SWEDISH SOUTH ASIAN STUDIES NETWORK
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Contents:
SASNET News:
• SASNET represented at Indo-Swedish Commission meeting
SASNET was represented in the Swedish delegation when the 14th session of the joint Indo-Swedish commission met in New Delhi 1–2 April 2003. The delegations were led by Swedish minister of trade and industry Mr Leif Pagrotsky, and Indian minister for commerce and industry Mr Arun Jaitley. Although mainly focussing on issues of trade and investment the session also included some matters pertaining to science and technology.
A paragraph stating SASNET's networking purpose and capacity to act as an intermediary between the Swedish research community and MHRD was added to the official minutes of the session. More information on the meeting.
• Guidelines for researchers and students visa under discussion
The new guidelines for foreign researchers and students visiting India issued by the Indian Ministry of Human Resource Development's (MHRD) – issued on 31 January 2003 – was one key talking point raised by SASNET representative Jan Magnusson. According to these guidelines all forms of academic collaboration and exchange between India and foreign countries must seek permission from MHRD. The new guidelines, for the first time, give the HRD ministry full control not only over foreign exchange programmes but also over the selection and monitoring procedure for foreign scholar/students coming to India for any form of academic activity. (More information in an article by Santwana Bhattacharya in the Indian Express, 25 March 2003). SASNET/Jan Magnusson expressed the concerns of the Swedish research community that this would restrict possibilities of conducting research in India and collaboration between Swedish and Indian academic institutions.
• Clearance for the Nordic Centre in India under discussion at the Commission meeting
The delay in the Nordic Centre in India's application to open a liaison office in New Delhi was also raised by Jan Magnusson. MHRD joint secretary C Balakrishnan replied that the application was back on the highest level and that the issue would be resolved within the next couple of months. The Nordic University consortium designated Nordic Centre in India (NCI), formally established in 2001, is still waiting for clearance from the Indian government. But it already provides inexpensive lodging for Nordic scholars and academic administrators while staying in Delhi. More information on the Nordic Centre in India.
• Panels suggestions for the EASAS conference welcome till 30 June 2003
SASNET will arrange the 18th European Conference on Modern South Asian Studies, which will take place at Lund University, Sweden, 6–9 July 2004. Scholars engaged in research and teaching concerning South Asia with regard to all periods and fields of study are welcome to take part in the conference. SASNET organises the conference on behalf of the European Association for South Asian Studies, EASAS. Suggestions for panels should be delivered before 30 June, 2003. Read the announcement for the conference.
• Follow-up seminars for PhD students/researchers in Stockholm and Uppsala
As a follow-up on the discussions that emerged at SASNET’s symposium for South Asia oriented PhD students in Marstrand in October 2002 (read the reports) Staffan Lindberg and Lars Eklund from SASNET will visit Stockholm and Uppsala in May 2003, and have local meetings with researchers, teachers and students.
In Stockholm a call has been given to interested persons at the Karolinska Institutet Medical University, KTH, and Stockholm University, for an intercurricular meeting on Wednesday 14 May, 16–18. Venue: Rockefeller room, Karolinska Institutet, Nobels väg 11, Stockholm.
In Uppsala the Collegium for Development Studies is going to invite PhD students, supervisors, and teachers/researchers for a full day follow-up symposium, with an introduction by Staffan Lindberg and Lars Eklund, on Friday 16 May 2003, 9.15–17.30. Venue: Atrium Hotell and Conference, Dragarbrunnsgatan 46.
• SASNET involved in formation of Øresund Network of Asian Studies
An Øresund Network of Asian Studies is under formation, with active participation from SASNET. This will eventually entail focused cooperation at all levels of education within the Øresund University. The purpose is to strengthen East, South-East and South Asian education and research at the universities and university colleges involved in the Øresund University Consortium. More information on the development of ØRNAST.
• Applications for the next round of SASNET planning grants
are now invited. Closing date for applications is 15 June, 2003. More information.
