7TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE on Writing Pain and Trauma: Literary and Historical Perspectives

“Writing Pain and Trauma: Literary and Historical Perspectives.”

30th Jan, 31st Jan, 1st Feb 2025

The Department of English, School of Media Studies and Humanities (SMeH) at Manav Rachna International Institute of Research & Studies (MRIIRS) organised a three-day International Conference on “Writing Pain and Trauma: Literary and Historical Perspectives”, from 30th January 2025 to 1st February 2025. This insightful academic event was held in a blended format, with offline presentations taking place at I and F Block. The conference witnessed remarkable participation from scholars, writers, and researchers worldwide.

The conference commenced with an inaugural ceremony, featuring a traditional lamp-lighting ceremony and a soulful Ganesh Vandana. The convenors of the conference, Prof. Shivani Vashist, Registrar of MRIIRS, Dr. Swati Chauhan, Head of the Department of English, Prof. Sujata warmly welcomed the attendees. In an inspiring address, Prof. Shivani Vashist, Registrar of MRIIRS, extended her best wishes to the gathering, setting the stage for a dynamic day of academic engagement. This was followed by an inspiring address by Dr. Shilpi Jha, Dean of the School of Media Studies and Humanities. She too shared her best wishes for a happy and productive conference conclusion to the organisers and attendees.

Following this, the Chief Guest, Prof. T.N. Dhar from Shoolini University, delivered an engaging inaugural address, while Prof. Atika Kumala Dewi, Founder and CEO of Berkah Translator and Publication (Indonesia), shared insightful perspectives on the theme as the Guest of Honor.

The highlight of the day was the keynote address by Dr. Anand Prakash, eminent former Reader in English at Hans Raj College, University of Delhi. His thought-provoking talk, “Making Sense of Hurtful Complexities: Pain and Trauma in the Post-Humanist Phase,” resonated deeply with the audience. He remarked,

“The conference is devoted to a topic of great relevance for us, surrounded as we are by a number of deeply engaging and complex issues. We face today an open world resisting boundaries of form, ideology, and distinct intellectual paradigms. At the same time though, untold violence is unleashed on the underprivileged, marginalized, and those others who are poor even as part of the upper caste strata. I am sure the conference will carry out its intellectual business in terms of mutuality, tolerance, and inclusivity that we acutely need.”

His words left a lasting impact on the audience, setting the tone for further academic discussions on trauma and pain studies.

The first day also featured engaging plenary sessions and hands-on workshops, including:

Plenary Session I: Prof. Nura Ibrahim Mukhtar from Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Nigeria, delivered a session on “Research Methodology as the Heart of Academic Research,” offering valuable insights into conducting rigorous research in trauma studies.

Interactive Workshops:

• Dr. Neer Kanwal Mani led “Tales and Perspectives: Intersections of Trauma and Creative Writing,” encouraging participants to explore personal narratives.
• Prof. Divyajyoti Singh conducted “Creative Writing with Visual Expressions,” allowing attendees to experiment with artistic storytelling techniques.

Day 2:

January 31 saw an exciting lineup of plenary talks, technical sessions, and workshops, where scholars explored themes like narrative therapy, historical trauma documentation, and the role of memory in literature.

Key highlights included:

• Prof. Anu Sayal’s presentation on “Crisis and Technology: Transhumanism, Artificial Intelligence, and Post-Humanistic Anxieties.” She elaborated on the implications of AI on humanity and the importance of ethical considerations in technology.
• Dr. Prerna Malhotra, Joint Director at the Centre of Hindu Studies, Delhi University, spoke on “Intergenerational Trauma in the Context of the Partition of India.” Her powerful statement resonated deeply with the audience:
  “It is important to address trauma in its purest form. There is no need to shy away from telling the truth as it is. It is only when you address the elephant in the room that you can actually deal with it.”

Additionally, the day featured two powerful cultural performances, including a stirring production of Henrik Ibsen’s play, “A Doll’s House.”

Day 3

The final day commenced with Plenary Session V where Prof. Dona Usmonova from Fergana State University, Uzbekistan, delivered a compelling talk on “Gender Anxieties: Feminist Perspectives on Trauma and Pain.” Her presentation explored the intersection of gender, trauma, and literature, highlighting the unique ways in which women’s experiences of pain are represented across literary and historical narratives.

Following the plenary session, the conference then resumed with:

• Technical Session VI (11:30 AM – 12:30 PM) – Online
  • Dr. Abhisarika led an insightful discussion, analyzing the representations of trauma across various literary texts.
• Technical Session VII (12:30 – 1:30 PM) – Online
  • Dr. Jayshree Singh explored historical trauma and its narrative reconstruction, engaging participants in an enriching academic dialogue.
• Technical Session VIII (12:30 – 1:30 PM) – Online
  • Dr. Sumallya Mukhopadhyay presented on the evolving discourse of pain and memory in contemporary literature, drawing connections between historical events and literary expressions.

With engaging conversations, insightful debates, and invaluable networking opportunities, the conference continues to foster academic discourse, paving the way for future collaborations in trauma and literature studies.

Towards the conclusion of the event, the convenors of the conference expressed their gratitude to the organisers, attendees, and dignitaries for their unconditional support. They also expressed her gratitude for the constant support and guidance received from the Dean and Head of the Department, faculty members of the School of Media Studies and Humanities for their constant and tireless efforts in planning and execution of the event.

The Conference concluded on a note of positivity with an endeavour to organize many more such intellectual conglomeration for sharing academic ideas in future.