SWEDISH SOUTH ASIAN STUDIES NETWORK
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Contents:
SASNET News:
• SASNET board decided on coming evaluation
The SASNET Board met on Tuesday 24 August 2004, and decided on several important issues e g on the terms of reference to suggest for the coming Sida/SAREC evaluation of SASNET, and the future organisation of the network. The board also approved the distribution of planning grants, and decided that SASNET should organise a workshop with senior researchers and PhD candidates in connection with the Nordic Association for South Asian Studies (NASA) conference to be held in Århus in the second half of 2005. The main theme for the workshop will be increased cooperation between the social sciences and humanities and medicine, technical and natural sciences.
Finally the board commended SASNET for the successful realization of the 18th European Conference on Modern South Asian Studies in Lund. The conference organisers were thanked for their achievements that put Lund and Sweden on the World map of South Asian studies. Read the verified minutes!
• Updated information on the ECMSAS conference in Lund
SASNET has successfully arranged the 18th European Conference on Modern South Asian Studies in Lund 6–9 July 2004. With 360 participants from all over the World actually turning up (including a large number of PhD candidates and participants from from South Asia itself) it was the largest ECMSAS conference so far, and certainly the largest gathering ever on Swedish soil of South Asia oriented researchers, covering all fields from the humanities and social sciences to technology, natural sciences and medicine. Full updated information on the Lund conference.
• A large number of full papers presented to the 44 conference panels have been posted on the conference website, and more will still follow after the conference. See the full list of conference panels, abstracts and papers
The panel convenors have been asked to present reports on the outcome of their respective panel. So far (17 September 2004) reports have been delivered for 24 of the 44 panels. Go for the summary of Panel Reports (as a pdf-file)
• Use SASNET’s advanced search function
An advanced search function was created for SASNET two years ago 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 20 000 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:
• Nordic Fernström Prize awarded for research on cholera vaccine
The prestigious Nordic Fernström Prize for outstanding performances in Medicine for 2004 will be awarded to Prof. Jan Holmgren (photo to the left), Institute of Medical Microbiology and Immunology at Sahlgrenska Academy, Göteborg University. The prize delivered by the Faculty of Medicine at Lund University, Sweden, is given to him for his lifelong research on cholera in Bangladesh. This resulted in an effective vaccine against cholera, administered orally, that was registered in 1993. Jan Holmgren will receive the award at a ceremony at Lund University on Wednesday 3 November 2004. More information on Jan Holmgren’s research.
• Doctoral dissertation for Srilankan student of split PhD programme
Prasad M. Jayaweera from the University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka, defends his doctoral dissertation at the Dept. of Computer and System Sciences, Stockholm Universiy/KTH, on Friday 24 September 2004, 13.00. Jayaweera belongs to a group of eight Srilankan students in a Sida-sponsored split PhD programme. The title of the thesis is ”Unified Framework for e-Commerce Systems Development: Business Process Patterns Perspective”. Faculty opponent: Prof. Hans Weigand, Tilburg University, Netherlands. Venue: DSV, Sal B, Forum, Isafjordsgatan 39, Kista.
• 2004 Lund University Hyden Award to thesis on Hindutva
The 2004 Hydén Award for Best Undergraduate Thesis on Democratisation and Development in the Third World was given to Ted Svensson, Dept. of Political Science, in connection with Lund University’s Development Studies Day 17 September 2004. Svensson was awarded for writing an excellent thesis ”Hindu Right Discourse – Hegemonic Articulation and Social Antagonism”, on the reasons behind the strong emergence of Hindutva political philosophy in India during the last 20 years. The Hydén Award was established a few years ago by a group of faculty and students at Lund University as an award for the best undergraduate paper in development studies, in honor of their mentor and colleague, Göran Hydén (now professor at the University of Florida, Gainesville). The award is open for senior dissertation students in anthropology, economic history, economics, political science and sociology at Lund University. More information with abstract to Svensson’s thesis.
• Leiden University willing to host the 19th ECMSAS conference 2006
Leiden University of the Netherlands has expressed its interest in arranging the next biannual European Conference on Modern South Asian Studies to be held in the Summer 2006. This has become possible since the International Institute of Asian Studies, IIAA, based at Leiden, has expressed its willingness to take care of all organisational matters related to the conference. Details on exact dates and location will appear soon.
