Culture at cross-roads? – the International conference held at the University of Madras on March 14th and 15th 2024 (2)

Culture at cross-roads? – the International conference held at the University of Madras on March 14^th and 15^th 2024 (2)

14-03-2024 afternoon session[1]: The afternoon’s session (3 pm to 5:30 pm) commenced with a special lecture by Dr. Ananta Kumar Giri, who talked about what lies beyond cross cultures.  It was followed by the 1^st technical session from, where Assistant Professors of Post Graduate and Research Department of Historical Studies of Government Arts College for Men, Dr. M. Palani and Dr. J. Sadayamuthu preceded as the Chair and Co-chair respectively.  There were six presentations in this session. All the presenters focused on how various ideas, disciplines, concepts and issues overlap with cultures.  

Simultaneously, competition and cultural exhibitions were held where participants took part in Poster making, Crafts and Culinary exhibitions on the theme “Cultural diversity”. The judges for the competition were Ms. Arokiya Anbazhagi, Assistant Professor, Department of History, Women’s Christian College and Dr. Sasikala, Head of the Department of Counseling Psychology, University of Madras. The first day of the International Conference concluded with a talk by the chairperson Dr. M Palani.

15-03-2024 – the second day of proceedings:  The second day was held on 15^th March 2024. It started with the 2^nd technical session from 9:15 – 10:30 am with 8 presenters who presented a large variety of disciplines that interact with culture from street art to food, from uniform civil code to globalization.  This session was chaired by Dr. M.P. Damodaran – Head of the Department of Anthropology.  

It was followed by the 3rd technical session from 10:45am – 1pm chaired by Dr. Pareshwar Sahoo – Assistant professor in the Department of History at Utkal University and co-chaired by Dr. T Kausalyakumari– Head of the department of History – Ethiraj College. There were 7 presenters who focused on the topics such as women’s participation in politics, menstrual hygiene, archaeology, culture in early Madras and cultural identity vs intellectual property rights.

The student-paper presenters, generally had dealt with the topics taken for the purpose.

The paper presenter delved upon the topic of “theatre hall” and went on to list out all such auditoriums, halls, theatres, lecture halls etc., making sweeping remarks, before the establishment of such halls by the British, there was no culture (perhaps theatre culture) in Madras!

Audience- students

The paper presented on “menstrual hygienic”: The topic dealt with “menstrual hygienic” has been limited, but, making conclusions universal. Already many has researched in this topic[2]. It has been a favourite topic for many[3]. In Tamilnadu itself, there have been many studies covering Salem[4]. She conducted a survey with an English questionnaire, where, the subjects do not know English. This type of research has to be careful, as with the few samples, it cannot decide the fate of an entire state or country. Just by surveying the conditions of 100 persons, one cannot conclude the conditions of 100 crores population. She was stressing as if such “taboo” has been peculiar in India, without mentioning such taboo prevalent in other countries, perhaps, throughout the world. The Google Scholar shows thousands of books and papers on the topic[5] and therefore, it is better the paper presenter avoid bias and interpret the data restricting to her chosen area.

oppo_0

Students audience- backside

Intellectual property rights of the indigenous people: The Indian tribes, traditional knowledge etc., have been also a favourite topic[6]. The indigenous and tribals have many skills in science and technology, but they pass on them to their progeny from generation to generation[7]. They are not registering their cultural heritage and hence, others are copying and using it. Actually, in India, the Vanavasis (forest-dwelling people) were never disturbed and they continued to live with their facilities.  Even today, few islands of Andaman & Nicobar are not disturbed, as the indigenous tribes living there for millions of years never want to mix with others. Food, medicine and other requirements are provided periodically, some persons come and take them away, but, none are allowed to enter their islands.

Dr Pareswar Sahoo heading the session

Audience…….

Culture at crossroads – how it affects the Acts and Rules applicable to Indian women in 21st century: K. V. Ramakrishna Rao  – Culture at crossroads – how it affects the Acts and Rules applicable to Indian women in the 21st century. After discussing about many case laws, he concluded as follows: As it has been mentioned as “crossroads,” what the roads crossing each other has to be mentioned specifically, as it cannot be hypothetical. When people or peoples meet at the “crossroads,” i.e, the place of intersection of two or more roads, the action, interaction and counteraction among them have to be studied.  Thus, the judiciary, judicial judgments and Acts applicable to civil society have to be secularized completely.

