SASNET: Newsletter 31

• Decisions from the SASNET Board meeting
The SASNET Board met on Tuesday 26 August, and decided on several important issues e g regarding SASNET’s involvement in the 18th EASAS conference in July 2004; and the ongoing discussions on increased cooperation between SASNET and the Centre for East and South East Asian Studies (ACE) at Lund University. The board decided to update the coordinator’s position to 50 % in 2004 (it was reduced to 33 % in 2003 due to financial restraint); and also approved the contact journey to Pakistan and Afghanistan that Staffan Lindberg and Lars Eklund plan to make in November 2003. Read the verified minutes!

• SASNET Planning grants given to nine projects/programmes
A total number of 27 applications were delivered for consideration in the latest round for SASNET planning grants. On Tuesday 26 August 2003 nine projects – seven related to research and two to education – were selected by the SASNET Reference group (consisting of three eminent Nordic South Asia scholars) to receive grants. The total amound distributed was 455 000 SEK. See the full list of the projects. On the same page is also found all other projects that have been given SASNET grants in the earlier rounds.

• 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 wastaken by the SASNET Board at its meeting on 26 August. Instead applications are invited for he first round in 2004. Closing date for applications is 15 June, 2004. More information.

• Local SASNET symposia at Karlstad and Göteborg in September
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 visited Stockholm and Uppsala 14–16 May 2003, and had local meetings with researchers, teachers and students. Now similar meetings will be held also in Karlstad and Göteborg. Meetings jointly organized by SASNET and South Asia oriented researchers and students at the local universities will be organized in Karlstad on Wednesday 24 September, and in Göteborg on Thursday 25 September 2003. More information on the meetings.

• Second announcement for the EASAS conference at Lund in July 2004
The second announcement for the 18th European Conference on Modern South Asian Studies, organized by SASNET and Lund University, on behalf of the European Association for South Asian Studies, EASAS, 6–9 July 2004, has now been published. The final decisions on panels was taken by the EASAS conference organizing ing committee on 15 August 2003. The full list, including 49 panels, is presented on the conference web page, where also a registration form is found.
Last date for registration and submission of papers is 1 February 2004. Go for the conference web page!

• 49 panels selected for the EASAS conference
A total number of 49 panels covering a wide scope of research fields are available for individual researchers to present their papers. The normal duration of a panel session will be one morning or one afternoon session. Each panel has a convenor who organizes the panel autonomously. All communications refarding the panels content should be directed directly to the panel organizers. Go for the list of the panels with links to abstarcts

• 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 approximately 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

• Politics of Development Group at Stockholm University (PODSU) launches report
The Dept of Political Science at Stockholm University has presented a report on Politics of Development, which since the mid-1990's has grown into one of leading research and teaching profiles in the department. On Friday 12 September 2003, 13–15, Stockholm University’s so-called Politics of Development Group (PODSU) launches a report, giving an account of this development, including plans for the future. The launching is made in conjunction with a seminar organized by the International Development Studies Seminar (IDSS) on ”Frontiers in the Study of the Politics of Development”. Participants in the seminar include Dr. Yusuf Bangura from United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) in Geneva, Switzerland; Prof Jan Hjärpe, Islamology, Center for Theology and Religious Studies, Lund University; and Prof Olle Törnquist, Oslo University.

• Anthropological dissertation on hunter-gatherers of the Palni Hills, South India
Christer Norström, Dept of Social Anthropology, Stockholm University, defends his doctoral dissertation on “They Call for Us. Strategies for securing autonomy among the Paliyans, hunter-gatherers of the Palni Hills, South India”, on Friday 19 September 2003, 14.00. Venue: Hörsal 3, Hus B, Stockholm University, Frescati. Faculty opponent is Professor Alan Barnard, School of Social and Political Studies (Social Anthropology), University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. Read the abstract (as a pdf-file).

• Dissertation at Lund University on South Indian Astrology
Martin Gansten, Dept of History of Religions, with emphasis on Indic Religions; Centre for Theology and Religious Studies, Lund University, defends his doctoral dissertation on ”Patterns of Destiny: Hindu Nadi Astrology”, dealing with astrological divination in South India, on Tuesday 30 September 2003, 13.30. Venue: Carolinasalen, Kungshuset, Lundagård. Faculty opponent is Prof. Robert Zydenbos, Institut für Indologie und Iranistik, Department für Asienstudien, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Germany. Read the abstract.

