Tuesday, January 24, 2017

Mainstream and the Margins: Theory, Practice and Methods at CSDS

CSDS invites application for Research Scholars' workshop on 'Mainstream and the Margins: Theory, Practice and Methods' to be held at CSDS between 15-25 March 2017. It is a capacity-building workshop supported by the ICSSR. The workshop is designed to hone research skills, impart theoretical knowledge and build methodological capacity.  This year's workshop will address the broad theme of 'Mainstream and Margins' in Indian society. Participants will engage a range of readings, seminar-style discussions, and special lectures, addressing: (i) inequality and inclusion, (ii) dissent and democracy (iii) vernacular modernities (iv)emergent histories (v) technologies and media forms and (vi) spaces and habitats.

Instructors and guest speakers will include primarily CSDS faculty.

Registered research students in the beginning to intermediate stages of their doctoral project, and advanced MPhil students may apply.  At the end, participants will have the opportunity to review their research proposals in light of what they have learnt during the workshop.

Preference will be given to SC/ST candidates but applicants from other categories may apply.  All applicants should mention their caste category in the CV.

The workshop will admit thirty (30) participants, including a maximum of fifteen (15) outstation candidates. Outstation SC/ST candidates will be provided 3rd AC return train fare and a stipend of Rs. 15,000/- for the duration of the workshop.  Course materials will be made available to all selected candidates.

Those seeking admission should write to the Administrative Officer Ms Jayasree Jayanthan (jaya(at)csds.in) with an application letter, a current CV of no more than 3 pages, the names of 2 referees, and a synopsis (600-900 words) highlighting research questions and methodological framework.

The last date for receiving applications is 31 January 2017.



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Thanks & Regards:

Abu Saleh
PhD Research Scholar @ Centre for Comparative Literature (CCL)
School of Humanities, University of Hyderabad (UoH), India.
Mobile: +91 94 94 24 26 45

Shortlisting and Selection of Post-Doctoral Fellowships… Regarding…

To,

Prof. Dr. Jaspal Singh Sandhu

Secretary, University Grants Commission (UGC)

Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi – 110002


Sub: Shortlisting and Selection of Post-Doctoral Fellowships… Regarding…

Dear Sir,


My name is Abu Saleh and I have recently submitted my PhD at the University of Hyderabad. This letter is in connection with the various post-doctoral fellowships offered by UGC namely Dr. S. Radhakrishnan Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Humanities and Social Sciences (Including Languages), Postdoctoral Fellowship to Women Candidates & Postdoctoral Fellowship to SC/ST Candidates.

Sir, I am astonished to see your Public Notice dated December 23, 2016 about shortlisting criteria of candidates for the above mentioned fellowships. The shortlisting percentages differ from advertisements. More surprisingly, same percentage is kept across various categories leaving the PWD. Sudden change and modification in these schemes is a matter of grave concern and apprehension for many young research scholars like me. How can the shortlisting percentage be same for General, OBC, SC, ST candidates? Is that compatible with the reservation system?

Further, how marks of UG and PG are relevant for selecting post-doctoral fellows? As you might know many researchers do better in the later part of their studies, especially after their masters and while they get into research. Also marks system is not unique throughout the universities and various places. While a student finds it difficult to get 50 percent in places like Bengal, Kashmir, Kerala and so on, in many other places one can easily get that. So, why not the expert committee better focus on the proposals of the applicants along with works done in PhD and M. Phil? Further, detailed selection criteria can be set up like API of in the selection process of assistant professors.

Sir, in the process of shortlisting and selection by focusing UG and PG percentage, UGC disqualifies many potential candidates. Fellowships like these are very much contributive for the unemployed women candidates and other marginalised sections.

I request you to please look into these issues and do the needful with larger concern.

1.      Kindly remove the UG and PG percentage for shortlisting and selection of PDF. Proposal, work of PhD, M. Phil can be looked into. Detailed selection criteria (like API) can be thought of.

2.      Please ensure reservation policy is maintained in shortlisting and selection of PDF.

3.      Please institute a post-doctoral fellowship for the candidates belonging to minority communities as per the other schemes which is very much essential.

Thank you.

Abu Saleh

University of Hyderabad

Gachibowli, Hyderabad – 500046

abusaleh@uohyd.ac.in/ 09494242645


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Thanks & Regards:

Abu Saleh
PhD Research Scholar @ Centre for Comparative Literature (CCL)
School of Humanities, University of Hyderabad (UoH), India.
Mobile: +91 94 94 24 26 45

Friday, January 13, 2017

XIII CLAI BIENNIAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE at Visva-Bharati

Comparative Literature Association of India (CLAI)

XIII CLAI BIENNIAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
On
"Comparative Literature: At the Crossroads of Culture and Society"

March 6-8, 2017

Organized by

Centre for Comparative Literature, Bhasha Bhavana, Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan

Please find the CFP at CLAI Website: http://clai.in/CALL%20FOR%20PAPERS%20CLAI%202017.pdf










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Thanks & Regards:

Abu Saleh
PhD Research Scholar @ Centre for Comparative Literature (CCL)
School of Humanities, University of Hyderabad (UoH), India.
Mobile: +91 94 94 24 26 45

Thursday, January 12, 2017

Sunday Climbers: One Day Nagarjuna Ettipotala Trip from UoH

Sunday Climbers Team is extremely excited to bring to you our 2nd one day Nagarjuna Sagar Trip for UoH Students. This new year's exclusive for students of UoH will be even more fun and exciting with lot of activities in store. See poster for details.