• UNDP’s Human Development Report 2004 launched on 15 July
The title of this year’s report, commissioned by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is ”Cultural liberty in today’s diverse world”. As ususal the HDR offers a unique analysis of the world’s progress in meeting the ambitious Millennium Development Goals, arising from the Millennium Declaration which was endorsed by world leaders at the UN Millennium Summit in September 2000. These goals, ranging from reversing and halting the spread of HIV/AIDS and other diseases to achieving universal primary education, with an aim to lift hundreds of millions of people out of extreme poverty by 2015, were reaffirmed by the Group of Eight leaders in June 2003 in France.
As in previous years, the Human Development Report ranks the countries of the World according to their level of human development, based on indices such as infant mortality, sanitation standards, and basic education. Among the South Asian nations Maldives ranks highest (84) in this Human Development Index, followed by Sri Lanka (96), India (127), Bhutan (134), Bangladesh (138), Nepal (140) and Pakistan (142). Afghanistan not included in the ranking of 177 countries. Two Scandinavian countries top the list: Norway and Sweden, followed by Australia and Canada. The complete report is available (as pdf-files) on the Internet. More information
• ØRNAST educational cooperation project formally inaugurated
The ØRNAST educational cooperation project between the universities of Lund and Copenhagen was formally inaugurated with a ceremony at Copenhagen University on Tuesday 14 September 2004, 16.00–18.00. Representatives from the involved departments/faculties at Copenhagen and Lund universities participated. The welcome speech was given by John Kuhlmann Madsen, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, University of Copenhagen (photo to the right). Steen Folke gave a short personal lecture on ”45 years of Danish-Indian development partnership”. More information
• NoFSA-NET appeals for more Nordic participation
NoFSA-NET was originally a Norwegian Internet-based discussion group. Two years ago it was turned into a Nordic Forum for South Asia, inviting scholars, students and other persons in all the Nordic countries interested in South Asian studies to join the mailing-list. The main input however still comes from Norway. Pamela Price, a devoted user of NoFSA-NET now appeals to more Nordic students and scholars to make use of it. List manager of NoFSA-NET is Ram Gupta at Oslo University. More information on how to join NoFSA-NET.
• Atlantic Publishers & Distributors invites for manuscripts
Papers are invited by Atlantic Publishers & Distributors, a leading books publisher in New Delhi, India, as they plan to publish volumes on Social capital/Good governance/Human rights/Multiculturalism/Decentralization/Human ecology. Therefore Atlantic Publishers now call for papers from scholars worldwide, to be sent along with a CV to the editor at drkrgupta@rediffmail.com. Contributors will receive one complimentary copy from the publisher. More information on Atlantic Publishers.
• Alternative World health report from Global Health Watch
Global Health Watch is a new alternative World health report, coordinated by the School of Public Health, University of Western Cape, South Africa. One of the intentions is to draw the attention of health workers and the World Health Organisation to the issues of food security, agriculture and nutrition as health issues. More information.
Educational News
• Kalix folk high school arranges India/China course
Kalix Folkhögskola arranges a four months India/China Course arranged during the Fall 2004, including six weeks field work in India and China. A part of the India stay is located at the village folk high school Jagriti Vihara in Ranchi, Jharkhand (just like Ljungskile folk high school does). More information.
Important lectures/symposia
• Taran Kumar Biswas lectures in Göteborg on the Origin of the Buddha Image
Professor Taran Kumar Biswas, Director of the Bharat Kala Bhavan (Museum of Art and Archaeology), Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India, lectures at Göteborg University, Monday 20 September 2004, 18.15. Biswas will lecture on ”The Origin of the Buddha Image”. He is presently in Sweden being a guest professor in Religion, Art History and Cultural Geography at Karlstad University. Venue: Dept. of Religious Studies, Göteborg University, Lennart Torstenssonsgatan 11, Hall J 109.
• Stockholm Seminar with Samadi Abdul Razique from Afghanistan
A seminar on ”the Presidential elections in Afghanistan – a step towards Democracy and Human Rights?” is held in Stockholm on Thursday 23 September 2004, 19.00. Samadi Abdul Razique (photo to the left), member of the Human Rights Commission of Afghanistan, invited to Sweden by the Swedisc Committee for Afghanistan, will discuss the elections scheduled to be held on 9 October 2004 with Thomas Hammarberg, general secretary of Olof Palmes Internationella Centrum. Venue: ABF-huset, Sveavägen 41, Stockholm. More information.
• Uppsala Symposium on ”Microfinance: Success or a Myth?”