• Srilankan Archeologist defended his dissertation at Stockholm University
Rathnasiri Premathilake from the Postgraduate Institute of Archaeology, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, defended his doctoral thesis on ”Late Quaternary Palaeoecological Event Stratigraphy in the Horton Plains, Central Sri Lanka with contributions to the Recent Pollen Flora” at Stockholm University, on Wednesday 4 June 2003. Premathilaki has been involved in a sandwich programme with the Dept. for Quaternary Geology, Stockholm University; and with the Dept for Archaeology and Ancient History at Uppsala University. Faculty opponent was Prof. Francoise Gasse, Université Aix-Marseille III, France.

• Research programme initiated on on the Root Causes of Internal Conflicts in Nepal
The Graduate Institute of International Studies, HEI, in Geneva, Switzerland, is implementing a research programme on the ”Root Causes of Internal Conflicts and Means to Resolve Them”. The case study is Nepal, where an International Advisory Team will coordinate the study and monitor the work of the Research team, led by Shambhu Ram Simkhada. The project is running for 9 months from 1 July 2003. During the initial stage of the study the team is working on the existing literature on the subject, aimimg to create a sort of ”inventory” on previous research studies. The team also wants to establish a dynamic collaboration with other Institutes or Centres that focus their academic efforts on peace studies, conflict resolution, conflict prevention and post-conflict reconstruction and rehabilitation in South Asia. Suggestions on this could be given to Dr. Fabio Oliva, Research Assistantant at HEI.

• SASNET supported book project at Högskolan Dalarna launched in Falun
”Political Visions and Social Realities in Contemporary South India” is the title of a book published by Högskolan Dalarna in September 2003. It is the first volume in the university’s new International Studies Series, and consists of papers by students at the C- and D-level in History and Religion at Högskolan Dalarna, Campus Falun, who made a field study tour to South India in the Spring 2002. The project, called the South India Field Study Project is partly funded by a SASNET planning grant. The book, edited by Lars Berge and Gunnel Cederlöf, was presented at a seminar open to the public, at Högskolan Dalarna, Campus Falun, on Friday 5 September 2003. More information on the South India Field Study Project.

• Online translator from English to Hindi developed by IIT Kanpur
An online translator named ”AnglaHindi” translating English sentences or even documents to Hindi (transcribed with Roman letters, or in Devnagari script) has recently been developed by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Kanpur, India. According to IIT experts, this is for the first time that such a system has been built and web-enabled to provide reasonable translation from English to Hindi for unrestricted text.

• Volume on The History of Asian Religions published by Uppsala University
A volume on ”Religion in Spiegelkabinett. Asiatische Religionsgeschichte im Spannungfeld zwischen Orientalismus und Okzidentalismus” was recently published by Uppsala University publication series Acta Universitatis Uppsaliensis in its sub-series Historia Religionum. The volume, edited by Prof Peter Schalk, Dept of Theology; History of Religions, Uppsala University, contains twelve papers, ten in German and two in English, originally presented at the second workshop of AKAR (Arbeitskreis Asiatische Religionsgeschichte) im February 2002 in Weikersheim, Germany. The topic of the workshop was: The History of Asian Religions between Orientalism and Occidentalism (Asiatische Religionsgeschichte im Spannungsfeld von Orientalismus und Okzidentalismus). More information.

• Oriental Music Therapy group formed by medical researchers, musicians and music therapists
A number of European and Asian medical researchers, musicians and music therapists have recently formed the non-commercial Oriental Music Therapy group to promote music treatment with a curing or controlling effect on some diseases. The group which is based at Galle, Sri Lanka, is now searching for qualified physicians as well as musicians from Asia with experiences in the field. The goal is to promote the method while improving it with new studies. More information.

• Symposium on ”Urban Landscape Dynamics and Resource Use” held at Uppsala University
The Dept of Archaeology and Ancient History, and the Collegium for Development Studies, Uppsala University, organized a symposium on ”Urban Landscape Dynamics and Resource Use” on 28–30 August 2003. The symposium was aimed at synthesizing and formulating a proposal on ”Urban Landscape Dynamics: a Framework for South-South-South co-operation” to be put for consideration by the SAREC research committee by 30th October 2003. This will be a follow-up to a decision by Sida/SAREC board in September 2001 to support the idea of organizing an International conference on this theme, with Third World researchers. SAREC granted funding for a planning year for the African component in 2002. Additional consultations have now been initiated with colleagues from other parts of the South, including researchers from the Post Graduate Institute of Archaeology in Sri Lanka.