• Utopian concepts of egalitarianism in all spheres of Indians can be achieved only by true and complete secularization of Indian society leading to Social Justice.
• Therefore, religion should definitely be treated as personal concept instead of putting it on national agenda.
• As the ideals of Social Justice can be materialized by actual commitment, keeping reality in mind, all efforts should be taken to have uniform civil and criminal laws in the Indian context.
• If the secularization process is completed in true spirit, then there will not be any objection to such uniform civil code. For this broad-minded, educated and liberal scholars of secular but religious personalities should be consulted without any discrimination on any factor. As the UCC Bill introduced in 2019 has been still pending even in 2024, Indians may have to wait and see.
• In such process, not only the Indian Constitution, but also all Acts and rules can be secularized to the satisfaction of all sections of Indian society.
• But, unless all Indians follow them strictly, the ideals may not be implemented.
• Therefore, the people should not only be taught about their rights, but also others should sincerely help them to get their rights with responsibility.
• Thus, it is believed that Indians would achieve Social Justice through secular principles.

Archaeology, Processural archaeology and Cultural archaeology – are they at loggerheads or crossroads?: J. Soundaraajan and K. V. Ramakrishna Rao discussed about Archaeology, Processural archaeology and Cultural archaeology in the context of culture. After discussing the issues, he concluded as follows:

• As historical and archaeological chronologies have been different, they have to be correlated, corroborated and corresponded for the purpose.
• How the prehistoric (archaeological) dates and historic (written) evidences could be brought together at a meeting point has to be considered.
• Whether historical and archaeological cultures could be fit into such chronology or not- should be decided with the eras, dates and chronograms appearing in the inscriptions.
• Now archaeo-astronomical evidences and datings are not accepted by the field-archaeologists, but, they are used by others in the multi-disciplinary approach, even in the megalithic sites.
• The study of cultural change in the countries like India, is very difficult. As the vast country with the largest coastal areas had been interacting with many other cultures, the cross-cultural, cultural influence and related processes would vary during every 50-100 years, yet, the culture exhibited show some commonness.
• The 2500 years old sculptural evidences prove orderliness of the Indian art and architecture.
• The 3500-2500 years old literature and other non-material culture also show such uniqueness with less variance.
• All such consistencies are noted even in 21^st century proves that processural archaeology also works in India. 
• Thus, coming to the question – Archaeology, Processural archaeology and Cultural archaeology – are they at loggerheads or crossroads? – answer can be given – Yes.

The following papers were also presented:

Ganesan – Lambadis

Venkatesan – Tirukkural

Ramesh – Rock art of Tamilnadu

Vibin – Temples in Kanyakumari

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

Note: I was expecting inputs from our friends and waiting. As I could not get it, I posted this second part with the available material.

19-03-2024

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[1]  Based on the report received from the one of the convenors Dr Vamana Praphu Kumari.

[2] Sinha, Rabindra Nath, and Bobby Paul. “Menstrual hygiene management in India: The concerns.” Indian journal of public health 62.2 (2018): 71-74.

[3] Kamath, R., et al. “A study on knowledge and practices regarding menstrual hygiene among rural and urban adolescent girls in Udupi Taluk, Manipal, India.” Global journal of medicine and public health 2.4 (2013): 1-9.

[4] Balamurugan, S. Sangeetha, S. Shilpa, and Sheethal Shaji. “A community based study on menstrual hygiene among reproductive age group women in a rural area, Tamil Nadu.” Journal of Basic and Clinical Reproductive Sciences 3.2 (2014): 83-87.

[5] Van Eijk, A. M., Sivakami, M., Thakkar, M. B., Bauman, A., Laserson, K. F., Coates, S., & Phillips-Howard, P. A. (2016). Menstrual hygiene management among adolescent girls in India: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ open, 6(3), e010290.

[6] Munzer, Stephen R., and Kal Raustiala. “The uneasy case for intellectual property rights in traditional knowledge.” Cardozo Arts & Ent. LJ 27 (2009): 37.

[7] Bengwayan, Michael A. Intellectual and cultural property rights of indigenous and tribal peoples in Asia. London: Minority Rights Group International, 2003.

Social Reform Movement In India and Women Education from 19th Century – UGC seminar held at the Ongole campus of the Sri Acharya Nagarjuna University [1]

Social Reform Movement In India and Women Education from 19^th Century – UGC seminar held at the Ongole campus of the Sri Acharya Nagarjuna University [1]

