DCU welcomes international attendees to 7th annual South Asia Conference
Last week saw Dublin City University host the 7th Annual South Asia Conference organised by DCU Ireland India Institute on the St Patrick’s campus.
The three day event saw 143 registered participants attending a packed programme of 26 panels and 2 roundtables around the themes of South Asia Diaspora and migration.
The yearly event is organised by the DCU Ireland India Institute, which is led by Dr Jivanta Schottli.
Dr Schottli said
"We were thrilled to welcome colleagues from South Asia and around the world for the 7th Annual South Asia Conference hosted by the DCU Ireland India Institute. The conference has grown each year in popularity and participation. A wide range of presentations showcased the breadth and diversity of contemporary South Asia, bridging disciplines and regional perspectives.
Organising an event on such a scale is only possible thanks to a community of researchers associated with the institute, including Professor Eileen Connolly (former Director of the DCU Ireland India Institute) and a team led this year by PhD Candidates, Nithya Kothenmaril and Timmayo Thumra."
The conference saw 88 papers delivered covering history, politics, society, culture, literature, and economy of contemporary South Asia. The organisers received more than 400 abstract submissions. Contributors travelled from South Asia and across Europe to attend, with faculty from six schools across two faculties at DCU participating.
The two roundtable sessions, organised by Dr Arpita Chakraborty and Dr Harikrishnan Sasikumar, featured Prof. Niamh Reilly from National University of Ireland Galway, Prof. Mirna Guha from Anglia Ruskin University, Bill Abom from Migrant Rights Centre Ireland (MRCI), Shamim Malekmian from the Dublin Inquirer, Vinu Narayanan from Migrant Nurses, Ireland and Dr Deiric O’Broin from DCU School of Law and Government.
The events concluded last Friday, 26th April with a keynote address delivered by University of Cambridge Early-Career Research Fellow Amar Sohal, an intellectual historian of modern India and Pakistan whose work focuses on ideas that continue to shape contemporary politics in both countries. Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences Prof Derek Hand chaired the session with Head of the School of Law & Government Dr Kenneth McDonagh providing closing remarks.
Prof Derek Hand said
"The FHSS DCU was happy to host the 7th Annual South Asia Conference through the auspices of the Ireland-India Institute. The conference brought together diverse voices and perspectives on the concerns of modern-day India. The interdisciplinary nature of the Faculty and the Ireland-India Institute facilitated constructive discussions around issues ranging from the environment, politics, and economics to culture, literature and film. Real-world and immediate concerns were viewed through the multiple lenses of theory and practice."
Representing a diversity of disciplinary perspectives and scholars, the conference works towards building long-lasting global linkages for DCU.