• World Water Week at Stockholm of great interest for South Asia
The 13th World Water Week took place at Stockholm 10–16 August 2003. The theme for this year’s conference was ”Drainage Basin Security – Balancing Production, Trade and Water use”. A large number of highly competent South Asian researchers and professionals – from India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka – presented papers, as well as poster presentations, in seminars and workshops during the week. The three main issues discussed were 1) How to Secure Food Production under Climatic Variability (especially in workshop no 4); 2) the Pollution in River Systems due to Urban Development and Industrial Growth (especially in workshop no 8); and 3) the Role and Governance Implications of Virtual Water Trade (especially in workshop no 7).
More information on the conference, organized by Stockholm International Water Institute, SIWI, to be found on on the 2003 World Water Week web site.

• Papers on Small and Micro-States of South Asia invited for Contemporary South Asia
The Brittish academic publication Contemporary South Asia invites researchers for papers on ”Small and Micro-States of South Asia” for a coming issue of the magazine. The ambition is to publish articles across a broad range of issues affecting Bhutan, Maldives and Nepal, as these countries generally get less coverage in various international forums than the larger countries of South Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka). Submissions could cover one or more of the following topics: • Theory; • Governance; • Development; or • Security, and should be sent no later than 15 October 2003 to Guest Editor Dr Amalendu Misra, School of Politics, Queen’s University, Belfast, UK. All articles will be independently refereed.

• First International Seminar on Bhutanese Studies held at Thimphu
The First International Seminar on Bhutanese Studies was held at Thimphu, Bhutan, 20–22 August 2003, with some of the World’s leading scholars on Bhutanese studies present. More information on the seminar with the full programme.

• Papers and Background Material on Disasters Worldwide available
The web site Disaster Diplomacy, Cambridge University, in association with Radix (Radical Interpretations of and Solutions for Disasters), presents a large number of papers and background material on disasters Worldwide. It tries to examine the role of disaster in international affairs and international relations as well as applying the principles and results to internal political situations. Go for Disaster Diplomacy!
Thomas Myhrvold-Hanssen has written a piece entitled ”Democracy, News Media, and Famine Prevention: Amartya Sen and The Bihar Famine of 1966-67”, on the relationship between democracy and famine through a critique of Amartya Sen's suggestion that democracy is the best way of preventing famine. The Bihar famine in India from 1966 to 1967 is used as the main case study, but the famine in Sudan from 1986 to 1989 is also examined. Go for Myhrvold-Hanssen’s paper (as a pdf-file)

• Report series published by The Stockholm International Water Institute
The Stockholm International Water Institute, SIWI, organizing the World Water Week at Stockholm every year (see above on this year’s conference), publishes its reports available free of charge to be download from its web page, Among the titles available are found the reports on: • Balancing Human Security and Ecological Interests in a Catchment; • Water Security for Cities, Food and Environment – Towards Catchment Hydrosolidarity; and • Water Management in Developing Countries: SIWI Recommendation for EU Development Co-operation. Go for the download page!

• Courses on Women in Asia, and on Asian Culture, at Göteborg University in the Spring 2004
Centre for Asian Studies, CEAS, Göteborg University arranges a 10 credits course on ”Women in Asia; Religion, Politics and Development” in the Spring 2004.
CEAS also introduces a 10 credits course on ”Culture, Science and Technology in Asia” in the Spring 2004.

• 10 credits Course in Indian Studies at Kristianstad University College
A 10 credits web based part time course in Indian Studies is organized by the Dept for Humanities and Social Sciences (HUSA) at the Kristianstad University College in the Fall 2003. The course focuses on a number of representative human stories from India, and from there an inventory of current developmental problems will be discussed, and put into a historical, cultural and nursing perspective.

• 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.

• Specialization programme on Global Education at Stockholm Institute of Education in the Spring 2004
The Dept of Teaching processes, Communication and Learning (UKL) at Stockholm Institute of Education every year arranges an elective 20 credits specialization programme on Global Education. The programme, open to all admitted students to the Teachers traing programme at the Institute, consists of an intensive 10 weeks field work study (called The Changing South) in Tamil Nadu, India, and a 10 weeks follow-up course in Sweden afterwards. The next course will be in the Spring 2004.