A one day Symposium on ”Microfinance: Success or a Myth?” is arranged by the Seminar for Development Studies, Uppsala University, on Friday 24 September 2004, 9.00–17.00. The symposium dals with the issue whether ’Microfinance' alleviates poverty or if it really is a myth. Invited Speakers are Prof. Marguerite S. Robinson Harvard Institute for International Development, Harvard University, USA, and Dr. Prakash Bakshi, Microcredit Innovations Department, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, India.
• Lecture with Jo Beall cancelled
Dr Jo Beall from Development Studies Institute (DESTIN) at London School of Economics and Political Science, UK, should have lectured at Stockholm University Friday 24 September 2004, on ”Approaches to the Study of Urban Livelihoods for the Poor: Household strategies and public action”. The lecture is however cancelled!.
• Samadi Abdul Razique lectures on Islam, Democracy and Human Rights
Samadi Abdul Razique, member of the Human Rights Commission of Afghanistan, invited to Sweden by the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan, lectures on ”Islam, Democracy and Human Rights – how compatible are they?” at the Göteborg International Book Fair, Sunday 26 September 2004, 9.20–10.20. The Afghan poet Safia Siddiqi will also be present. Venue: Hall H, Main stage, Svenska Mässan, Göteborg.
• Uppsala conference on ”ICT – a Tool for Poverty Reduction?”
A conference on ”ICT – a Tool for Poverty Reduction?” is arranged by the Collegium for Development Studies at Uppsala University on Monday 27 September 2004, 8.30–17.30. The conference, that is held in collaboration with the IT Virtual Faculty, Uppsala University, and supported by Sida, the British Council and the UN ICT Task Force, focuses on the increasing demand for information and communications technology (ICT) in poor developing countries. The new technologies have tremendous implications for technical and economic development, and they can serve as powerful tools in the quest for democracy, human rights, and poverty alleviation. Among the speakers are Wijaya Jayatilaka from Sri Lanka who will talk on ”ICT in Education”. Venue: Missionskyrkan, S:t Olofsgatan 40, Uppsala.
• Brigadier (Ret.) Feroz Hassan Khan lectures at CPAS
The Center for Pacific Asia Studies (CPAS) at Stockholm University arranges a seminar with the Pakistani Brigadier (Ret.) Feroz Hassan Khan on Tuesday 28 September 2004, 15.00–17.00. Khan who is presently Visiting Scholar at the Naval Post-Graduate School, Monterey, California, USA, will lecture on ”Confidence Building Measures in India-Pakistan”. Previously Khan has been Director, Arms Control & Disarmament Affairs (ACDA), Strategic Plans Divisions, Joint Services Headquarters in Pakistan. The seminar is held in cooperation with the Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI) & Swedish Pugwash Group. Venue: Aulan/CPAS, Stockholm University, Kräftriket 4 B, Stockholm. Participation should be confirmed before 27 September to Louise Lingö Julin at CPAS.
• HIV/AIDS: Global Threat, Local Action theme for Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs conference
“HIV/AIDS: Global Threat, Local Action” is the theme for the fifth annual Conference on Development, arranged by the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Stockholm on Friday 15 October 2004, 8.15–16-00. The conference is an integral part of Sweden’s efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. Venue: Vinterträdgården, Grand Hotel, Stallgatan 6, Stockholm. Registration deadline 1 October 2004. Note that the conference is free of charge, but late cancellations and no-shows will be charged SEK 1,500. More information
Conferences and courses
• Roskilde three-days Seminar urban culture and history of Kolkata
A three-days Seminar on ”Popular Cultural Materials and Public Sphere” is arranged in Copenhagen and Roskilde, Denmark, 24–26 September 2004. The seminar is part of the ongoing ENRECA project ”Political and Cultural Institutions in Development” focused on the establishment of archives as resources to support the work of researchers and research students within the field of ’Urban culture and democracy’. At the Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Kolkata, India, an extensive collection on the modern urban history of Kolkata has been established, which brings together materials from the fields of both ’high’ and ’popular’ culture, giving priority to written texts and images. Similar efforts have been made at the Centre for Basic Research, Kampala, Uganda. More information.
