Dept of English, Rajdhani College Organises National seminar on ‘Classics in/and English Studies’ Understanding of our own Indian Texts Necessary for Decolonization of India: Prof Bharat Gupt

New Delhi(KCN):

English Literary Association (ELA), Department of English, Rajdhani College of Delhi University organised a one day national seminar on the topic ‘Classics in/and English Studies’. During the inaugural session, as a keynote speaker Prof. Bharat Gupt, Trustee, IGNCA, Fellow, Sangeet Natak Akademi, and Vice Chairman, of National School of Drama claimed that a culture decides its classics because classics means understanding your own text. In the process of decolonization, we must be aware of agendas of those who want to use the concept of classics as a tool of colonization. He also talked about the creator and its creation, the whereabouts of classics today and raised the questions like, had the classics lived the classics, lost the classics and what about the people to whom the classics don’t belong? He compared Greek and European dramas and the way Indian dramas fits in all. He emphasised on the importance of knowing one’s own classics and to study the texts for our own good. He concluded with saying, “Understanding your own text is classics.” His knowledge in Classical literature both English and Greek enamoured everyone present. The highly erudite session was commenced by Dr. Rachna Sethi with a welcome speech and by Dr. Ved Mitra Shukla with an introductory remark.
In the seminar, a panel discussion on “Classics in Classrooms” was the next session that was conducted by Devki. In the session, Prof.Maniklal Bhanja,from Assam Don Bosco University, Dr. Lalit Kumar, from DDU College, University of Delhi, Dr. Praveen Kumar Anshuman, Kirori Mal College, DU, Dr. Yuimirin Kapai, Rajdhani College, DU participated as the panellists. The discussion was moderated by Neha Rana. In another technical session, from 8 different colleges of University of Delhi presented their papers on various topics related to the seminar theme. The session was chaired by Dr Barun Kumar Mishra and moderated by Dr Aditi Sharma.
From University of Durham, Professor Nathan Gilbert also joined the session and shared his observations on classical texts especially from European perspectives.
During the Seminar, Shafiqual Alam, Dr Divya B. Jha, Saumaya Shah, Dr Bharti Sharma, Gurpreet, Sachchida Nand Jha, Mahima Khullar, Stuti Jain, Kamdev Avinashi, Swarnika, Rishita, Yati Jha, Ashutosh Raj, Sanjula, Manish Nain, Anand, and scholars from different institutions also participated actively.