• Courses on Yoga, Meditation and Indian Astrology at Lund University in the Spring 2004
The Dept of History of Religions, Centre for Theology and Religious Studies, Lund University a 5 credits course on Yoga and Meditation in Indian religions, and a 5 credits course on Astrology and Divination in Indian religions, in the Spring 2004 .

• Courses on Islam in South Asia and on Islamic Law at Lund University in the Spring 2004
The section for Islamology at the Dept of History of Religions, Centre for Theology and Religious Studies, Lund University in the Spring 2004 arranges a 5-credit course on Islam in South and South East Asia.
In the Spring 2004 the section also arranges a 5 credits course on Introduction to Islamic Law.

• International workshop on Buddhist Economics organized by Bija Vidyapeeth
An International workshop on “Buddhist Economics” is held in the state of Uttaranchal, India, 17–20 September 2003. The workshop is arranged by the International College for Sustainable Living, Bija Vidyapeeth, and conducted by Sulak Sivaraksa and Vandana Shiva – both recipients of the Right Livelihood Award. The organizers hope that a permanent Research & Development network on “Buddhist Economics” could result from the workshop. Venue: Navdanya Farm, 16 km outside Dehradun, the capital of Uttaranchal.

• Conference at Lund University on Global Environmental Change
A conference on ”World System History and Global Environmental Change” is arranged by the Human Ecology Division, Lund University, Sweden, 19–22 September 2003. The conference brings together key International scholars from the social, historical, geographical and environmental sciences, in an effort to broaden our view of the ecological dimension of global, economic processes in a long-term, historical perspective. Some papers deal with South Asia related research: Prof Paul Sinclair, Dept of Archeology, Uppsala University, will speak on ”Africa and the Indian Ocean 1000 BC to 1500 AD”, Simron Singh, University of Vienna, will speak on ”In the Sea of Influence: The Emergence of the World System in the Nicobar Islands”, and Jyoti Parikh, Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research, New Delhi, India, will speak on ”Deprivation of Poor due to Loss of Common Property Resource Base”. More information at the conference web page.

• PhD course in Tromsø on Women's struggle for justice
The University of Tromsø, Norway, invites for a PhD course on ”Feminist perspectives on global economic and political systems and women's struggle for justice”, 24–26 September 2003. The three-days conference, that is also a credit-giving course, aims at provding a basic conceptual on the gendered properties of selected globalizing economic, soical and political systems and the role of women's agency in selected Asian and European settings. Professors Nancy Hartstock (Centre for Women and Democracy), Annie Phizacklea (University of Warwick) and Ingrid Rudie (University of Oslo) are among the lecturers. Course Director is Dr. Tone Bleie, Christian Michelsen Institute, Bergen (and Adjunct Associate Professor at University of Tromsø). Deadline for registration: 10 August 2003.

• World Climate Change Conference 2003 held in Moscow
The World Climate Change Conference 2003 is arranged in Moscow, Russian Federation, 29 September – 3 October 2003. The conference which has many participants from South Asia will offer a comprehensive discussion of the scientific aspects of natural and anthropogenic climate change; and integrated approaches to reducing anthropogenic interference with the climate system.

• Nepalese theatre group involved in International Workshop on Gender and Change
An International Workshop on ”Gender and Social Change in Nepal – Political and Cultural Implications” is held at Aalborg University, Denmark, 30 September – 1 October 2003. A number of researchers and theatre workers from Nepal, Asia and Europe will focus on women’s position in a changing society. The workshop is co-organized by Tribhuvan University in Kathmandu, and the Nepalese theatre group Aarohan, that will perform ”Where did Nora go – Ibsen's A Doll´s House?” as part of the programme. Venue: Aalborg University, Conference room 1, Fibigerstraede 2, and Aalborg Theatre.

• Course at Bija Vidyapeeth on Hunger with Frances Moore Lappé and Vandana Shiva
A course on ”Food First: Food, Famine & Freedom from Hunger” is arranged by the International College for Sustainable Living, Bija Vidyapeeth, in India, 1–14 October 2003. The faculty consists of Frances Moore Lappé and Dr. Vandana Shiva. The course will go into an analysis of how food is changing, in terms of how it is grown, how it is processed, who controls it, who has access to it. It will cover issues of hunger, famine, and chemical hazards, but will also explore creative alternatives. The course begins in Delhi, but then proceeds to the Bija Vidyapeeth campus, set on Navdanya’s organic farm outside Dehra Dun (the capital of the state of Uttaranchal, India).

