News by Saikat Banerjee

A two-day conference of Rajasthan Association for Studies in English (RASE) was hosted by Jaipur National University (JNU) on 3^rd and 4^th Nov, 2012. The conference focused on ‘The Experience of British rule in modern India reflected in contemporary Life and Literature’. Prof. Jasbir Jain, a well known critic, former professor and Head, Department of English, University of Rajasthan was the key note speaker.

The inaugural session of the conference was presided over by the Vice Chancellor of Jaipur National University, Prof. K. L. Sharma, an eminent Social Scientist who had been earlier the Vice Chancellor of University of Rajasthan, Jaipur. The Chief Guest of the inaugural function was Sandeep Bakshi, Chancellor of Jaipur National University. In his inaugural address he said that though the British Rule was oppressive, it also gave us many things which had a positive impact on India.

He thanked the executive of Rajasthan Association for Studies in English for organizing the IX Annual Conference at Jaipur National University.

Two eminent academic and literary personalities were felicitated in the inaugural function of the conference. The first one was Ikraam Rajasthani, a poet, translator and broadcaster who retired as the Director, All India Radio, Jaipur. He was felicitated for his lifelong contribution to poetry in Urdu, Hindi and Rajasthan. Prof. K. L. Sharma presented a shawl, a citation and a memento to honour him.

The second personality to be felicitated was Prof. Rajul Bhargava, retired Professor of English, University of Rajasthan and editor of a multidisciplinary journal ‘Voices’. She was also felicitated by Prof. K. L. Sharma and Sandeep Bakshi who offered her a shawl, a citation and a memento.

In the two-day conference, sixty seven research papers on various aspects of the theme were presented in twelve technical and two plenary sessions. A valedictory function chaired by the organizing secretary of the conference, Prof. K. K. Gautam, marked the conclusion of the conference. Certificates of participation were given to the delegates by the Vice President of RASE, Prof. H. S. Chandalia, General Secretary, Prof. Sunil Bhargava and Prof. K. K. Gautam.

The conference ended with a general body meeting of Rajasthan Association for Studies in English, in which business related to the functioning of the Association was transacted. This session was conducted by Prof. H. S. Chandalia.