3-day seminar on Historiographic Metafiction begins at KU
Vice-Chancellor of University of Kashmir, Prof Khurshid Iqbal Andrabi, on Thursday inaugurated a three-day workshop “Historiographic Metafiction: Problematizing History and Defining Fiction.”
Organized by the Department of English, the national-level seminar attempts to promote a meaningful discussion on the significance and ethics of Historiographic Metafiction and help understand the assumptions and presuppositions underlying the relationship between history and fiction.
In his presidential address, Prof Andrabi highlighted the importance of history and literature while underscoring issues and problems facing historians and researchers in documenting history and literature. He congratulated the Department of English for organizing the seminar, being attended by eminent scholars and academics from reputed institutions in the country and abroad.
Prof Yasmin Saikia, professor of history and Hardt-Nickachos Chair in Peace Studies, Arizona State University, USA—who was the Chief Guest—said she sees history as an experience to make connections between people. “It is not a punitive exercise, but a celebration of possibilities of being human—varied, idiosyncratic, diverse, fluctuating, but always seeking and shaping of the capacity to be human, searching for new horizons for expressing and finding new ways to tell about ourselves as we are, in our multiplicities,” she said.
Prof TN Dhar, former Head of KU’s English Department delivered the keynote address while Prof Lily Want, HoD English, welcomed the guests and participants. “The faculty of the Department of English has a distinguished research and teaching record. Committed to sharing their knowledge, they create a stimulating environment for the department to achieve its academic and professional goals,” she said.
Among others, the inaugural session was attended by Registrar Prof Musadiq Amin Sahaf, Dean Academic Affairs Prof M A Wani, Prof Mohammad Aslam, Dean, School of Languages, Central University of Kashmir and a galaxy of scholars and students. Dr Nusrat Bazaz conducted proceedings of the inaugural session while Dr Tasleem War presented vote of thanks.
KV Correspondent