• Indo-Swedish conference on forest-related tribals in South India to be held in Mysore
An Interdisciplinary Conference on ”Livelihood strategies among forest-related tribal groups of South India: Contextual analysis of local livelihood strategies” is arranged at the Centre for Indian Studies, Mysore, India, 17–19 October 2003. The conference is jointly organized by the Dept of Social Anthropology, Stockholm University, Sweden, and Centre for Research on Environment, Development, Innovations, Technology & Trade (CREDITTe), Bangalore, India, with support from SASNET. The focus for the conference will be on forest-related tribals in South India, groups living within the four southern states of India. More information, including papers to download.

• Conference on Local Responsiveness versus Global Integration in Stockholm in October
The Euro-Asia Management Studies Association (EAMSA) will hold its 20th Annual Conference at Stockholm 22–25 October 2003. The conference, which is being organized by the International Business Academy at the Stockholm University School of Business, has as special theme ”Local Responsiveness versus Global Integration”. Papers are invited on a broad range of topics, ranging from investment and incentive policies, through technology transfer and cross-cultural management, to international organizational structure and value chain management. One of the key themes at the conference will be the issue of ”Changing patterns of industrial success/failure in Asia and/or in Europe”.

• 32nd Annual Conference on South Asia to be held at University of Wisconsin-Madison
The Center for South Asia at the University of Wisconsin-Madison invites scholars and other interested parties to its 32nd Annual Conference on South Asia, 24–26 October 2003. The annual conferences normally attract 500+ participants, and feature over 70 academic panels and roundtables. Registration as an observer at the Conference is open to the general public. Venue: Concourse Hotel, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.

• Asian Conference on Environmental Education to be held in New Delhi
An Asian Conference on Environmental Education, ”Environmental Education and Civil Society”, is held at New Delhi, India, 7–9 November 2003. The conference is arranged by the Indian Environmental Society (IES). Among the topics will be the Role of Civil Society in Environmental Education, Sustainability and Wetland Conservation, and Trade and Environment.

• 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 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.

• International Conference on Sri Lankan Studies to be held at Matara in November
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”. A Call for papers has been issued, the deadline for submitting abstracts is 15 June 2003.

• 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 Conflict, Peace and Development in South Asia
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).

• Cultural Studies Workshop in Bangalore on Rethinking the Cultural Turn
The Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Calcutta (CSSSC), in collaboration with the ENRECA programme of DANIDA (Denmark) and SEPHIS (the Netherlands) plans to hold its ninth Cultural Studies Workshop 2–7 February 2004 in Bangalore, India. The broad theme for the workshop is ”Rethinking the Cultural Turn”, and the aim of the workshop will be to map the terrain of Cultural Studies as it has developed through the last couple of decades in both the West and the postcolonial countries.

• 19th Annual South Asia Conference at the University of California
The 19th Annual South Asia Conference at the University of California, Berkeley, is held Friday-Saturday 13–14 February 2004. Deadline for panel proposals was Wednesday 3 September 2003. Venue: Center for South Asia Studies, 10 Stephens Hall, Berkeley.

• Musical weekend workshop with Madhumita Ray in Oslo
A weekend workshop on Indian classical music is arranged in Oslo, 12–14 September 2003. The workshop, led by the experienced teacher, performer and composer Madhumita Ray, includes an introduction to Hindustani classical voice culture; ragas and compositions; and Semi-classical music such as thumri and dadra. Venue: Fortellerhuset, Collettsgate 55 D, Oslo.

• Seminar on Bhutan – the World’s last Nation to introduce TV – in Copenhagen
A seminar on ”Bhutan – the World’s last Nation to introduce TV” is held at the Danish Film Institute in Copenhagen on Sunday 14 September 2003, 16.30. The seminar is part of the two-weeks Himalayan Film Festival. Two Bhutanese film directors, Khyentse Norbu, and Ugyen Wangdi, take part in the seminar which will discuss the influence that satellite television has had on Bhutanese culture. Venue: Det Danske Filminstitut, Gothersgade 55, Copenhagen. More information (in Danish only).