• Use SASNET’s advanced search function
An advanced search function was created for SASNET last year by Netlab at Lund University. It provides for a full text search not only to our own web site, but also to all the pages we link up to, in two steps (at present that means more than 15 000 web pages). Therefore our engine is most useful for searching material specifically connected to South Asia. It is found at http://www.sasnet.lu.se/searchf.html
Community News:
• Dissertation in Uppsala on the rise of Bahujan Samaj Party in India
Magdalena Inkinen from the Dept of Government, Uppsala University, will defend her doctoral dissertation on ”Mobilising the Lower Castes: The Rise of the Bahujan Samaj Party in India”, on Thursday 22 May, 2003. Fakulty opponent is Prof Anirudh Krishna, Duke University, U.S. More information on the thesis.
• Honorary doctorate will be awarded to Gita Sen at Karolinska
Gita Sen, Sir Ratan Tata Chair Professor of Economics and Social Sciences at the Indian Institute of Management in Bangalore, India, and a well known researcher on Equity, gender and health, will become Doctor Hon. Causa at the Karolinska Institutet Medical University, Stockholm, at a function on 16 May 2003. She had been suggested for the honorary position by the Dept of Public Health Sciences, Division of International Health (IHCAR), at Karolinska.
• Applications invited for second Asian–Swedish Research partnership programme
Sida and the Swedish Research Council now launches the second round of the Swedish Research Links programmes, first initiated in 2002. Within the framework of Swedish Research Links the Asian–Swedish Research partnership programme aims specifically to stimulate contacts between Swedish researchers and researchers in Asia. Deadline for submission of applications regarding 2004: Friday 2 May 2003. More information.
• South Asia related projects given grants through the Asian–Swedish Research partnership programme
SASNET presents the projects related to South Asia, which were given three years grants through the Asian–Swedish Research partnership programme in November 2002. Go for the list!
• Indo-Swedish book on the history of iron released in Delhi
A new book presenting an Indo-European Perspective on the history of iron – from ancient times to the late twentieth century – was released at the International Centre in New Delhi, India on 31 March 2003. The editors of the book ”Tradition and Innovation in the History of Iron Making”, Girija Pande from the Dept. of History, University of Kumaon; and Jan af Geijerstam, Dept. of the History of Science & Technology, Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, were present at the occasion. More information on the Indo–Swedish book project.
• Applications invited for Networking grants
Sida/SAREC invites applications for Networking grants from institutions interested in building networks around either of two themes: 1) Development and globalisation; and 2) Gender and development. Closing date for applications: 23 April, 2003.
• Fruitful two days seminar on ”Religious Mobilisation and Organised Violence in Contemporary South Asia”
The Graduate School of International Development Studies, Roskilde University Centre,arranged such a seminar on 3-4 April 2003 with several renowned participants. Among the lecturers and discussants were the professors Paul R Brass, University of Washington, USA (photo); Jan Breman, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Dipankar Gupta, JNU, New Delhi, India; Ian Talbott, Coventry, UK; and Thomas Blom Hansen, Edinburgh, UK. More information on the seminar. A review of the seminar will soon appear on SASNET's web site. - Swedish Radio P1 sent a short feature from the seminar, with interviews of Dipankar Gupta and Paul R Brass, on Friday 4 April. The journalist Sören Wibeck from Swedish Radio, Malmö, made this feature which was included in the programme ”Människor och Tro”.
• Anna Lindberg’s dissertation praised by The Swedish Royal Academy of Letters, History and Antiquities
The Swedish Royal Academy of Letters, History and Antiquities (Vitterhetsakademin) awarded one of its 250th Anniversary 2003 Grants in Aid of Research to PhD Anna Lindberg, Dept of History, Lund University (presently however at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia). She was awarded 25 000 SEK for her excellent doctoral thesis from last year, ”Experience and Identity: A Historical Account of Class, Caste, and Gender among the Cashew Workers of Kerala, 1939–2000”.
Vacant research positions/fellowships
• Applications invited for two postdoctoral fellowships at Centre for East and South-East Asian Studies
The Centre for East and South-East Asian Studies at Lund University invites applications for two postdoctoral fellowships. The duration of each fellowship is two years, commencing 1 September 2003. Prospective candidates, from the fields of social sciences, economics and humanities, must have received their doctoral grade, or be in the situation that they will receive their doctoral grade before 1 July 2003. Closing date for applications: 21 May 2003. More information.