PG Campus of Acharya Nagarjuna University (ANU) has become the Andhra Kesari Tanguturi Prakasam University: The U.G.C. sponsored National Seminar on Social Reform Movement In India and Women Education from 19^th Century was held at the Ongole campus of the Sri Acharya Nagarjuna University from 19^th and 20^th February 2020. The government has upgraded the erstwhile PG Campus of Acharya Nagarjuna University (ANU) into a new university named as the Andhra Kesari Tanguturi Prakasam University [AKTP University]. The Ongole-AKTP University is fortunate in this regard, as it had an advantage of owning 100 acres of land at Pernamitta village within the Ongole city limits. The university is set up over 114 acres of land allotted for the Ongole PG Centre. It is currently running with 10 postgraduate courses and has 137 private un-aided colleges affiliated to it. Around 48 staff are working in the PG Centre and withe the upgradation, the number is likely to increase. As for as  Ongole is concerned, I have come here several times to attend seminars in 2013[1], 2014[2], 2016[3], 2018[4] etc., and it is not a new place and I have covered and posted in my blogs also [the links are given below]. Thus, I used to meet our friends again and again. It would be very nice to meet elders and get blessings, meet colleagues to share ideas and youngsters to understand the present times, as we have still been in learning processes from others. From 2013 to 2020, I have to note the changes taking place there.

The Theme of the Seminar[5]: Nineteenth-Century of British India is a milestone for the social reform movement in India. In the course of century, the social reformers of Indian and Christian Missionaries adapted several initiations for the uplift of women as well as depressed classes. The reformers, as well as Missionaries in India, have studied the caste system of India. They observed the role of women down through the ages. For instance, in the Vedic period, women were in high esteem. Women shared education along with men. Since the 8^th Century, gradually women life became very seclude in Sub-continent. No refreshing streams flowed back, into the life of women in their homes and as centuries passed, the Brahmanical code. The decline of women education was so marked and rapid by the beginning of 19^th Century, hardly one woman in a hundred could read in Madras Presidency and Malwa. It may, therefore, be stated that at the advent of British rule, female education had practically disappeared from Hindu Community, nay, it was regarded as a source of moral danger, if not as an actual vice, since only dancing girls could normally read and write. In their families, the old tradition to teach reading & writing to the new generations was continued. However, from the second decade of the 19^th century with the initiation of East India Company, Missionaries and social reformers the importance of education of women and upliftment and elevation of depressed classes were started. In this way, the Indian renaissance started in nineteenth-century and several reforms transformed the Indian society in addition to the upliftment of woman status. Further, it also elevated the status of depressed classes.

The Sub-themes of the seminar: The following these were also identified as sub-themes for the seminar and paper presentation:

1. Role of Reformers
2. Upliftment of Dalits
3. Indian Renaissance in the 19th Century
4. Uplift of women
5. Role of Press in the Social Reform Movement
6. Role of Christian Missionaries
7. Status of women Education
8. Any other issue related to the Seminar theme

The seminar hall at the second floor had a facelift, but without lift and wash-room: About the seminar hall, I have already recorded in my earlier blog as, “The seminar was held at the auditorium situated at the second floor of the building. Here, there is no lift, in other words, the building has not changed like Ongole. Nowadays, lifts can be provided with 4 to 8 lakh budget and it is not at all a big amount for Universities, as they get funds. ” And still, no provision has been made for urinal/toilet/restroom facility, though, the seminar has been modernized with chairs, stage and AC facilities. The difference can be noted from the photos of mine included in my blogs covering the earlier seminars attended. Nowadays, people give facelift only forgetting the other parts and it happens everywhere. Many times, we talk about principles, lecture about code of conduct and advocate all sorts of moral values and all, but, when anything comes to practice, most of us want to avoid, evader even started arguing against apologetically.

Ongole, where I get varieties of pickles: Earlier, daily, I used to go for walking up to the junction where there is a church and statues for the former CM and the bodyguard that got killed in the air accidence. But, this year, because of my health condition, I could not go. In fact, here in the Hotel Abhilash, I was accommodated in the first floor Room no.215 along with Prof Madhusudhana Rao, Tirupati, where there is no lift. Thus, from 2013, except the hall, nothing has changed as for as the lift and urinal. Definitely, it has been difficult and inconvenience for the aged and as well as sugar patents, they might relax once in three hours or so. Incidentally, Ongole has been famous for food in the sense that they sell side-dishes separately in packets. When I had meals first time in 2013, I was about to complete the taking meal and get up, but, suddenly, the server came and pointed out that I did not taste the other side-dishes showing kept on the other side of the table. In fact, there were nearly 35 items, but, I could not taste all. They sell different varieties of pickles also. Last time, I purchased seven varieties of pickles that we cannot get in Chennai. This time, I could get only five varieties. Thanks to Prof Madhusudhana Rao, who only informed about this and got also!

