Seminar on 'Oral Narratives Of North East India' at Kha Manipur College
Last Date : April 20, 2015

ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
A Two Day National Seminar
on
ORAL NARRATIVES OF NORTH EAST INDIA
Sponsored by UGC
Organized by
MANIPURI DEPARTMENT
Kha Manipur College, Kakching
Thoubal District, Manipur-795103

Dear Friends

It gives us immense pleasure to inform you that the Department of Manipuri, Kha Manipur College, Kakching, Thoubal District, Manipur- 795103 is organizing A UGC SPONSORED TWO DAY NATIONAL SEMINAR ON ORAL NARRATIVES OF NORTH EAST INDIA to be held from 3-4 May, 2015 at the premises of the College.

The Kha Manipur College was established in the year 1966 with the aims to impart higher education in the southern part of Manipur valley. With the approval of the Manipur Legislative Assembly it was converted as Government College in 1979 and subsequently in the year 1980 it got affiliation to Manipur University. Among the government colleges of Manipur the KMC has a distinct reputation for having the tri- faculty, i.e. Science, Arts and Commerce streams. The college is now contemplating for a proper celebration of Golden Jubilee with the completion of fifty years in 2016.

As we know, the folkloric term “Oral Narrative” encompasses the genres of oral literature narrated in prose. Myth, Legend, and Folktale are major forms of oral narrative. The study of this particular field is a way to understand culture and society of the people. Through the oral narratives we can trace various aspects of society, such as the oral history, cultural relationships of different communities, social and cultural behaviours of the group etc. Apart from these, oral narratives take a vital role in strengthening and nourishing social norms and social relationships.

Since the majority of North East communities are characterized by orality, every account of their societies abounds in folklore. Therefore, the oral narrative has been tremendously important to any kind of discussion towards understanding history, culture and other aspects of society of NE India. However, due to the impacts of modernization and globalization North East society has encountered an influx of influences which lead towards invalidating the practices of tale telling tradition. In such a situation, the fourth coming national seminar is prepared with the aims to understand the importance of oral narratives of NE India towards understanding the culture and society of this region.

The main theme and the sub-themes for the national seminar are as follows:

Main Theme: Oral Narratives of North East India
Sub themes:
1. Oral Narrative and Oral History
2. Oral Narratives of North East India: Oral Discourse and Literary Theory
3. Oral Narratives in the Modern North East Society
4. Oral Narratives and Cultural Identity

We would like to take this opportunity of inviting you to participate in the national seminar. We expect you to present a paper on any aspect of folklore studies related to the above themes. You will have 15 minutes for your presentation followed by 5 minutes for the discussion if any. We therefore request you to send an abstract of your paper on line to Dr Ch. Rajketan Singh, the Organizing Secretary of the seminar, on or before Aril 15, 2015, so that it is included in the book of abstracts.

The abstract will be examined by an expert committee before it is accepted. Your full paper should reach us on or before April 20, 2015. Participants who like their papers to be circulated in the respective sessions may bring with them 50 Xerox copies and hand them over to the organizers on arrival. Members are requested to write their full contact address, phone/fax number and e-mail address on the top of the abstract. This will help us in communicating with you smoothly. The official languages of the seminar will be Manipuri and English.

The organizing committee has no funds to offer you for meeting your travel expenses. We request you to find support for your travel from your own institution or your own resources. This circular is valid for making such request to your university / institution or the funding agency. The hosts will provide you modest local hospitality for the seminar days.

The Registration fee for this seminar is Rs. 500/- (five hundred). The fee can be paid on the first day of the seminar i.e. May 3, 2015.

Every best wishes and regards:

Sincerely:
Dr Ch. Rajketan Singh
Organizing Secretary of the Seminar
Assistant Professor of Manipuri
Kha Manipur College, Kakching
E-mail: [email protected]

Ksh. Shamu
Principal
Kha Manipur College, Kakching
Phone: 03848- 261223
E-mail: [email protected]