The total expense, covering bus travel, breakfast, lunch, plenty of fruits & snacks and entry tickets to midlake Nagarjuna Sagar Museum, Ettipotala Waterfall etc, according to current rate, has been estimated down to the rate of Rs. 750/- per head. You are also requested to kindly keep some change at hand for any personal or other expenses that may come up as required. If everyone decides to have dinner on the way back then it will be from one's individual expenses. 
Vocalists & musicians are requested to bring along your own electric or acoustic musical instruments of all possible kinds, guitar amplifiers, dholak, flute etc for the trip. Electric plugs are available in bus for mobile charging and all other usages.

Payment in cash for Rs. 750/- will be collected till Wednesday (11th Jan) evening.

So please contact:

Abhijit Debnath @ 8897401982 (Main Campus, NRS)
Harmanpreet Kaur @ 8901491470 (Main Campus, Ladies Hostel)
Swadesh Gogoi @ 8375914219 (South Campus, Mens Hostel)

The bus trip will start by collecting the students from South Campus Shopping Complex @ 5:30AM, Birth Day Circle Bus Stop @ 5:45AM (Opp to Open Dias), Main Campus Shopping Complex @ 5:50AM and Main Gate @ 6:00AM sharp. So inform your friends. There will be several surprise refreshment and activities during the journey. 

So gear up guys. Go Sunday Climbers!



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Thanks & Regards:

Abu Saleh
PhD Research Scholar @ Centre for Comparative Literature (CCL)
School of Humanities, University of Hyderabad (UoH), India.
Mobile: +91 94 94 24 26 45

'Mapping Muslim Life in West Bengal': Cafe Dissensus' Special Issue on Bengali Muslims

Concept Note: The recent ASGG Report (2014) on the conditions of Muslims in West Bengal reiterates the concerns expressed in such previous reports as the ones headed by Justice Sachar and Misra.   Muslims in West Bengal are grossly underrepresented in the political and economic life.  Their socio-cultural situation fares no better than the dalits. The migration of most of the elite Muslims from Bengal during the Partition of India (1947) has left behind a disenfranchised community. The subsequent indifference of the 'secular democratic' state toward the bleak condition of Muslims has further exacerbated the problem.

Since there has not been any significant comprehensive study undertaken about Muslims in West Bengal, this particular issue of Cafe Dissensus intends to focus on the question of Muslim life in West Bengal, their political participation, their educational attainments, their intellectual contribution, their contribution to Bengali culture, the Bengali Muslim Women's Question, the emergent dalit identity among Muslims in West Bengal, and their present-day plight.

The contributors are requested to address some of the following questions in their submissions (but not limited to these questions alone):

How did the Bengali Muslim identity emerge historically? Does the post-Partition Muslim identity in West Bengal differ from the pre-Partition days? Did the Muslim identity in West Bengal evolve differently from that of present-day Bangladesh? What form has the present-day Muslim politics taken in West Bengal? Does a separate Muslim party have a future in the politics of West Bengal? What role do the madrasas play in the education of Muslims in West Bengal? Is there a division between religious and secular forms of education among Muslims? What has been the contribution of Muslims in West Bengal toward literature, film, music, art, architecture, and television? How have Muslims been represented in the cultural domain and media? Where are the organic Muslim intellectuals in Bengal? Since the time of late 19th century, how has the Muslim Women's Question evolved among Bengali Muslims? How have Muslim women fared in West Bengal compared to their Hindu counterparts? How does the emergent dalit identity among Bengali Muslims recalibrate questions of politics, economics and culture? Since the state has failed to perform its duties towards more than a quarter of its population, how could the Muslim civil society pressurise the government to attend to the needs of the community? At a time of neo-liberal reforms when jobs are mostly privatised and when there is a growing popularity of rightist ideologies, is the demand for reservation among Muslims in West Bengal counterproductive?

Note: While the shorter version of the essays (2000-2500 words) will be published online on Cafe Dissensus journal, we request the contributors to prepare longer essays (5000-6000 words) toward a book project. In other words, after publication of the shorter versions of the essays online, the editors would like to approach a publisher (in India or abroad) for the publication of a volume on Bengali Muslims, which would include the longer essays.

Last date for submission: 30 May, 2017. Date of publication of the issue: 1 July, 2017. Word-limit: 2000-2500 words. Email your submissions to both: mosarraphossainkhan@gmail.com & mursedalam@gmail.com 

Also, here is the link to the concept note: https://cafedissensus.com/forthcoming-issuecall-for-contributions/

We look forward to hearing from you.

Best,
Mosarrap & Mursed

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Thanks & Regards:

Abu Saleh
PhD Research Scholar @ Centre for Comparative Literature (CCL)
School of Humanities, University of Hyderabad (UoH), India.
Mobile: +91 94 94 24 26 45