• Ravinder Pal Singh lectures on Tensions and Trends in Indo-Chinese Relations
Ravinder Pal Singh, Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Pacific Asia Studies (CPAS), Stockholm University, lectures on ”Tensions and Trends in Indo-Chinese Relations”, on Wednesday 17 September 2003, 15–17. Venue for the seminar: Dept of Oriental Languges, Lecture hall, Roslagsvägen 101/Kräftriket 4, Stockholm.

• Seminar on Gandhi’s political ethics in today’s world in Oslo
The Centre for Development and the Environment (SUM), Oslo University, arranges a seminar on ”Gandhi’s political ethics in today’s world” on Wednesday 17 September 2003, 18.15-20.00. The participants in the seminar are Johan Galtung, Professor in Peace Research, and Director of Transcend; Arne Næss, Prof Emeritus, SUM; and Gopalkrishna Gandhi, grandchild to Mahama Gandhi, and India’s Ambassador to Norway. Venue: Sophus Lies auditorium, Blindern, Oslo.

• Sukhadeo Thorat lectures in Stockholm on Dalits and Human Rights in Contemporary India
Professor Sukhadeo Thorat, Prof. of Economics at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, and Director of the Indian Institute of Dalit Studies, New Delhi, holds a lecture on ”Dalits and Human Rights in Contemporary India” at Stockholm University Thursday 25 September 2003, 13–15. The lecture will focus on the social, economic, and political situation of ”scheduled castes” (so-called untouchables) in India, and also touch upon the recent preparations among Dalit activists for the World Social Forum in Mumbai, in January 2004. It is organized jointly by the Departments of Social Anthropology, Political Science, and Economic History (Section of International Relations). Venue: Frescati, Stockholm University, B 600 (Dept of Social Anthropology).

• Workshop on Development research at Lund University on 26 September
The Centre for Environmental Studies (MICLU) at Lund University, along with the Dept of Economic History and the Dept of Social and Economic Geography, organizes for the second consecutive year a Workshop on Development research on Friday 26 September 2003. PhD students and researchers on developmental issues at Lund University are all invited to meet.

• Annual Conference on Development in Stockholm on 17 October
The Annual Conference on Development 2003 is organized in Stockholm on Friday 17 October 2003. The conference which is held for the fourth consecutive year is arranged by Sida, the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs and UNDP, and will focus on the relationship between growth and development. Venue: Münchenbryggeriet Expo Hall, Stockholm. More information from the organizers.

• Ananta Kumar Giri lectures on Rethinking Pluralism and Multiculturalism at Lund University
The Research Group for Multicultural Pedagogics at the Dept of Education, Lund University, arranges a seminar with Ananta Kumar Giri from the Madras Institute of Development Studies, Chennai, India, on Wednesday 22 October 2003, 14.00 – 16.00. Giri who has a profound interest in social movements has especially the issue of social criticism and cultural creativity. The seminar is titled ”Rethinking Pluralism and Multiculturalism”. Venue: Dept of Education, room 128, Allhelgona Kyrkogata 14, Lund.

• Workshop on Communal Sovereignty in the Era of Globalization at Uppsala University
The Seminar for Development Studies at Uppsala University arranges a workshop on ”Communal Sovereignty in the Era of Globalization: Competing for Natural Resources”, Saturday 25 October 2003. The workshop will critically analyze how local communities (primarily in the Third World) are affected by the world-wide changes of the legally defined rights to own and use natural resources, and the opening keynote address will be held by Arturo Escobar, Professor of Anthropology, University of North Carolina, USA. Escobar is internationally renowned for his work on political ecology. More information.

• 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 107 departments! Go to the presentation page
Late additions:

• 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.

• Two weeks Himalayan Film Festival in Copenhagen
The Danish Film Institute arranges an ambitious Himalayan Film Festival in Copenhagen from Friday 12 September to Friday 26 September 2003. During the festival several films from Nepal, Bhutan and India are shown as well as European films on the Himalayan region. Altogether 14 films will be presented, among them Khyents Norbu’s Phörpa (Football for Buddha); Ritu Sarin’s and Tenzing Sonam’s The Reincarnation of Khensur Rinpoche; Johan Kramer’s The Other Final; and Pan Nalin’s Samsara. Khyents Norbu will also present his latest film Travellers and Magicians, shot at location in Bhutan with Bhutanese actors. Venue: Det Danske Filminstitut, Gothersgade 55, Copenhagen. More information on the Himalayan Film Festival (in Danish only).

