Utkal University’s English Department Celebrates 100 Years Of Literary Modernism In Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: In order to commemorate 100 years of literary modernism in English literature and take a look at alternate forms of modernity that have emerged beyond the Western context, the Department of English, Utkal University organised a two-day national conference in its campus here.

Inaugurating the two-day conference being held on March 11 and 12, vice-chancellor of the university Prof Sabita Acharya congratulated the Department for organising the event and also spoke on the significance of the theme titled  “Modernism and its Afterlives: Debates, Discourse, Departures”.

Chairman, PG Council Prof DS Pattnaik spoke on the importance of English in a multilingual and multicultural world. Director of the conference Prof Asim Ranjan Parhi welcomed the delegates and dignitaries to the first major event of the department being held in its new building since its golden jubilee. The convenor of the conference Dr S Deepika elaborated on the scope and significance of the theme.

The 25th issue of the Journal of Literary Studies, the department’s academic journal, was released on the occasion. An anthology of poems, “Of Sons and Fathers” by Asim Ranjan Parhi was also released.  A discussion on the book is slated for the second day.

In her keynote address, Prof Supriya Chaudhuri, Professor Emerita, Department of English, Jadavpur University spoke on the paradoxical nature of ‘modern’ and how Indian writers have dismissed Modernism in favour of realistic representations of Indian society. Pulastya Jani, co-ordinator offered the vote of thanks.

Total 17 papers were presented on the first day of the conference by scholars and delegates from across the country on diverse themes related to literary modernism. A plenary lecture along with 10 more papers and a valedictory session is scheduled for the second day of the conference.