• SEPHIS announces five fellowships for post-doctoral research in 2003
SEPHIS, the South-South exchange programme for research on the history of development, based at Amsterdam (and fully sponsored by the Netherlands Ministry for Development Cooperation), announces five fellowships for post-doctoral research in 2003. Funding will be provided for travel and research costs, and salary according to local standards. Eligible are scholars who have received their PhD degrees, preferably within the last five years, and who are employed by or affiliated to a university, a research institute or development agency in a developing country. Another five grants are also available for PhD research. Under the sub-themes of ”The forging of Nationhood, and the contest over Citizenship, Ethnicity and History”; and ”Equity, Exclusion and Liberalisation”, Sephis will give special attention to the search for new identities and visions on development which arise in the South. Deadline for applications: 30 April, 2003. More information from the SEPHIS web page.
Conferences and courses
• The 2003 International Iqbal Conference
will take place 21–23 April 2003 at the Aiwan i Iqbal Auditorium in Lahore, Pakistan, under the auspices of the Iqbal Academy Pakistan. The topic of the Conference shall be “Perspectives on Iqbal – A World Survey of Iqbal Studies”. The inauguration shall be made by the President of Pakistan and the event synchronizes with the grand occasion of the Iqbal Day 21st April. Venue: 6th Floor, Academy Block, Aiwan-e-Iqbal Complex, Off Egerton Road, Lahore. More information on Iqbal Academy and the conference.
• International Conference on ”Conflict Prevention – analysis, policies and practice” at Lund University
The Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Centre for European Studies at Lund University, and the Folke Bernadotte Academy, arrange an International Conference on ”Conflict Prevention – analysis, policies and practice” at Lund University 8–9 May 2003. More information (as a pdf-file).
• A Nordic Researcher Training seminar on ”Global Governance and Development”
is arranged at Bornholm, Denmark, 2–4 June 2003. The seminar is organised by the Graduate School of International Development Studies, Roskilde University, in collaboration with the Institute of Development Studies, Helsinki University; Centre for Development and the Environment (SUM), University of Oslo; Centre for Development Studies, University of Bergen; and Dept of Sociology, Lund University. Venue: Strandhotellet, Allinge-Sandvig, Bornholm, Denmark. Venue: Strandhotellet, Allinge-Sandvig, Bornholm. Deadline for application 1 April 2003. More information (pdf-file)
• Conference on ”Women and Politics in Asia” at Halmstad University
An international multi-disciplinary and cross-disciplinary conference on ”Women and Politics in Asia” will take place at Halmstad University 6–7 June 2003. The aim of the conference is to study different dimensions of Asian women in politics, with contributions from scholars within the social sciences and the humanities from various parts of the world. Abstracts for papers expanding on the central theme, and on other relevant topics, are invited. Deadline for submission: 31 January 2003. The conference is organized jointly by the School of Social and Health Sciences at Halmstad University, the Centre for Asian Studies at Göteborg University, the Centre for East and Southeast Asian Studies at Lund University, and Nordic Institute for Asian Studies, NIAS. More information on the conference website.
• The 12th World Sanskrit Conference
will be held in Helsinki, Finland, 14–18 July, 2003. The conference is organized by the International Association of Sanskrit Studies, and the Dept of Indology, Institute for Asian and African Studies, University of Helsinki. Closing date for registration is 31 March 2003.
• A Post-graduate researcher training course on ”Intervention, local politics and the state”
is held at the University of Helsinki Biological Research Centre, Lammi, Finland, 14–16 August 2003. Registered PhD candidates in Development Studies or related fields are invited to the conference where James Ferguson (University of California, Irvine), Christian Lund (Roskilde University Centre), Jean-Pierre Olivier de Sardan (EHESS, Marseille), and K. Sivaramakrishnan (University of Washington, Seattle) will lecture. Closing date for applications: 30 April 2003. More information.