• Sarangarajan Vijayalakshmi performs Akkamahadevi in Sweden
The Indian Bharata Natyam artist Sarangarajan Vijayalakshmi from Chennai is again touring Sweden during August–September 2003. This time her performance is called ”Akkamahadevi”, dealing with a legendary woman living in what is now the Indian state of Karnataka, in the 12th Century A.D. The dance drama had its premiere in Bangalore on 27 July 2003 with representatives from the Karnataka government and the Akkamahadevi Samiti. After performances at Gotland in August there is one more show planned in Sweden, at Castle Bäckaskog, north of Kristanstad, Friday 19 September, 18–20. More information from the Swedish organizer Torvald Olsson.

• Exhibition on the Hindu goddesses Durga and Kali in Copenhagen
The National Museum of Denmark presents an exhibition on ”Shakti – God is a Woman” in Copenhagen, as part of the Images of Asia festival. The exhibition is shown from 22 August until 14 december 2003. It presents unique photographs (by Indian photographer Dev Nayak), and the massive and colourful clay figures used in the festivals celebrating the Hindu goddesses Durga and Kali every year in Kolkata. The Durga festival lasts five whole days and has millions of participants, probably making the Durga ‘puja’ the largest annual public celebration in the world. The huge clay goddesses are made especially for the occasion and immersed into the river on the last day of the festival to become clay once again. Venue: Frederiksholms Kanal 12, Copenhagen.

• Exhibition projects on Modern Indian Art in Berlin
”body.city. New Perspectives from India” is a major exhibition project at the House of World Cultures in Berlin, Germany, 20 September – 16 November 2003. In two different exhibitions, the present contemporary Indian avant-garde art will be shown on the one hand (including works by Atul Dodiya, Anita Dube, Subba Ghosh, Suboth Gupta, Reena Saini Kallat, Jitish Kallat, Bharti Kher, Sonia Khurana, Surrendran Nair, Rehka Rodwittiya, Sharmila Samant and Hema Updahyay), and the development of Indian popular art from traditional imagery on the other hand. Programmes on contemporary music, theatre and literature will also appear. Venue: Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Tiergarten, Berlin. More information on the exhibition in Berlin.

• The 19th Göteborg International Book Fair, to be held 25–28 September 2003, has invited several South Asian writers and journalists. It also arranges other seminars related to South Asia, e g a joint seminar with Pakistani-Brittish historian and writer Tariq Ali; and Vandana Shiva, the Indian nuclear physicist turned environmentalist and human rights activist with a feministic perspective. They will discuss War, Empire and Resistance.
– In another seminar Tariq Ali will discuss his new bestselling book The clash of fundamentalisms: Crusades, jihads and modernity – currently one of the most controversial books in Britain.

– Vanda Shiva (photo to the right) will also promote two of her books which are published in Swedish, namely ”Water wars – Privatization,
Pollution, and Profit”, and ”Protect or plunder? Understanding intellectual property rights” respectively.
The Iranian documentary film maker Siba Shakib will talk about the catastrophic situation prevalent for the Afghan population, especially the women, something which her current book (and film) Afghanistan, Where God only comes to weep, deals with.
– The journalist Saira Shah, born in Great Britain to parents of Afghan descent, has been most successful with her documentary Beneath the Veil, broadcasted on Swedish television in the spring of 2002. Risking her own life she filmed in Afghanistan with the camera hidden under her clothes. At the book fair she will present her recently published book, called Storyteller’s daughter, on her personal experience of how Afghanistan has developed.
– The Indian journalist Rasheeda Bhagat from The Hindu, Chennai, will take part in a symposium on Media globalization
– diversification or only CNN?, arranged by FOJO, Further Education of Journalists, in Kalmar.
– Finally Professor Hans Rosling from the Dept of Public Health Sciences, Division of International health (IHCAR), at Karolinska Institutet (KI), will present The World Development Charter, a new computer programme illustrating how the goals from the so-called World Millennium Development Goals are achieved. The computer programme has been developed by KI in collaboration with Lund University and Sida.
More information on the Göteborg Book Fair.

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SASNET - Swedish South Asian Studies Network/Lund University
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Last updated 2010-11-30

SWEDISH SOUTH ASIAN STUDIES NETWORK

Newsletter 31:

12 September 2003

Best regards

Staffan Lindberg Lars Eklund

SASNET/ Swedish South Asian Studies Network