“The Department of English and Humanities, Amrita School of Engineering, Coimbatore, conducted a three day International Conference on “Interrogating Cultural Translation: Literature and Fine Arts in Translation”, from 21st to 23rd August, 2017, organised jointly with Caesurae Collective Society.
The keynote speakers of the event were Dr. G. J. V. Prasad, Centre for English Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru Vishwa Vidyapeetham(JNU), New Delhi; Dr. Swarnavel Eswaran, Film Studies & Creative Writing, Michigan State Vishwa Vidyapeetham, US; Dr. Fakrul Alam, Department of English, Vishwa Vidyapeetham of Dhaka; Dr. Murali Sivaramakrishnan, Renowned academic, critic, sculptor, painter, and poet; Dr. Ashok K. Mohapatra, Department of English, Sambalpur Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Odisha; Maestro Kala Ramnath, internationally acclaimed violinist & teacher.
The conference set the stage for deliberations on this topic of study, providing valuable insights into practices of cultural transference. The precise use of the term “cultural translation” remains controversial and hence gave way to lengthy discourses, debates and discussions on the various nuances of the concept. The conference aimed at far reaching impacts on some of the fundamental findings and assumptions of Translation Studies. The three day conference brought together a wide representation from the academia and people interested in other art/media also. The Forum explored and evaluated the potential of the concept of translating culture through various literary and art forms. The chief objective of the endeavour was to create a research ambience and explore areas of collaboration leading to student exchange programmes in inter disciplinary studies under liberal arts and humanities.
The conference extended a wide panoramic view of cultural translation and translation of culture. From Theyyam, the typical Kerala temple art form to the Melattur Bhagawata Mela; from the portrayal of America in Telugu cinema to Herman Hesse’s interpretation of the Indian culture in Siddhartha; from the expression of myth in Kannada plays in translation to the ritualistic carnival in the African Caribbean culture – the topics of discussion were varied and encompassing various aspects of translation. The highlights of the conference were: Plenary Sessions, Panel Discussions, Creative Forum for poets and writers, paper presentations, and poster competition for researchers and students. The other additional attractions are a Book exhibition and an Art exhibition.
The conference ultimately lead to the onset of healthy international relations with the academia and the artists who are seriously engaged in bringing together the various threads of culture into a unique pattern of a global vision through their efforts in translation.
Caesurae Collective Society is a registered Non-Profit organization dedicated to promoting academics and creative arts. The Society, based in Kolkata, is associated with the multi-media, peer-reviewed international e-journal that is approved by the UGC and indexed in NISCAIR.
“You had organized an excellent conference in your lovely campus, and the arrangements were as good as I could have imagined them to be. Thanking you and your team. With all good wishes for you and your colleagues and hopes of future interaction”, commented Dr. Fakrul Alam.
At the week spent with at Amrita, the conference, where all minds came together with so much of positive energy, love and good will has been a dream come true for all of us. It has been one of the most fulfilling experiences in my life, working with all as a team headed by Dr. Harini Jayraman, Chairperson, Department of English & Humanities, Amrita School of Engineering, Coimbatore. A very warm thank you to you all, for hosting us with so much care, for your love and professional commitment. Many of you are Caesurae members now and we do hope and look forward to many more such gatherings and professional engagements together”, commented one of the guests of the event, Dr. Jayita Sengupta, Associate Professor, Department of English, Sikkim Vishwa Vidyapeetham.
