SWEDISH SOUTH ASIAN STUDIES NETWORK
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Contents:
SASNET News:
• New location for SASNET’s root node office at Lund University
SASNET’s root node office at Lund University changed location on Thursday 6 November 2003.The new office is located within the premises of the Centre for East and South East Asian Studies, ACE, House Alfa 1 at Ideon Research Village, room 2042 (first floor). Postal address: SASNET, Scheelevägen 15 B, SE-223 70 Lund, Sweden. Telephone: +46 46 222 7340. SASNET has from the start in January 2001 been located in the premises of the Lund University International Office, which has also provided SASNET with administrative and economic assistance. An agreement has now been made that the Centre for East and South East Asian Studies takes over this role. SASNET and ACE are already closely connected in running a Masters programme in Asian Studies since September 2003. More information.
• SASNET contact journey to Pakistan and Afghanistan
The SASNET director Professor Staffan Lindberg, and deputy director/webmaster Lars Eklund are leaving for a three-weeks contact journey to Pakistan and Afghanistan on Thursday 20 November 2003. The aim of the tour is to link up the SASNET activities with universities and research institutions in the two countries, where they will visit Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore and Kabul. They hope to strengthen already existing academic contacts and establish new ones, in a similar way that was accomplished during the SASNET contact journey to the Maldives, Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh in the Spring 2002. Read the reports from that journey.
• Schedules fixed for the panels to the 18th EASAS conference
The 18th European Conference on Modern South Asian Studies, organized by SASNET and Lund University, 6–9 July 2004, will have a total number of 49 panels, covering a wide scope of research fields. Please note that individual researchers who like to present papers at the 18th EASAS conference should contact the convenor of the panel into which his/her paper fits. Each panel has a convenor who organizes the panel autonomously. All communications regarding the panels content should therefore be directed directly to the panel organizers, and not to the executive conference committee. Last date for registration and submission of papers is 1 February 2004. The schedules are now fixed. Go for the panels schedules page with links to abstracts.
• Registration to the conference before 1 February 2004
Last date for registration to the 18th EASAS conference is 1 February 2004. A registration form, which includes details on how to pay the conference fee, is available at the conference web page, http://www.sasnet.lu.se/EASAS18.html
• Limited number of travel and accommodation grants available
Two categories of participants to the 18th EASAS conference in Lund are eligible to apply for the limited number of travel and accommodation grants available, namely:
1/ Panel convenors from South Asia and Eastern Europe who need financial support to attend the conference; and
2/ Younger researchers from South Asia and Eastern Europe who need financial support to attend the conference, and has got his/her paper accepted by a panel (maximum one scholarship per panel).
The applying panel convenor or young researcher, should submit a copy of the paper that has been accepted for the conference, along with his/her CV, and a confirmation that the paper has been accepted by a panel. Applications have to reach the secretariat, by e-mail (sasnet@sasnet.lu.se) or by post (SASNET, Scheelevagen 15, SE-223 70 Lund, Sweden) no later than 1 February 2004, which is also the closing date for registration.
The grants consist of getting flight tickets to and from Lund, plus food and accommodation during the conference period. Only few travel and accommodation grants are available, and we therefore advise anybody who really desires to participate in the conference to secure funding from other sources.
• Hotel accommodation for participants to the 18th EASAS conference
The conference will arrange lodging only for those persons who receive a travel and accommodation grant to attend. Other participants must arrange and pay for their own lodging. There are however several alternatives for accommodation.
Rooms have been booked in advance for participants in the 18th EASAS conference at all hotels in town. When making the final reservation you should therefore mention the booking code mentioned in SASNET’s directory of hotels and youth hostels available at Lund.
• Reports from SASNET meetings in Karlstad and Göteborg
Follow-up meetings to the SASNET’s symposium in Marstrand in October 2002 were arranged at Karlstad University and Göteborg University in September 2003. Researchers, teachers and students engaged in South Asian studies at Karlstad University presented their work at a meeting on Wednesday 24 September. Read a report from the Karlstad seminar.
Researchers, teachers and students engaged in South Asia related research at Göteborg University were given an introduction to SASNET and its web site at a meeting on Thursday 25 September. The meeting was organized by the Centre for Asian Studies, at Världshuset, Brogatan, Göteborg. More information on the meeting in which SASNET’s Staffan Lindberg and Lars Eklund took part.
• Next round for SASNET planning grants in June 2004
The coming round for SASNET planning grants, which should have had its deadline in November, has been cancelled. The decision was taken by the SASNET Board at its meeting on 26 August. Instead applications are invited for the first round in 2004. Closing date for applications is 15 June, 2004. More information.
Community News:
• Licentiate thesis on Srilankan medicinal plants and herbal preparations in Uppsala
Wimal Pathmasiri from the Division of Pharmacognosy, Dept. of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, defended his Licentiate thesis on ”COX 2 Inhibitors of Natural origin: Dereplication, Isolation, and Structure Eludicidation”, on 3 November 2003. Pathmasiri (photo to the left) , coming from Sri Lanka, has done research on Srilankan medicinal plants and herbal preparations. Read abstract of the thesis.
