KATRA, November 22: A Two Day National Conference (Online) on ‘Cultural Studies and Interdisciplinary Humanities: Convergences, Interventions and Possibilities’ has been inaugurated at SMVD University on 22nd November, 2021. The National Conference is being organised by School of Languages and Literature, SMVDU. The welcome address was given by Dr. Isha Malhotra, Head, School of Languages and Literature, SMVDU and Convener of the conference. She emphasised on how literature departments need to constantly engage with the crisis of the times through competing notions of textuality, materiality, subjectivity and identity forging through and beyond non/in/trans/meta/post paradigms. Prof. V.K Bhat, Dean, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, in the conference address emphasized that in the times of crisis, humanities need to respond with greater urgency as it can no longer sustain as the custodians of traditional canon alone. The Guest of Honour, Sh. Nagendra Singh Jamwal (KAS), Registrar, SMVDU, addressed the participants and enumerated upon the significance of events like conferences and workshops and congratulated the School of Languages and Literature for organizing such events. Padma Shri Prof. Ravindra Kumar Sinha, Vice-Chancellor, SMVDU addressed the participants, highlighting the importance of cultural studies in contemporary times. The keynote address was given by Prof. Akshaya Kumar, Department of English and Cultural Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh and the plenary talk was delivered by Prof. Bijoy Boruah, Professor of Philosophy, IIT Jammu. The session concluded with the vote of thanks by Dr. Anurag Kumar, Coordinator of the conference.
