SMVDU Katra, 18thDec. 2018. The School of Languages & Literature (SoL&L), a leading department at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU), Katra, organised a two-day international conference on “Semiotic Approach to Feminist Studies” (18-19 Dec. 2018), where Prof. KanikaBatra of Texas State University, US, was the expert resource person and the key note speaker, whereas Prof. D. Mukhopadhyay, Dean, Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences, graced the occasion as the chief guest, as reported by Dr. Anurag Kumar, Convener of the event. Previously, Dr. Amitabh V. Dwivedi, Coordinator & Head, SoL&L, introduced the theme, while stating that semiotic approach is useful in assessing the limitations of master theories as it unsettles established things. Prof. Mukhopadhyay, in his inaugural address, emphasised that accepting and admitting non-linguistic spaces for female gender is more important than merely playing linguistic jugglery. The conference received a huge response from J&K state, and from Indian states. Prof. KanikaBatra talked about giving importance to the act of sexual violence rather than taking political mileage over where it happened and who did that. Senior faculty members, including Dr. Anil K. Tiwari, Head, School of Philosophy & Culture (SoPC), SMVDU; Mr. S. S. Sharma, faculty member (SoPC); Ms. Isha Malhotra, faculty member (SoL&L); Dr. Garima Gupta of Jammu University, and others were also present during the inaugural ceremony. Dr. Sanjeev Jain, Vice-Chancellor, SMVDU, appreciated that the School is regularly organising academic discussions on such sensitive and socially important themes. The event concluded with a formal vote of thanks presented by Dr. SimranPreet Kaur and Dr. Ranbir Kaur.