• Oslo conference on Constructing a Constituency/Producing a Leader
The Local Politics and Democracy (LPD) Network based at the Center for Development and Environment (SUM), University of Oslo, arranges its third annual conference 24–26 September 2004. The theme for the conference will be ”Constructing a Constituency/Producing a Leader” and includes papers on South Asian topics. Venue: 24–25 September: Soria Moria Hotell og Konferansesenter, Voksenkollveien 60, Oslo. 26 September: Universitetsbiblioteket, Georg Sverdrups hus, Moltke Moes vei 39, Blindern, Oslo.
• Bergen conference on Education, Knowledge and Development
The Centre for Development Studies at the University of Bergen invites to a conference on ”Education, Knowledge and Development” to be held in Bergen, Norway, 30 September–1 October 2004. The conference aims to explore at depth the currently strong international focus on the relationship between development and education. The conference also aims to more broadly explore the meanings and conditions of knowledge for development and poverty reduction in the era of globalisation.
• Bradford conference on Strategic Stability in South Asia
The South Asia Strategic Security Unit, SASSU, launches a conference on ”Towards Strategic Stability in South Asia” at the University of Bradford, UK, 7–8 October 2004. Among the invited lecturers are Professor Shaun Gregory, Dr Rifaat Hussein and Professor Pervez Iqbal Cheema. The papers presented at the conference will later be submitted for publication in a Special Edition of Contemporary South Asia. More information.
• Oslo University doctoral course on Poverty and Development
The Centre for Development and the Environment (SUM) at the University of Oslo, Norway, organises a doctoral course on ”Poverty and Development”, 14–17 October 2004. The aim of the interdisciplinary course is to study the multidimensional concept of poverty by focusing on a select few interrelated sub-topics, drawing from empirical studies carried out by the course lecturers in Asia, Africa and Latin America.
• 33rd Annual Conference on South Asia at UW-Madison
The Center for South Asia at the University of Wisconsin-Madison arranges its 33rd Annual Conference on South Asia 15–17 October 2004. The Annual Conference on South Asia attracts 500+ scholars and other interested parties annually, and features over 70 academic panels and roundtables. It also features association meetings and other special events. As part of the conference Prof. Marc Katz, Dept. of Religions, Karlstad University, on Sunday 17 October, 10.45, will show his new documentary film ”Banaras Muharram and the Coals of Karbala”, providing a rare glimpse of Muslim life in the Indian city of Varanasi. Venue: Madison Concourse Hotel, 1 West Dayton St, Madison, WI, USA. More information.
• UK interdisciplinary symposium on Food and Mobility
A two-day interdisciplinary symposium on ”Food and Mobility” is organised by the Centre for Mobilities Research, Dept. of Sociology, Lancaster University, UK, 12–13 November 2004. The symposium aims to address a number of themes arising from the issues of ‘mobility’ and ‘food.’, by bringing together researchers from a number of academic disciplines. Venue: Cartmel College, Lancaster University.
• Colombo Conference on Women and Politics in Asia
The Second International Conference on Women and Politics in Asia is held in Colombo, Sri Lanka 19-20 November 2004. The conference, organised by the Institute of Human Development & Training, Battaramulla, Sri Lanka, will focus on various issues related to women and politics in Asia, and is a follow-up to the first conference on Women & Politics in Asia held in Halmstad, Sweden in June 2003. Among the issues addressed are • Women & Political discrimination; • Women, Gender & Politics; and • The role of religion & women in Politics. Venue: Trans Asia Hotel, Colombo. More information.
• The Governance of Cultures theme for Kolkata workshop
The Centre for Studies in Social Sciences (CSSS) Kolkata, India, in collaboration with the Ford Foundation (India) and SEPHIS (the Netherlands), will hold its Tenth Cultural Studies Workshop 21–26 January 2005, in Bhubaneswar, India. The broad theme for the workshop will be ”The Governance of Cultures”. It is mainly intended for doctoral or post-doctoral students (preferably below the age of 35) who will be able to present a research paper for discussion. Applications should be sent to Susanta Ghosh, CSSS, before 30 September 2004.
• Bangalore conference on Social Science and Development in Karnataka
A Multi-Disciplinary Conference on ”Social Science and Development in Karnataka: A Vision for Public Action” will be held in Bangalore, India, 10–12 June 2005. The conference is organises by the Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC), Bangalore, in collaboration with Cornell University, Ithaca, USA. Known globally for the high tech achievements of Bangalore, and for being an early proponent of the panchayat system, the state also contains large rural areas where poor agricultural communities live in poverty, and spatial inequalities have grown in the last decade. Karnataka has also long been a site for world-class contributions by social scientists towards understanding the development process, from across the disciplinary spectrum. These have included anthropologists, economists and sociologists such as T Scarlett Epstein, VKRV Rao and MN Srinivas. More information.
