and approaches of ‘Travel Narratives/Writings’ from various
disciplines like Literary Studies, Translation Studies, Folklore
CALL FOR PAPERS
“Wanderlust: Travel
Writing/Narratives in Foreign
Languages”
Two Days National Seminar
March 06-07, 2024
Department of Foreign Languages
Tezpur University, Assam
“Travel and travellers are two things I loathe-and yet
here I am, all set to tell the story of my expeditions. But
at least I've taken a long while to make up my mind to
it: fifteen years have passed since I left Brazil for the
last time and often, during those years, I've planned to
write this book, but I've always been held back by a
sort of shame and disgust.”
Claude Lévi-Strauss, Tristes Tropiques (1961)
In his most celebrated 1955 memoir Claude Lévi-Strauss recounts
this travel and research of the ‘foreign’/ ‘the other’ culture, people,
society. The memoir is an emotive account of his journey from a
personal lens where ‘writing’ itself becomes the reason for shame
and disgust. Yet, he decides to tell a story of his explorations.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, one of the most celebrated writers of
all time explains the idea of ‘getting lost on purpose’ in his 1786-88
Italian Journey. Similar eco of ‘lost in a city’ can be heard in
Roland Barth’s L’Empire des Signes (1970). The act and experience
of travelling can be different looked at from various perspectives,
for instance from the perspective of gender, caste, class, age and
sexuality among others. Therefore, the discourse on ‘travel writing’
is intricately connected to the domain of interdisciplinary
approaches of research and thinking. The dynamic trajectory of
travel writing belongs to the subject of intercultural studies and it
has the potential to play a key role in political movements, changing
the perspectives and facilitating contact between different cultures.
As such, the seminar seeks to facilitate exchanges on travel writings
and any other kinds of travel related explorations. We welcome
proposals for paper presentations that examine, explore and
investigate the intersections between languages and approaches of
travel narratives with an emphasis on narratives from Foreign
Languages in India. Any and all aspects of language, philosophy
Submission guidelines: To apply, kindly
submit an abstract of 250 – 300 words
Studies, Linguistic Studies, Culture Studies, Language Pedagogy, (MS word) and a brief bio note in about
Anthropology, Ethnography and Gender Studies will be considered.
100 words by clicking on the link
http://tinyurl.com/3smu3tuc or scanning
Priority will be given to papers having approaches from Chinese
the QR Code on or before 12th February
Studies, German Studies, Spanish Studies, French Studies, Korean
Studies, Japanese Studies, and Russian Studies among others. 2024. Accepted abstracts will be notified
Special session will be dedicated to travel writing in foreign by 20th February 2024.
languages about North-East India. Medium of the paper
presentation will be in English. Important Dates:
Possible topics include, but are not limited to: Abstract Submission closes: 12th February 2024
➢ General areas and approaches of languages/foreign languages
explored and engaged in the philosophy of ‘travel writing’ Notification of acceptance: 20th February 2024
➢ Specific issue/theme/narrative on travelling in a ‘foreign
language, culture and society’ in comparison with our ‘own Last date to pay registration fee: 25th February 2024
language, culture and society’ or vice versa
➢ The intersection of body, motion and emotion Registration Fee: The registration fee is 1000/- INR per head for
➢ Travel Narrative in literature, culture, folk tales, history, politics research scholars and 2500/- INR per head for professionals. Account
art and film information will be shared later.
➢ Travel Narratives and Emotions
➢ LGBTQIA+ Community and Travel Narratives (Registration fee will cover Seminar kits, Breakfast, Lunch,
➢ Travel Narrative and Hybrid Identities Dinner and Tea during the seminar)
➢ Travel-Tourism and Visual Culture
➢ Travelling Objects: books, bottles, camera, backpack, (Journey Accommodation: Accommodation may be booked in advance by the
from feather and ink to pencil and pen to writing on/through organisers on request and paid by the delegates at the time of arrival.
digital devices) Delegates can also make their own arrangements for stay at nearby
➢ Means of Travelling: walking, bullock carts, trains, flights hotels.
➢ Travellers, Explorers and Expeditions
➢ Disability and Travelling For further query, contact the co-ordinators:
➢ Ecocriticism and Travelling
➢ Politics of Eco-Tourism Rathijit Chakraborty (+91-9435188797, rathijit@tezu.ernet.in),
➢ Translation and Travel Narratives
➢ Religion and Travelling Dr. Pallavi (+91-9968545053, manjari23@tezu.ernet.in),
➢ Who is travelling: Caste, Class and Gender
➢ Digital-Era and Travelling Daveirou Lanamai (+91-8587050780, davei@tezu.ernet.in)
Resource Persons We look forward to receiving your
Prof. Madhu Sahni, Centre for German Studies, School of proposals!
Language, Literature and Culture Studies Jawaharlal Nehru
University, New Delhi
Department of Foreign Languages
Prof. Abhijit Karkun, Centre for French and Francophone Studies, Tezpur University, Assam-784028
School of Language, Literature and Culture Studies Jawaharlal
Nehru University, New Delhi
INDIA
Prof. Avijit Banerjee, Cheena Bhavana (Department of Chinese
Language & Culture) Viswa-Bharati, Shantiniketan
🌐https://www.tezu.ernet.in/dfl/index.php