4th International Conference of the Indian Association for South Asian Studies (IASAS)
Subalterns in South Asia
21-22 June, 2024
Announcement:
Type: Call for Panels/ Papers
Date: 21-22 June, 2024
Location: Bhubaneswar, Odisha
India
Venue: Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
Organizer: Centre for Alternative Studies in Social Sciences (CASSS), New
Delhi
Partner: Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha,
India
We are accepting abstracts for the Indian Association for South Asian Studies
(IASAS) International Conference, which will take place at Kalinga Institute of
Industrial Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha from June 21-22, 2024. Researchers
and scholars from across the disciplines will participate in this two-day conference
that will be concentrating on South Asian studies. The central theme for the above
is Subalterns in South Asia.
The term “subaltern,” popularized by Antonio Gramsci, conceptualized subaltern
groups as those excluded from hegemonic power, encompassing peasants, workers,
and other marginalized factions. However, in Subaltern Studies led by Ranajit
Guha, the term broadens to denote the quality of being subordinate in South Asian
society, irrespective of its manifestation in class, caste, age, gender, or office.
The collective, initially comprising scholars such as Shahid Amin, David Arnold,
Partha Chatterjee, David Hardiman, Gyanendra Pandey etc., aimed to give voice to
the historically marginalized. Subaltern Studies encompassed diverse subjects,
including history, politics, economics, and sociology of subalternity, along with
associated perspectives, ideologies, and belief systems. The initiative aimed to
counter elitist historiography by allowing subaltern voices to emerge within its
pages, representing and amplifying the voices of the oppressed.
The theory posited that the elite in India did not merely have a hegemonic role but
played a dominant one, enabling the subaltern to be seen as independent historical
actors. This perspective countered the notion that the subaltern were passive
recipients of elite guidance, emphasizing their independent agency within the
political system.
In line with the subaltern understanding, this conference extends a warm invitation
to panels and paper submissions that specifically emphasize non-elite discourses.
The conference aims to spotlight and explore narratives, perspectives, and voices
that have traditionally been marginalized or overlooked in favour of dominant, elite
perspectives. Connecting historical studies to disciplines like gender studies,
cultural studies, sociology, economics, demographics, politics, psychology, and
others are also welcome. By prioritizing non-elite discourses, we aspire to create a
space for critical discussions and insights that challenge established norms and
contribute to a richer understanding of the diverse, often unheard, voices in South
Asian societies.
The conference hopes to be able to encourage more research by generating new
perspectives by exploring new as well as alternative and evolving research ideas and
methods.
IASAS 2024 conference welcomes panels and papers in English or in Hindi on any
theme of South Asian Studies employing interdisciplinary and theoretical
perspectives inspired from History, Philosophy, Political Science, Anthropology,
Ethnography, Sociology, Psychology etc. Hence, the conference aim is to bring
historians and social scientists into conversation with each other. We encourage
submissions from research students, early career scholars, faculty members, and
independent social scientists whose research falls under the spectrum of South
Asian Studies. The conference hopes to generate new perspectives by exploring new
as well as alternative and evolving research ideas and methods.
There would be at least four presenters in each panel session. Presentations will
be limited to 20 minutes each.
1. Abstracts of up to 500 words should be submitted on or before 15 April, 2024.
2. Acceptance letters for proposals will be e-mailed by 30 April, 2024. All
abstracts will be peer-reviewed.
In the Subject window of your e-mails, please type the following words: IASAS
Bhubaneswar 2024.
Email: iasasconference@gmail.com
Delegates fees:
For paper presenters:
1. Faculty Members: 6000 INR (with hostel room accommodation single
occupancy for two days)
2. Faculty Members :5000 INR (without accommodation)
3. Research Students:5000 INR (with hostel room accommodation single
occupancy for two days)
4. Research Students : 4000 INR (without accommodation)
5. Guests and Listeners: 2500 INR
Note:
• The organizing committee is not in a position to provide participants with
financial support.
• All participants are advised to seek funding through their respective
institutions or other sources.
• The venue of the conference is Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology,
Bhubaneswar, Odisha