• Learning and Livelihood theme for 8th UKFIET International Conference
The 8th UKFIET International Conference on Education and Development will be held in Oxford 13–15 September 2005. The theme for the conference is 'Learning and Livelihood' which will include a symposium on ”Learning and Livelihoods in the times of AIDS”. More information.
• Other conferences connected to South Asian studies arranged all over the World
See SASNET’s page, http://www.sasnet.lu.se/conferences.html#conf
Vacant research positions/Fellowships
• Fellowships available at the Library of Congress John W. Kluge Center
The Library of Congress in Washington D.C, USA, invites qualified scholars to conduct research in the Center using the Library of Congress collections and resources for a period of up to eleven months. The Kluge Center especially encourages humanistic and social science research that makes use of the Library's large and varied collections. More information.
• Visiting Fellowships at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies
The Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies invites applications for the academic year 2005-2006 for Visiting Fellowships. These are offered to support research in any area of the arts, humanities, or social sciences that has relevance to the study of Islam or the Muslim world (particularly anthropology, economics, geography, history, international relations, law, literature, philosophy, politics, religion, and sociology). Applicants would normally be scholars or writers at the postdoctoral or equivalent level, but senior researchers are also eligible. More information.
• NIAS Contact Scholarships for Nordic Graduate Students
The Nordic Institute for Asian Studies offer scholarships designed to make NIAS‚ library and other resources accessible to graduate students in the Nordic countries. A scholarship covers inexpensive travel to and from Copenhagen and accommodation in a NIAS room at Nordisk Kollegium, with full board for a period of two weeks. It must be noted that because only one room at the Nordisk Kollegium is available for this scholarship programme, stays are arranged subject to a time schedule administered by NIAS. Monday 15 November 2004 is the closing date for applications for scholarships during the period January-April 2005. More information.
• NIAS Guest Researcher Scholarships
Senior researchers and postgraduate students based in the Nordic countries are offered scholarships, giving an opportunity to work at NIAS as an affiliated researcher for 2 or 4 weeks. A scholarship includes inexpensive travel to and from Copenhagen and accommodation with full board in a NIAS room at Nordisk Kollegium. The guest researcher enjoys full access to the Institute’s library services and research tools, computer facilities, contact networks and scholarly environment. Monday 15 November 2004 is the closing date for applications for scholarships during the period January-April 2005. More information.
Cultural Events in Scandinavia connected to South Asia:
• Marc Katz releases his new documentary film at Madison conference
Asst. Professor Marc Katz from the Dept. of Religions, Karlstad University, who has specialised on producing documentary films on Indian religion has now completed his latest project, a film dealing with the celebration of Muharram in Varanasi. Muharram is the main festival of the Shia Muslims, but in which also both Sunni Muslims and even Hindus take part. The film called ”Banaras Muharram and the Coals of Karbala” will be released at the 33rd Annual Conference on South Asia held at the University of Wisconsin-Madison 15–17 October 2004. More information on Marc Katz’ film productions.
• Afghani literature and films on Göteborg Book Fair 2004
The 2004 Göteborg International Book Fair will take place 23–26 September 2004. The South Asian presence this year is mainly devoted to Afghanistan, thanks to the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan offering a rich programme at Internationella Torget. The Afghan poet and human rights activist Safia Siddiqi will discuss her poetry with the Norwegian author and journalist Elisabeth Eide. Gert Holmertz will present his new novel (in Swedish) ”Muren i Maimana”. Afghani director Siddiq Barmak’s film ”Osama” will be shown, and so will also Samira Makhmalbaf’s 2003 film ”Fem på eftermiddagen”.
• Afghan poet Safia Siddiqi visits Malmö
After visiting the International Book Fair in Göteborg the Afghan poet and human rights activist Safia Siddiqi visits Malmö on Monday 27 September 2004. In an arrangement co-hosted by the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan and Inkonst Siddiqi will talk about the present situation in Afghanistan and the role of writers – what are possibilities to express oneself. She will be interviewed by the journalist Lena Birgersdotter. Venue: Inkonst, Parkgatan 2, Malmö.
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 122 departments. Go to the presentation page.
ƒ Grundtvig Institute, Göteborg University
• 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. New items added.
