Srinagar, Mar 9: Kashmir University’s Department of English is organising a three-day national seminar on English Language and Literature in India: Issues in Policy, Pedagogy and Research from March 14. The inaugural function will be held at KU’s Gandhi Bhawan at 11.30 AM.
 “Besides local scholars, more than a dozen reputed outstation scholars of English literature and language are presenting their papers and holding deliberations in the technical sessions of the seminar,” the seminar director, Professor Muhammad Aslam said.
 “Holding of national seminars is a regular activity of the department wherein we provide an opportunity to our students and scholars to interact with the reputed academics in the field,” he added.
 “The present seminar is of great significance as it focuses on the importance of English in today’s world and how far literature can compete with the growing demand in Communicative Competence in the language.”
 Professor Aslam observed that English has assumed a “global status in terms of acceptability, and is no longer seen just as a colonial legacy, with non-English economic powers vying for higher English-language competence.”
 “The rubric English Literature has come to signify much that emanates from cultural locations far beyond the shores of its origin, England. Thus instead of bemoaning English in India as a Macaulayean imposition, it is being increasingly seen as an instrument of empowerment.
 “The deprived subaltern and the Dalit refuse to be left out by default, and wish to acquire English at any cost; Indian Writing in English is no longer viewed in oppositional terms. Has India along with other literary cultures across the world become complicit with the forces of neo-colonialism?”

Lastupdate on : Wed, 9 Mar 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 9 Mar 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 10 Mar 2011 00:00:00 IST