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I will always remember Dr. Priya Ranjan not only as the Chairman of JK Monitor, but as a mentor, guide and elder brother whose kindness shaped my life and work. Write a tribute at JAMMU: The Centre for Distance and Online Education (CDOE), University of Jammu, inaugurated the first day of the Two-Day National Conference on “Re/Presentation of Women in Indian Literature”as part of its prestigious Golden Jubilee Celebrations. The event, held at the Brigadier Rajinder Singh Auditorium, University of Jammu witnessed an impressive gathering of scholars, academicians, researchers and students representing diverse institutions from across the region.
The conference was organised with the generous support of Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA). The programme commenced with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp, symbolising the pursuit of knowledge and enlightenment. The inaugural ceremony was graced by Prof. J.P. Singh Joorel, Dean Academic Affairs, University of Jammu, who attended as the Chief Guest. In his address, Prof. Joorel lauded CDOE for organising a conference of such scholarly depth, describing it as a vital platform for advancing critical conversations on gender and literature. He emphasised that such dialogues play a pivotal role in shaping progressive and inclusive academic discourse in the country.
The highlight of the session was the Keynote Address delivered by Prof. Sudha Singh, Head, Department of Hindi, University of Delhi. Her thought-provoking insights offered a nuanced exploration of the shifting portrayals of women, silences and negotiations surrounding women’s identities in Indian literary traditions. Her address set an intellectually vibrant tone for the day.
The keynote speaker discussed Akhil Bhartiya Stree Chintan, highlighting the rich legacy and the glaring role of women in India’s past and observed that despite the evident role of women in India’s intellectual and cultural history, societal narratives in the past often introduced women only in relation to men. Yet examples from ancient texts—such as Maitree and Gargi and even vivah mantras authored by women—clearly demonstrate that women held independent identities, voices, and contributions that shaped family, society and thought. Prof. Sudha Singh concluded that the true representation of women will emerge not merely through discussions, explorations or demonstrations, but through a deeper evolution of thought—an awakening of the collective mind that provokes reflection, challenges outdated perceptions and inspires meaningful change.
Prof. Anju Sharma, Convener of the Conference, enlightened the audience on the event's aim, highlighting the clear difference between the status of women in earlier times and their expanding roles in modern society. She emphasised that while women were once limited to narrow social and literary roles, they have now become influential voices shaping literature, culture and public life.
She broadly outlined the themes of the two-day conference, which seeks to explore the significant journey of women and understand how literature reflects, questions, and reshapes the evolving narratives surrounding women. Prof. Anupama Vohra, Professor of English, CDOE, warmly welcomed and introduced the keynote speakers, setting the tone for an engaging and intellectually stimulating inaugural session.
Earlier, Prof. Pankaj Kumar Shrivastava, Director, Centre for Distance and Online Education, delivered a warm and gracious welcome address. In his address, he highlighted the significance of hosting a conference on such a timely and relevant theme during CDOE’s landmark Golden Jubilee year. He remarked that the multilingual papers presented during the two-day conference would offer new directions to research, contributing meaningfully to society by adding valuable insights to existing literature. He further underscored the pivotal role of women in contemporary society, noting that women today are not only contributing across diverse professional, cultural and social spheres but are also shaping India’s intellectual, economic, and creative landscapes.
The inaugural session was followed by the Plenary Session, chaired by Prof. Neelam Saraf, Retired Professor, Department of Hindi, University of Jammu. The session featured distinguished keynote speakers, including Prof. Arti Nirmal, Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi; Prof. Baljeet, Professor, Department of Punjabi, University of Jammu; Prof. Veena Gupta, Retired Professor, Department of Dogri, University of Jammu; Prof. Sudha Jitender, Retired Professor, Department of Hindi, GNDU and Dr. Shaw Alam, Associate Professor, Department of Urdu, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi.
This was followed by three parallel technical sessions, which were chaired by Prof. Sandhya Bhardwaj, Retired Professor of English, Cluster University of Jammu; Prof. Jasbir Singh, Head, Department of Philosophy, University of Jammu and Prof. Sucheta Pathania, Department of English, University of Jammu. These sessions witnessed engaging discussions and insightful presentations by participants from various institutions.
The formal vote of thanks was delivered by Prof. Anupama Vohra, Professor of English, CDOE, who expressed gratitude to the Chief Guest, Director, CDOE, keynote speakers, Convener, faculty members, staff, participants and all those who contributed to the successful conduct of the conference.