• Licentiate thesis at KTH by Srilankan researcher on boiling of nanofluids
Sanjeeva Witharana from the Division of Applied Thermodynamics and Refrigeration, Dept. of Energy Technology; at Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan, Stockholm, defended his Licentiate thesis on ”Boiling of refrigerants on enhanced surfaces and boiling of nanofluids” in May 2003. Witharana has dedicated his thesis to his motherland Sri Lanka. More information, with link to the full thesis.
• Scholars and associations willing to review contemporary South Asian literary fiction wanted
The International Fiction Review magazine (IFR), published by the Dept. of Culture and Language Studies, University of New Brunswick, Canada, is seeking contact with scholars and associations willing to present articles and reviews on contemporary South Asian literary fiction. Interested scholars should contact Gabriel V. Laforge, Editorial Assistant at IFR.
Vacant research positions/fellowships
• Associate Professorship in Development and International Relations at Aalborg University
The Faculty of Social Sciences at Aalborg University; Denmark, announces a one-year position of Associate Professorship in Development and International Relations. The position is attached to the Research Center on Development and International Relations (DIR), Institute of History, International and Social Studies. The Visiting Associate Professor will participate in the research and PhD programme of DIR on Globalization, Inequality and Human Security. Teaching obligations at Master level at administration/Social Studies and Development and International Relations.
• Tenure track-position at the rank of assistant professor at the University of Washington
The University of Washington, Seattle, USA, invites applications for a tenure track-position, at the rank of assistant professor, jointly held in the Department of Geography, and in the Jackson School of International Studies beginning in September 2004. Applicants must have a regional focus upon South Asia with research and teaching interests in society-environment relations and critical development studies. Last date for appliocations: 10 December 2003.
Conferences and courses
• International seminar an workshop on fermented foods in Gujarat
An International Seminar and Workshop on ”Fermented Foods, Health Status and Social Well being” will be organised by the Dept of Dairy Microbiology, SMC College of Dairy Science, Gujarat Agricultural University at Anand, India, 13–14 November 2003. The conference is co-hosted by the Dept of Applied Nutrition, Lund University, Sweden; and is partly sponsored by a planning grant from SASNET. Dr V Kurien, the father of White Revolution in India, will inaugurate the seminar on 13 November. Full programme with registration form (as a pdf-file).
• International Seminar on ”Operationalizing Gross National Happiness” at Thimphu, Bhutan
An International Seminar on ”Operationalizing Gross National Happiness” is held at Thimphu, Bhutan, in the third week of November 2003. Gross National Happiness as a distinct Bhutanese value manifested in the form of its development approach and policies seen as an area of learning and sharing expertise. The seminar is arranged by the Centre for Bhutan Studies, Thimphu, in collaboration with the Dutch environmental organization Ecooperation, and it is a follow-up arrangement to a seminar held in Zeist, the Netherlands, in 2001, which resulted in a Sustainable Development Agreement between Benin, Bhutan, Costa Rica and The Netherlands. More information.
• 9th International Conference on Sri Lankan Studies at the University of Ruhuna
The 9th International Conference on Sri Lankan Studies will be held at the University of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka, 28–30 November 2003. The conference’s theme will be ”Sri Lanka at Crossroads: Continuity & Change”.
• International conference on Sustainable Landfill Management at Chennai
An International conference on Sustainable Landfill, supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, Sida, is held 3–5 December 2003, at Chennai, India. The conference, which provides a forum to share ideas and experiences in the field of solid waste management in Asia, is organised by the Centre for Environmental Studies (CES), Anna University, Chennai; in association with the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, Thailand. It should also provide a platform to disseminate the findings of an on-going Asian Regional Research Project funded by Sida.
• Norwegian conference on Evaluating Research Results from the South
The Second NETREED Conference with the theme ”Communicating and Evaluating Research Results from the South” will take place 8–10 December 2003 at Gausdal Høifjellshotell, Norway. NETREED is a network of individuals and institutions based in Norway, who do research and evaluation on education and development (with a focus on developing countries). Key note speaker at the conference will be Dr. Iffat Farah from the Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan. The theme of the conference is chosen in order to get a wide discussion and different perspectives on research results of researchers in the North doing research in countries in the South. There will also be a debate on ethical questions and dilemmas for those working as researchers on the one hand and as evaluators on the other hand. Paper presentations by graduate students, researchers, evaluators and representatives from NGO's will be organised in parallell sessions.
• International Conference on business management of developing countries in Sri Lanka
The first International Conference on business management of developing countries, with the theme ”From information to knowledge to competencies: Key success factors for innovation and sustainable development” is held at the University of Sri Jayewardenapura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka 11–12 December 2003. The conference is organized by the university’s Faculty of Management and Commerce.
• International Conference on Women and Migration in Asia in New Delhi
An International Conference on ”Women and Migration in Asia” is held at New Delhi, India 10–13 December 2003. The conference is organized by the Developing Countries Research Centre, DCRC, at the University of Delhi, and has the ambition to bring together scholars from across Asia and other countries working in the broad thematic area of Women and Migration.
