“Tribes in Transition”: International Conference at Santiniketan (12-13 March, 2014) – West Bengal

A Two-Day International Conference on

TRIBES IN TRANSITION:

CONFLICT OVER IDENTITY, RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

12-13 March, 2014

Santiniketan, West Bengal, India

Organized by the Department of English, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi

In collaboration with the Ghosaldanga Bishnubati Adibasi Trust, Santiniketan

&

Funded by the Indian Council of Social Science Research, New Delhi, India 

PROGRAMME SCHEDULE

 Day One (12-03-2014)                                              Venue: Sriniketan Community Hall,

Visva-Bharati Campus, Santiniketan

Registration begins: 9.00 AM

INAUGURAL SESSION: 9.30 AM to 11.00 AM

The session will be presided over by Prof. Sushanta Dattagupta, Vice-Chancellor of Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan

A short Introduction by the Convener, Dr. Ivy Imogene Hansdak, and the Lighting of the Lamp ceremony; Tribute to Rabindranath Tagore and Rabindra Sangeet by tribal students

Address by the Guest of Honour, Prof. Virginius Xaxa, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Guwahati, & Chairman of the Xaxa Commission

Keynote Speech by Dr. G. N. Devy, Director, Bhasha Research & Publication Centre, Vadodara

Presidential Address by Prof. Sushanta Dattagupta

A Santali song by the Jaher Society, Santiniketan

TEA BREAK (15 minutes)

SESSION 1:  11.15 AM to 1.15 PM

Panel discussion 1 on “Tribal Cultural Heritage and Conflict over Identity”

Panelists: Prof Virginius Xaxa, Xaxa Commission; Mr. Tonol Murmu, AISWACS, Kolkata;    Mr. Kumar Rana, Senior Research Associate, Pratichi (India) Trust; Mr. Ludwig Pesch, Secretary, Tribal Cultural Heritage in India Foundation, Amsterdam (in absentia).

Moderator: Prof. Ranjit Kumar Bhattacharya, formerly Director, Anthropological Survey of India

LUNCH BREAK (one hour)

SESSION 2: 2.15 PM to 4.15 PM

Panel discussion 2 on “Translation and Publication of Tribal Literature”

Panelists: Dr. Anand Mahanand, EFLU, Hyderabad; Dr. Boro Baski, GBAT, Santiniketan; Ms. Ruby Hembrom, Adivaani, Kolkata; Mr. A.K. Pankaj, Jharkhandi Bhasha Sahitya Sanskriti Akhra, Ranchi.

Moderator: Dr. G. N. Devy, Director, Bhasha Research & Publication Centre, Vadodara

TEA BREAK (15 minutes)

Visual Presentation- “Tribal Women and Human Trafficking” by Sr. Gemma Toppo, Ranchi, at 4.30 PM

CULTURAL PROGRAMME: 5.00 PM – 8.00 PM

Rabindra Sangeet in Santali by Mr. Barka Soren, Adrasha Palli, Birbhum

Baul songs in Santali and Bengali by Mr. Rathin Kisku, Santiniketan

Santal folk dance by the villagers of Ghosaldanga and Bishnubati

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Day Two (13-03-2014)                                                                        Venue: RSV School, Ghosaldanga

SESSION 1: 9.00 AM – 11.00 AM

Panel discussion 3 on “Tribal Healthcare and Community Development”

Panelists:  Dr. Shantidani Minz, Christian Medical College, Vellore; Dr. Prabir Chatterjee, Kolkata; Dr. Monika Golembiewski, Germany (in absentia); Ms. Kirsty Milward, Suchana, Birbhum; Fr. David Solomon SJ, Johar HRD Centre, Dumka.

Moderator: Mr. Gokul Hansda, President, GBAT, Santiniketan

TEA BREAK (15 minutes)

SESSION 2:  WRITERS’ MEET: 11.15 AM to 1.15 PM

Mr. Sanat Hansda, Ms. Nirmala Putul, Mr. Marsal Hembram, Mr. Durbin Soren, Mr. Sibu Soren and Mr. Sunder Manoj Hembrom.

Moderator: Dr. Ivy Imogene Hansdak, JMI, New Delhi

LUNCH (one hour)

SESSION 3: 2.15 PM to 4.15 PM-

Panel discussion 4 on “Tribal Youth: Problems of Employment”

Panelists: Prof. Sonajharia Minz, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, Santiniketan;  Fr. James Toppo SJ, St. Xavier’s College, Maharo; Mr. Prashant Kumar Hembrom, MBA student, Indian Institute of  Management, Kolkata; Mr. Abhay Xaxa, Ph.D scholar, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.

Moderator: Fr. David Solomon SJ, Director, Johar HRD Centre, Dumka

TEA BREAK (15 minutes)

VALEDICTORY SESSION: 4.30 PM to 6.30 PM

“In Search of the Way Forward” by Dr. Boro Baski, Co-Convener

“Sharing my life with Santals since thirty years ” by Dr. Martin Kaempchen, Santiniketan

Valedictory Speech by Prof. Kumkum Bhattacharya, Dept of Social Work, Visva-Bharati

Vote of Thanks by Mr. Sona Murmu, Trustee, GBAT.

Dr. Ivy Imogene Hansdak, JMI                                              Dr. Boro Baski, GBAT

Convener                                                                                 Co-Convener

Ph No: 9868117379/ 8750916135                                          Ph No: 9432357160                                          

PS: The conference will be followed by the Santal Spring Festival celebrations on 14th March 2014. Interested persons may contact Dr. Boro Baski, GBAT, for details.