogy is reflected in his description of the prevalent method of teaching as “pelting hailstones on flowers”. Tagore’s ideas on education are worth reflecting on for their contemporaneity, particularly for the youth. E. Alternative Development Strategies Tagore experimented and wrote on rural reconstruction and development, water conservation and living in harmony with nature, including promoting mud-housing and alternative architecture. Next to education, what impressed him most during his visit to Russia was the way the farmers had organized themselves to manage governance at the local level. Tagore had deep interest in the environment. He was particularly concerned about deforestation and initiated a “Festival of Tree Planting” as far back as 1928. He would have liked increased and more extensive public and private commitment to improving the environment, without sacrificing in the process, the benefits of modern industry and technology. Submissions The paper presenters will get the opportunity to generate discussions among a larger group of people familiar with Tagore and his works. Eminent as well as mid and junior level scholars, policymakers, and art and cultural activists all over the world are mainly encouraged to submit their abstracts. The finalized papers will be published in the form of a scholarly volume. The abstracts should be submitted in Word format. All authors' details must be printed on a separate sheet. A title of no more than eight to ten words should be provided. The words limit for abstract: 500 (words) Abstract Submissions should be sent by 15 January, 2011 via email to: Professor Imtiaz Ahmed, Co-chairman Department of International Relations University of Dhaka Dhaka-1000 Bangladesh Phone: +880-2-9661900-59, ext. 6550; +880-1713-001400 Fax: +880-2-8615583 Email: [email protected] Professor Muchkund Dubey, Co-chairman Council for Social Development Sangha Rachana 53, Lodi Estate New Delhi -110003 India Phone: +91-011-24615383, 24611700, 24692655 Fax: +91-011-2461606 Email: [email protected] Mohammad Atique Rahman, Programme Manager Department of International Relations University of Dhaka Phone: +880-02-9661900-73/6555 Fax: +880-02-8615583 Email: [email protected] Conference website: http://www.duir.ac.bd __________________________________________________ InterPhil List Administration: http://interphil.polylog.org Intercultural Philosophy Calendar: http://cal.polylog.org __________________________________________________