• International conference on the studies of religious traditions in India at New Delhi
A regional conference of the International Association of the History of Religions (IAHR) will be arranged in New Delhi, India, 18–21 December, 2003. The conference, whichs aims to encourage rigorous secular studies of religious traditions in India: Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, Jainism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam and Sikhism, is organised by the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), in collaboration with India International Centre.
• Indian History Congress holds its 64th Annual Session in Mysore
The Indian History Congress (IHC) will hold its 64th Annual Session in Mysore, Karnataka, 28–30 December 2003. As ususal there will be five panels sections, for 1. Ancient India, 2. Medieval India, 3. Modern India, 4. History of Countries other than India, and 5. Archaeology. Besides this the IHC, which is the oldest and one of the most prestigious academic organizations in India, proposes to hold a special panel on the ”History of Information and Communication Technologies in India” during the session. Eminent scholars from history and related disciplines would be presenting papers in it and the IHC has plans for publication of a volume with selected papers.
• International conference on ”Conflict, Peace and Development in South Asia” at Colombo
An International conference on ”Conflict, Peace and Development in South Asia” is held at Colombo, Sri Lanka, 8–10 January 2004. The conference is arranged by School of Management, Binghamton University, New York State, USA, in cooperation with the the International Center for Conflict Prevention and Management, Sydney, Australia. Deadline for registration: 19 September 2003. More information (as a pdf file).
• More conferences connected to South Asian studies, see SASNET’s page, http://www.sasnet.lu.se/conferences.html#conf
Important lectures and workshops
• Dipak Malik lectures on ”IT, Hindu Fundamentialism and Class Struggles in India”
Professor. Dipak Malik from the Dept. of Commerce, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India, lectures at Lund University on “IT, Hindu Fundamentialism and Class Struggles in India”, Wednesday 19 November, 14–16. Professor Malik’s research has mainly focused on labour market and trade unions. He has extensive experience of international cooperation and has been guest professor at University of West Indies St. Augustine, Trindidad & Tobago; and University of York, Ontario, Canada. In this connection he has developed courses in for example ”Politics and Sociology of Communalism”. Professor Malik has previously been chairman of the Teachers Association at Banaras Hindu University and adviser to the government in India. Presently Malik is engaged in SASNET (Swedish South Asian Studies Network) as adviser. The lecture is organized by the General Seminar, Dept. of Sociology, Lund University, in collaboration with SASNET. Venue: Dept. of Sociology, room 3, Paradisgatan 3, Lund.
• Salim Khan lectures on ”The World Bank's Strategy of Poverty Regulation in Bangladesh”
The Center for Pacific Asia Studies (CPAS) at Stockholm University arranges a lecture with Salim Khan, Ph.D. in Economics at the New School University, New York, USA, on Wednesday 26 November, 15–17. Khan will lecture on ”The World Bank's Strategy of Poverty Regulation in Bangladesh.” Venue: Main hall, Dept of Oriental Languages, Kräftriket 4 A, Stockholm.
• Johan Mikaelsson lectures on the Tamil people in Sri Lanka
As part of a seminar on suppressed ethnic groups around the World fighting for independence, to be held in Stockholm on Saturday 29 November, 13.00–16.30, the Swedish journalist Johan Mikaelsson, SYDASIEN, lectures on the Tamil people in Sri Lanka. He will talk about the civil war devastating the country during the years 1983–2002, the fragile peace process now going on, and the road to autonomy for the Tamils. Mikaelsson will also show his documentary film ”Fredens år i Sri Lanka”. The seminar is organized by the International magazines project ”Upptäck Hela Världen” in collaboration with ABF Stockholm. Venue: ABF-huset, Sandlersalen, Sveavägen 41. More information on the seminar (as a pdf-file).
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 108 departments! Go to the presentation 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 the South Asia region.
Cultural Events connected to South Asia in Scandinavia
• Days of India festival is organized by Dieselverkstaden in Nacka
A week-long Days of India festival is organized by Dieselverkstaden in Nacka, outside Stockholm, 11–16 November 2003. The festival is co-organized by the Embassy of India and will be formally inaugurated by the Indian ambassador to Sweden, Ms Chitra Narayanan, on Wednesday 12 November, 17.00. The programme for the week includes a photo exhibition by Mikael Lindström; lectures by Per J Andersson, Christian Jutvik, and David Ståhl; dance performances by Kristina Borgkrans and Helena Lambert; block print workshops with Kärsti Stiege; and a sari show. Venue: Dieselverkstaden, Marcusplatsen 17, Nacka.
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, Scheelevägen 15 B, S-223 70 Lund, Sweden
Visiting address: Ideon Research Park, House Alfa 1 (first floor, room no. 2042), in the premises of the Centre for East and South East Asian Studies at Lund University (ACE).
Phone: + 46 46 222 73 40
Fax: + 46 46 222 30 41
E-mail: sasnet@sasnet.lu.se
Web site: http://www.sasnet.lu.se
Staff: Staffan Lindberg, director/co-ordinator & Lars Eklund, webmaster/deputy director