• International conference on peripheral communities in Härjedalen in August
An International multidisciplinary conference on the theme ”Peripheral Communities. Crisis, Continuity and Long-Term Survival” will take place in Sveg and the forest village of Ängersjö in Härjedalen, Sweden on August 14-17, 2003. The conference is hosted by the Swedish interdisciplinary research project ”Flexibility as Tradition. Culture and Subsistence in the Boreal Forests of Northern Sweden”, which involves scholars from the faculties of natural science, humanities and social science, and it will explore the historical and contemporary conditions of peripheral communities from a broad multidisciplinary perspective. More information at the conference website.
• More conferences connected to South Asian studies, see SASNET’s page, http://www.sasnet.lu.se/conferences.html#conf
Important lectures and workshops
• Purvi Metha-Bhatt lectures in Stockholm on the Green Revolution in India
Ms Purvi Metha-Bhatt has been invited by Svensk-Indiska föreningen for a lecture in Stockholm on ”Women’s role in the Green Revolution”. Metha-Bhatt is working as Director for Science Ashram, a non-profit NGO working in agriculture, environment and ecology, biotechnology, information, education and arts in the Indian state of Gujarat. She is also currently chairman for All India Biotech Association. Her lecture is scheduled for Wednesday 23 April 2003, at 18.30. Venue: Medborgarhuset, room 310, Stockholm.
• Prince of the Nicobar Islands and representative of the Tribal Council Nancowry lectures at Lund
Rasheed Yusuf, Prince of the Nicobar Islands and representative of the Tribal Council Nancowry (photo to the left), will visit the Human Ecology Division. Lund University, between the 21 and the 27th of April 2003. On 22 April, 13–15, Rasheed Yusuf will hold a seminar in ”Röda Rummet”, Institute of Ethnology, Finngatan 10, Lund, on ”Fighting economic exploitation in the Central Nicobars”, dealing with the period of economic exploitation that began after the death of his grandmother, Rani Lachmi, who was a formidable leader. His talk will also include how the Nicobarese have been exploited by outsiders, and their fight against this. On 23 April, 13–15, Simron J. Singh, graduate student in human ecology, will talk about ”The political situation on the Nicobar Islands after Indian Independence”. His seminar is at 13-15 in the Seminar Room (first floor) on Finngatan 16, Lund.
• Dr. Richard Palmer-Jones lectures in Lund on ”Agricultural Growth and Poverty Reduction in India”
The Development Studies Seminar at Lund University arranges a lecture with Dr. Richard Palmer-Jones, University of East Anglia, U.K. on Wednesday 23 April 2003, 13-15. Palmer-Jones with a a long career in development studies has spent a number of years researching on agricultural development, water management, and demography in South Asia, and he will lecture on ”Agricultural Growth and Poverty Reduction in India: 'It is Where you are that counts'.” Venue: Conference Room 1 (room 335, 2nd floor), Department of Sociology, Paradisgatan 5, Lund.
• SASNET lecture with Professor Jan Breman on ”Informalisation of work in India”
SASNET in cooperation with the General Seminar at the Department of Sociology, Lund University, announces a Guest Lecture by Prof. em. Jan Breman (photo to the left), Dept. of Sociology, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, the Netherlands, on Tuesday 6 May 6 2003, 13.15–15. He will lecture on ”Informalisation of work in India”.
Professor Breman has a long and distinguished career as field researcher on working life in western India and Java, Indonesia. Most recently he has studied the closure and firing of workers in the textile industries in Ahmedabad in the 1990s. Venue: Dept of Sociology, Conference room 1, Paradisgatan 5, Lund.
• Open Workshop on ”Democratising and Developing Post-Conflict Sri Lanka”
Such a workshop is arranged by the Centre for Development and the Environment (SUM), Oslo University, on 6 May 2003, 10.00–16.00. Venue: Auditorium 2, Helga Eng Building, Blindern, Oslo. The workshop is part of of a research colloquium on ”Local Politics and Democratisation”, held at SUM during the Spring 2003. Among the participants will be Jayadeva Uyangoda from the Dept of Political Science and Public Policy, University of Colombo, who will lecture on ”Sri Lanka: From Civil War to Transformative Peace”; and Nadaraja Shanmugaratnamfrom NORAGRIC, Centre for International Environment and Development Studies, Agricultural University of Norway, who will lecture on ”Development Challenges in Northern and Eastern Sri Lanka”.
