Call for Paper on "Re-Imaging the Idea of Nation"

                              Theological Research And Communication Institute (TRACI)

                                                                                 &

                                      Union of Evangelical Students of India (UESI)

                                                              Organise

                                            Re-Imagining the Idea of Nation

Concept Note:

In recent times, there has been debates around nationalism, Indianness, and heightened sense of patriotism which is largely fuelled by the right-wing-saffronites' assertions. A lot of these developments, obviously, tries to undo many of what has been established since independence. Any opinion that questions the dominant narrative of the day is charged with sedition and labelled anti-national. And we've seen some ugly turn of events in various university campuses across the country.

With such developments, perhaps, it is important to take a re-look and re-imagine the idea of nation, nationalism, patriotism, etc. And alongside, it has become critical to re-examine the implications of the rights enshrined in the constitution and more importantly the rights of human beings. This conference is being organised to invite critical engagement of Christian minds as we go through a crucial juncture as a nation. How do we respond, as Christians, to the dominant narratives in our society/nation today?

In a way, this effort seeks to advance Christian engagement on matters that confront the university, society, politics and government. It is also aimed at answering some of the critical questions faced by many of us. As Christians we face questions such as: what kind of society do we envision? How should the majority community interact with the minority? What political theory do we endorse? Should we be Left or Right, Conservative or Liberal?

Students and research scholars across various intellectual traditions are invited to engage with their peers and beyond to explore and exchange ideas in pursuit of progress, peace and human flourishing for a society, nation and the global community.

As we try to respond to some of the issues in our society, it is essential to reflect along with our university students and research scholars the issues they are addressing through their subjects. Participants of the Conference can present a papers on certain topic listed below, with an explicit or implicit Christian response, to make the reflection meaningful. Those papers that are selected for the Conference will be published in a book or a journal bearing ISBN/ISSN number.

Some possible topics/sub-themes for engagement are listed below, though it is not an exhaustive one, and related topics may be explored:

1. (Re)construction of nationhood: liberal, secular and/or conservative perspective
2. Integrating religious minorities and their cultures: diversity and harmony
3. Cultural hegemony: victimisation and oppression
4. National heroes, myths and legends
5. Theories of nation-building
6. Spatial representations of nation and nationality
7. Regions and nation
8. Multiple narratives of Indian nation
9. Literary imaginations of India: past and present
10. Christian missionaries and Indian nationhood
11. Tribes, Adivasi, minority communities and their contribution to the idea of India.
12. Linguistic and ethnic minorities and nation
13. Perspectives on Sub-nationalism: Linguistic and ethnic
14. Eschatological 'not yet' and 'already' tension, church and the society
15. Indian Christian writers and their contribution to understanding education/society/politics
16. Women writers and their position in society
17. Contribution of Christian education system to the making of modern India
18. Christianity and modern Indian minds
19. Christianity and Indian politics/society

Call for Paper:

Submission of the Abstract by January 5^th , 2017

Intimation of Selection of the Paper by January 10^th, 2017.

Submission of Full Paper by February 10^th , 2017

Date of the Conference: February 23-24, 2017

Registration Fee: Rs. 500.

Submission Guideline:

1. Papers for the conference must conform to the word limit of 3500-5000 words along with an abstract of 150-300 words.

2. Provide 3-6 key-words at the end of the abstract.

3. Do not quote from Wikipedia.

4. Authors are requested to follow ‘APA’ style sheet for the purpose of referencing.
5. Authors are requested to use TIMES NEW ROMAN font throughout the text.
6. Title of the paper should be in font size 16 and should be centrally aligned

7. Name of the authors and their affiliation should be placed just below the title of the paper.

8. Name of the author should be in font size 14 and affiliation in font size 12.

9. The subheadings and the body of the text should be in font size 12.

10. Abstract should be in font size 12.

11. Line spacing should be “1.5”.

13. Paper should be submitted only in MS-Word format.

14. Plagiarism or articles submitted or published elsewhere will not be accepted.

17. Editors of the conference publication may edit the manuscripts for clarity and reduce the length of the paper if it exceeds the word limit.

Registration Procedure: For those intimated to write Full Paper, soft copies of Full Paper along with Registration Form must reach by February 10, 2017. Those who are presenting paper may stay in the official Guest Room. (Registration form will be sent along with the intimation letter to write full paper once abstract is received.)

Venue: E-537, TRACI, Greater Kailash, New Delhi

Inquiries and Papers to be sent to:

veiopou@gmail.com (+91-99108 20029)

jeremiahduomai@hotmail.com ( +91-9821949211)