waves - conference on varna, jati and kula - 2011 - call for papers

8/7/2019 WAVES - Conference on Varna, Jati and Kula - 2011 - Call for papers.

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World Association of Vedic Studies (WAVES) is a multidisciplinary academic society. It

is a forum for all scholarly activities and views on any area of Vedic Studies variouslycalled Indian Studies, South Asian Studies or I ndology. WAVES is not confined to study

related to Vedas alone or to India alone. It encompasses all that applies to traditions

commonly called Vedic, past, present and future, anywhere in the w orld.

(www.wavesinternational.net)

NahiJnanenaSadrsamThereisnothingequivalenttoknowledgeTheBhagavadGitaIV.38

Varna,JatiandKulaAConferenceonIndiasCasteSystem

CallforPapersConferenceSchedule:

July29ththrough31st,2011Location:

RadissonHotelPiscatawaySomerset,NewJersey

21KingsbridgeRoad,Piscataway,NJ08854


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paramparas (or their representatives) to participate together in a dialog on the subject of Varna, Jati

and Kula the constituents of what is termed as Indias Caste system. We acknowledge the inherentdifficulty of any one individual, one group of people or one organization being able to produce a

definitive view on the Caste system, which as an institution has survived perhaps more than fivemillennia in India, and encompasses a vast population of nearly a billion people across the length

and breadth of India. Through papers and panel discussions, we anticipate that diverse views on the

topic will be granted space for expression, which will represent an opportunity for learning andsharing for all who participate in this dialog. We expect that minimally, a compilation of the papers

presented at the conference will be published and will represent resource material for the future. Weanticipate that the conference will also lay the foundations for the synthesis of a more definitive

policy paper that addresses the perceived and real issues of Caste and Caste based discriminationand its representation both within and outside the sphere of Hindu Society. We hope that such a

policy paper will not only provide practical recommendations but will also gain the consensus of a

broad variety of Hindu leaders and scholars, thus growing into a historic document for Hindu societyitself.

Scope

Submissions of papers are invited from Academicians, Scholars, Acharyas and Gurus (or their

representatives), Activists, Community Leaders and Field workers, Leaders of NGOs working with

under-privileged segments of society. A preliminary list of categories, (by no means exhaustive) inwhich papers are being sought is given below.

1. Historical perspectives on Varna, Jati and Kula : Origin and practice of the Varna, Jati and Kula system through Indias history The major phases of development of the Varna, Jati and Kula system Socio-economic and cultural values of the Varna, Jati and Kula system Islamic Rule and its impact on the Varna, Jati and Kula system British rule and its impact on the Varna, Jati and Kula Bhakti and other Hindu reform movements and their impact on Varna, Jati and Kula Buddhism and Jainism and their intersection with Varna, Jati and Kula Post Independent India and Varna, Jati and Kula Voices of Hindu spiritual and social leaders on the subject of Varna, Jati and Kula Voices of foreigners on Indias social order through the ages Colonial and European studies in Caste and their impact

2. Scriptural - Shastra based perspectives on Varna, Jati and Kula : Scriptural support from Shruti literature i.e. Veda and Upanishad on Varna and Jati Smriti literature and their problems related to Varna and Jati Ramayana, Mahabharata and Bhagavad Gita on Varna and Jati Other Shastras Arthashastra, Nitishastra etc. on Varna and Jati Distinctions and relations between Varna, Jati and Kula Do Scriptures sanction Caste based discrimination and birth based hierarchies? The role of Dharmashastras in todays Hindu society

3. Perspectives on Human Rights and Civil Rights :


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History of human rights and civil rights Is Caste a Human rights issue? The problem of viewing Varna, Jati and Kula through a Western lens Duties and Responsibilities versus Rights and Privileges Human dignity and Human rights Individual social mobility versus group social mobility Current problems of Caste based discrimination and oppression Lower Caste perspectives on Caste

4. Politicization of Caste after Indias independence : Empowerment of lower Castes Lower Caste movements in India Caste based politics and political formations Regional stories on Caste based politics Political parties and their exploitation of Caste Caste based reservations and their impact Reverse discrimination and its impact