Summer Schools
• Summer Course on Contemporary India organized by the Nordic Centre in India, at Hyderabad
The Nordic Centre in India (NCI) and University of Hyderabad invites Nordic students to take part in a four weeks Summer course on ”Contemporary India”, in July 2003. The course will consist of lectures and field trips, and is an adaptation of the Study in India programme developed by the University of Hyderabad (which has been used by American universities for many years). It is tailor-made for Nordic students with a few years’ experience of higher education but not necessarily more than basic knowledge about India. Students of all disciplines are invited to apply. There is no formal application process, it is only necessary to contact the NCI director Arild Engelsen Ruud and state an interest to participate, and it should preferrably be done before 30 April 2003. The announcement is available as a poster. Go for it! (pdf-file).
• The second European Summer School in Modern South Asian Studies
takes place 21 July – 2 August 2003, at the South Asia Institute, Heidelberg University, Germany. It is jointly organised by the University of Edinburgh, the European Institute of Asian Studies, Brussels, the Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales, Paris, University of Oslo and the University of Heidelberg. Undergraduate and graduate students from all over Europe will, through an interdisciplinary teaching program, covering issues of History, Politics, Economy, Religion and Development studies, gain insights into the most important aspects of modern South Asia. A limited number of scholarships is available.
News on courses and education
• Nordic report on Studying Indian Languages in India
Such a report was prepared last year by Gunilla Gren-Eklund, professor of Indology, especially Sanskrit, Dept for African and Asian Languages at Uppsala University; and Stig Toft Madsen (photo to the right), Lecturer, International Development Studies at Roskilde University, Denmark. The comprehensive report is based on experiences from two journeys, one of them a tour visiting educational institutions in Mussorie, Delhi, Hyderabad, Mysore, and Baroda in India, in November 2001; and the second a tour to institutions in the U.S. in June 2001. The report is available here, as a pdf-file.
• Scholarships offered for Swedish students to study at Indian universities
Scholarships for studies at Indian universities are offered on a reciprocal basis for two Swedish students every year by the Indian government through the Council of Cultural Relations in New Delhi. Applications for scholarships are managed through the Swedish Institute in Stockholm, who pass them on to the Indian Embassy in Stockholm. Last date for applications for the year 2004/05: 1 November, 2003. More information on the scholarships, and application forms (only in Swedish).
Working papers on South Asia available on the Internet
• Norwegian report on phasing out of the Hambantota project
”Sustaining Local Level Development: What worked and what did not – Lessons from the phasing-out of Norwegian aid to the Hambantota Integrated Rural Development Programme (HIRDEP), Sri Lanka 1992-1999”. CMI Report R 2003:2, by Alf Morten Jerve, Sylvi Endresen, Dhanawardana Gamage and Marcus M. Karunanayake, Christian Michelsens Institutt, Bergen, Norway. Go for the report!
• Bangladeshi reports on Gender, Equality and the Women’s situation
The Sustainable Development Networking Programme (SDNP), Dhaka, Bangladesh, in connection with the International Women's Day 2003 (8 March), has published a number of reports and papers on Gender, Equality and the Women’s situation in Bangladesh. They include reports on trafficking, and acid burns in the country.
New and updated items on SASNET web site
• More Swedish departments where research on South Asia is going on:
Added to the list of research environments at Swedish universities, presented by SASNET. The full list now includes 94 departments. Go to the presentation page, http://www.sasnet.lu.se/environment.html.