The inauguration of the National seminar 19-02-2020: The moment, we reached the Campus, there was registration. Only 40 registered and 14 with papers. After registration, we went to the seminar hall on the second floor. I had great difficulty to reach the second floor, as I was not feeling well with the raising BP coupled with a breathing problem. The seminar appeared with a new look modified with new chairs and airconditioned. From my postings, you can note the difference between the old hall and the present one. The seminar was inaugurated on 19^th morning 11.00 hours by their officials and it was some sort of family affair with the routines of lamp lighting etc.. The chief guest was Sri V. Rangaraju, Director, AP State Archives. The theme of the seminar was explained by the convener, Dr G. Rajmohan Rao. The inaugural address was by Dr I. Thirumali and the key-note address by Prof Adapa Satyanarayana. The guests, invitees were honoured and they talked about the subject matter and issues of the seminar.

The paper presentation sessions: After the inaugural, there was lunch and after lunch, the paper reading session started.  Sudarshan, Madhusudhana Rao,…. and a lady presented papers. Dr Anjaiah presided over and presented his paper also. There was an audience of 20 only.  Madhusudhana Rao presented the paper, “Colonial Prostitution of Whites and Blacks: How White and Black prostitutions were considered, treated and controlled,” was a joint paper co-authored by K. V. Ramakrishna Rao. Perhaps, for the first time, this aspect has been raked up fr research and facts brought out about the British exploitation of Indian women during the colonial period, when much raise was heaped upon them for their great role involved in the upliftment of Indian women. V. Sudarshan read a paper on Durgabai Deshmukh, and such details are already available[6]. In fact, in Chennai, the hospital started by her working under the banner of  “Andhra Mahila Sabha” has been well known to serve the poor and the middle-class people of Chennai. The lady-paper presenter was blaming Brahmins for their exclusion, treating menstrual women kept in rooms, “too much untouchability” followed among themselves etc, but, in between, she was reading about other issues that are not connected with what he was trying to point out. Though Anjaiah and others discussed about Andhra women who worked for the upliftment of women, they never mentioned that those women were Brahmins. Thus, her bias in the paper presentation was revealed and it was questioned by Anjaiah, Sudarshan and others. The sectional president also advised her to take the points and change the paper suitably.

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

23-02-2020

[1] National Seminar on Migration Movements and Indian Diaspora in Modern Period was held on April 3^rd and 4^th 2013 at the ANU Ongole campus. My coverage of the proceedings can be read here:

https://kvramakrishnarao.wordpress.com/2013/04/05/national-seminar-on-migration-movements-and-indian-diaspora-in-modern-period/

[2]  National Seminar on “Historicity of Ramayana” held at Ongole, Andhrapradesh on November 8^th and 9^th 2014. My coverage of the proceedings can be read here:

https://kvramakrishnarao.wordpress.com/2014/11/11/national-seminar-on-historicity-of-ramayana-held-at-ongole-andhrapradesh-on-november-8th-and-9th-2014/

[3]  Social Justice and the Marginalized in South India: Experiences and Challenges” – National seminar held at C. S. R. Sarma College, Ongole on July 30^th and 31^st, 2016. My coverage of the proceedings can be read here:

https://kvramakrishnarao.wordpress.com/2016/08/15/social-justice-and-the-marginalized-in-south-india-experiences-and-challenges-national-seminar-held-at-c-s-r-sarma-college-ongole-on-july-30th-and-31st-2016/

[4] Indian press and Socio-cultural and Religious Transformation in Colonial Rule of 19^th and 20^th Centuries: A New Perspective – National Seminar held at Nsgarjuna University, Ongole Campus. My coverage of the proceedings can be read here in three parts:

Part-I – https://kvramakrishnarao.wordpress.com/2018/09/24/indian-press-and-socio-cultural-and-religious-transformation-in-colonial-rule-of-19th-and-20th-centuries-a-1/

Part-II – https://kvramakrishnarao.wordpress.com/2018/09/28/indian-press-and-socio-cultural-and-religious-transformation-in-colonial-rule-of-19th-and-20th-centuries-a-new-perspective-national-seminar/

Part-II – https://kvramakrishnarao.wordpress.com/2018/09/29/indian-press-and-socio-cultural-and-religious-transformation-in-colonial-rule-of-19th-and-20th-centuries-a-new-perspective-national-seminar-held-at-nagarjuna-university-ongole-campus-3/

[5] Based on the circular of the seminar of the orgainizers issued this year 2020. However, I have a feeling that these sentences, I could remember of heard or read somewhere in some conference. I am not able to recollect immediately now.

[6] https://ddms.co.in/ – and https://ddms.co.in/founder/here about the institutional details can be found; https://ddms.co.in/milestones/ – here, the achievements of Durgabhai Deshmukh with details and photos can be seen.