5. Geo-Political issues related to Caste : HAF Caste report Need, Approach, Impact, Value and Agenda Representation of Caste to Western Society Challenges and Opportunities Is the US the best place to discuss Caste? Pros and Cons. Earning a seat and joining the dialog on Caste Pre-conditions and prospects Exploitation of Caste issues through internationalization US / Western interference into Indias internal affairs Missionary propaganda, Conversion agenda and case studies in exploitation of Caste Dalit movements within and outside Hinduism and their prospects

6. Legal framew orks in India around Caste and Caste based discrimination : Constitutional provisions to mitigate Caste based discrimination Indian Constitutions view of Varna, Jati, Kula and Caste Studies and Commission reports instituted by the Government of India State level provisions for affirmative action and Caste based reservations Case studies in legal proceedings pertaining to Caste Enforcement of the Law Problems and Opportunities

7. Caste as social capital : Caste as a phenomenon that provides upward mobility Climbing out of the economic hole Case studies on Caste Examples where Caste has played a positive role in recent times Caste Identity Pros and Cons Caste as a Social Security The role of family and Kula Endogamy Marriage within the Caste Pros and Cons Caste phenomena along the Urban Rural divide in India

8. Field experiences in working w ith Caste based discrimination :


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Hindu attempts to intervene and mitigate Caste based fissures Hindu Diaspora and Caste Case studies in successful interventions by various Hindu Groups Acharyas and Gurus and their role in promoting field level activities Challenges and opportunities in working in the field on Caste Promotion of Inter-Caste marriages challenges and opportunities Marginalized sections of society and their prospects Re-conversion into Hinduism and the Caste problem

9. Caste and other religions : Buddhism and Caste Jainism and Caste Sikshism and Caste Islam and Caste Christianity and Caste

10.Formulation of a Po licy Paper on Caste : Problems and Issues with the HAF report Outlines of a Process Participants Writers and Reviewers Involvement of Acharyas and Gurus Engaging the Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha Engaging Hindu organizations such as VHP, RSS and others Engaging Political points of view BJP and others Peer Reviews by Academicians and Scholars

Deliverables

The following are expected from all Conference participants:

a. A 1 Page abstract or synopsis of your paper (with a title)b. A brief bio-sketch with a front-facing digital picturec. A full paper (of maximum length 12 pages or 6000 words)d. A PowerPoint presentation (if presenting in person at the conference)

Timelines

Ser# Line Item Date

1 Last Date for Submission of 1 Page Abstract April 30th, 2011

2Last Date for Submission of Full Paper - to beconsidered for inclusion in the Publication

May 31st, 2011

3 Last Date for Submission of Full Paper if not beingconsidered for inclusion in the publication June 30

th

, 2011

3Last Date for Confirmation of Participation

(physically in the conference)

July 15th, 2011

4 Dates of the Conference in New JerseyJuly 29th, 30th and

31st, 2011


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It is our intent to publish the papers in the form of a booklet prior to the commencement of theconference itself. In order to ensure that your paper is published, please adhere strictly to this

timeline. Papers submitted after May 31st will most likely not be in consideration for inclusion in theconference publication.

AllConferenceParticipantsare requested tosubmit theirpapersby

May31st,toensureconsiderationforbeingprintedintheConference

publication.

EMailallyoursubmissionstothefollowingaddress

[email protected]

Conference Agenda Committee

a.

Dr. Bal Ram Singh, PhD, Director, Center for Indic Studies, University of Massachusetts [email protected]

b. Dr. S. Kalyanaraman, PhD, Director, Saraswati River Research Center, Chennai [email protected]

c. Ms. Aditi Banerjee, B.A., J.D, Attorney at Law and Author, New York [email protected]

d. Shri Kalyan Viswanathan, President, Sanatana Dharma Foundation, Dallas [email protected]

e. Shri Rajiv Malhotra, President, Infinity Foundation, Princeton, New Jersey [email protected]

Conference Sponsoring Organizations

Considering the historic nature of this conference, and its potential impact, WAVES invites Hinduorganizations to participate in this conference by sponsoring it in some form. At the current time, the

following organizations are behind this initiative.

a. World Association of Vedic Studiesb. Sanatana Dharma Foundationc. All World Gayatri Parivar

(Pleasevisitwww.wavesinternational.net)

ConferenceLocation

RadissonHotelPiscatawaySomerset,NewJersey

21KingsbridgeRoad,Piscataway,NJ08854

waves - conference on varna, jati and kula - 2011 - call for papers

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