ƒ Applied Semiconductor Physics, Division of Microelectronics and Nanoscience, Dept of Physics and Engineering Physics, at Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg
ƒ Dept of Energy Conversion, at Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg
ƒ Division of Chemical Reaction Engineering, Dept of Chemical Engineering, at Kungl Tekniska Högskolan, Stockholm
ƒ Heat Transfer, Dept of Heat and Power Engineering, Lund Institute of Technology, Lund University
ƒ Human Ecology Division, Dept of European Ethnology, Lund University
ƒ Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Dept of Physiological Sciences, Lund University
ƒ Dept of Pure and Applied Biochemistry, Lund Institute of Technology, Lund University
ƒ Dept of Education, Stockholm University
ƒ Dept of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, at Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Umeå
ƒ Dept of Silviculture, Faculty of Forestry at Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Umeå
ƒ Dept of EntomologySwedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala
ƒ Epidemiology and Public Health Sciences, Umeå International School of Public Health, Umeå University
• New pages for Politics & Business; and South Asia related Think tanks
SASNET now extends its coverage of South Asia related Swedish news on politics and business, and presents a special page for this. Go for it!
We also present selected Think tanks on a special page. It is still under construction but already includes the Mumbai-based Strategic Foresight Group which recently published a new report called ”Shifting Sands: Instability in Undefined Asia”, dealing with the internal dynamics of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia since the war on terror was launched in 2001. Go for the page!
• Several new articles recommended for reading
Look at http://www.sasnet.lu.se/recreading.html for suggestions on interesting new articles on South Asia in International media. Many new items added, especially on Pakistan, India, and Nepal.
• Asian perspectives and reactions to the war in Iraq
are offered by the Norwegian Asianettverket. Go for their news service.
Cultural Events connected to South Asia in (or nearby) Scandinavia
• Indian dance festival at Kulturhuset in Stockholm
An Indian dance festival – ”Indian Inspiration” takes place at Kilen, Kulturhuset, Stockholm, 26–27 April 2003, 11-15. Besides dance performances an open Indian room offers atmosphere, fragrances and tastes, and a workshop making gods and goddesses. The festival is arranged by Lava Kulturhuset in cooperation with the Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities. More information.
• Mughal miniature painting exhibition in London
An extraordinary exhibition of Mughal miniature painting, ”The Adventures of Hamza” is shown at the Victorian and Albert Museum in London 6 March – 8 June 2003. It is full of vibrant paintings taken from the Hamzanama (the ‘Story of Hamza’) illustrating epic tales of heroism, magic and bravery. The scenes at the paintings epict the exploits of Hamza, a mythical character who travelled the world with his band of heroes battling against a host of adversaries.It was commissioned by the great Mughal emperor Akbar about 1557. See one of the paintings here to the right. More information on the exhibition.
• Bangladeshi theatre troup toured Sweden
A Bangladeshi theatre troup has recently touried Sweden. The ensemble comes from the organisation Nijera Kori’s village groups, and was invited to Sweden by the Swallows (Svalorna Indien-Bangladesh sektionen), for setting up a performance on the issue of the harmful tiger prawns production in Bangladesh and its dependance on consumption in the West. The Bangladeshi theatre ensemble worked together with Swedish actors from the theatre group Teater Tarantel in Malmö. Public performances took place in the beginning of April in Malmö, Lund, Stockholm and Eksjö. More information.
• Indien.nu is a new ambitious Swedish web site
giving information on India related activities, concerts, film shows, restaurants, shops etc. in Sweden. Go for its activities page!
Best regards
Staffan Lindberg Lars Eklund
SASNET/ Swedish South Asian Studies Network
SASNET is a national network for research, education, and information about South Asia, based at Lund University. The aim is to encourage and promote an open and dynamic networking process, in which Swedish researchers co-operate with researchers in South Asia and globally.
The network is open to all sciences. Priority is given to co-operation between disciplines and across faculties, as well as institutions in the Nordic countries and in South Asia. The basic idea is that South Asian studies will be most fruitfully pursued in co-operation between researchers, working in different institutions with a solid base in their mother disciplines.
The network is financed by Sida (Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency) and by Lund University.
Postal address: SASNET – Swedish South Asian Studies Network, c/o International Office,
Lund University, P O Box 117, S-221 00 Lund
Visiting address: Gamla Kirurgen, Sandgatan 3, first floor, room no. 230
Phone: + 46 46 222 73 40
Fax: + 46 46 222 41 11 (Note: Changed number!)
E-mail: sasnet@sasnet.lu.se
Web site: http://www.sasnet.lu.se
Staff: Staffan Lindberg, director/co-ordinator &
Lars Eklund, webmaster/deputy director
