Report of the 25th International MELOW Conference, held at Kathmandu
University, Dhulikhel, Nepal
Overview
This report summarizes the key outcomes of the 25th
Melow International Conference, featuring approximately 125 presentations, two
keynote addresses, three panel discussions, and approximately fifty media
coverages across Nepal. Centered on the theme "Echoes of the Earth:
Interplay of Literature and Landscape," the conference highlighted the
profound relationship between terrestrial landscapes and human creativity,
showcasing how natural environments inspire and shape literary expression.
Participants explored the multifaceted dynamics
between literature and landscape, examining how settings like the wilderness in
Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness and the tropical backdrop in
Arundhati Roy’s The God of Small Things reflect thematic
elements and character psychology. Additionally, poetry was discussed as a
medium for emotional resonance, with works by William Wordsworth and
Siddhicharan Shrestha serving as prominent examples. The conference emphasized
the urgency of environmental conservation, referencing Elizabeth
Kolbert's The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History to
illustrate the need for awareness of the human-nature relationship.
Sub-themes addressed included theoretical
considerations, indigeneity, urban versus rural aesthetics, and the
significance of water bodies and mountains in literature. Overall, the
conference successfully facilitated rich dialogue and insights into how literature
not only portrays landscapes but also deepens our understanding of them,
encouraging a renewed appreciation for the natural world.
Keynote Addresses and Panel Discussion
Keynote addresses were delivered by Professor P. Unni
Krishnan, titled "Nostalgia, Wonder and Terror: An Examination of
Differing and Distancing Landscapes in Literature and Arts," and Professor
Ammaraj Joshi, who delivered his talk on "Nature and Creative Art:
Trajectory from Mythic Adulation to Anthropocene Apprehension."
Additionally, a panel discussion with Professors Krishna C. Sharma, Anand
Sharma, and Jib Lal Sapkota chaired by Ram C. Paudel focused on "Visions
of Nature: Space, Landscape, and Forests in Sacred and Literary
Traditions." This topic is significant as it emphasizes the role of
literature in enhancing our understanding of landscapes and the urgent need for
environmental conservation, fostering greater awareness of the intricate interplay
between humanity and nature.
Networking and Engagement
On the opening day, following the inaugural session, a
group photo was taken with all delegates, organizers, and chairs, which is
featured on the MELOW social media. This was followed by tea and cookies that
facilitated lively interactions, allowing attendees to forge new connections.
Before the conference, a media interview with the governing body of MELOW,
including President Prof. Manju Jaidka, was conducted, garnering coverage from
major media outlets, and leading to the publication of a formal newsletter.
Daily newsletters reported the presentations and cultural program that
showcased Nepali culture alongside performances from India, Poland, and other
nations. With 115 participants from various countries, including Nepal, India,
Bangladesh, Australia, the US, and Europe, the conference created a
vibrant environment for meaningful exchanges and collaborative opportunities
among attendees. The diverse backgrounds and expertise of the participants
enriched discussions and highlighted the potential for future collaborations.
The keynote address delivered by Professor
Krishnan Unni P., titled “Nostalgia, Wonder, and Terror: An Examination of Differing and
Distancing Landscapes in Literature and Arts,” explored the intersection
of landscapes and literature through four key ideas: first, the connection
between landscape and writers from Homer to Vigil; second, the themes of
nostalgia and wonder in literature, particularly from the mid-17th to the early
19th century, as illustrated by the works of artists like C.G. Turner and John
Constable. Prof Unni then examined how literature reflects colonial agendas,
shifting from wonder to terror within the context of European modernity.
Finally, he analyzed 20th-century literary forms and their responses to
colonialism across various regions, emphasizing the sociological implications
embedded in landscapes. He concluded by addressing contemporary perceptions of
landscapes in a digitized world, posing a thought-provoking question: “Will AI ever
succeed in creating a landscape of its own?”
The second keynote address was delivered by
Prof. Amma Raj Joshi, a distinguished faculty member at Tribhuvan University
and former Vice-Chancellor of Far-Western University, Nepal. Chaired by Prof.
Roshan Lal Sharma, Prof. Joshi's presentation was titled “Nature and
Creative Art: Trajectory from Mythic Adulation to Anthropocene Apprehension.”
In his talk, he intermittently reflected on Western literature from the
mythical and classical periods to the present, incorporating insights from
Vedic and Upanishadic anecdotes, the Sanskrit works of Kalidasa, and Nepali
literature since Lekhnath Poudel. He explored the human-nature relationship,
attitudes toward nature in these writings, and the positions of writers in
their literary creations.
On the final day of the conference, there was a
panel discussion in which senior professors from Nepal participated: Prof.
Krishna Chandra Sharma, Prof. Ananda Sharma, and Prof. Jib Lal Sapkota. Prof.
Sharma emphasized the importance of recognizing the Vedic texts not as mere
science fiction but as a profound reflection of ancient human society,
highlighting their relevance to contemporary ecological themes. Prof. Ananda
Sharma introduced the concept of phytocentrism, asserting that “we don’t have
stories if we don’t have trees,” and illustrated how forests serve as spaces for
self-discovery and existential exploration. Prof. Sapkota, quoting from the
Atharva Veda, stressed that “the Earth is our mother,” advocating for a harmonious coexistence
between humans and nature through ecocriticism. Chair Prof. Poudel concluded
the session and fielded questions and suggestions from the audience.
This year’s Isaac Sequeira Memorial Special
Lecture was delivered by Prof Roshan Lal Sharma who spoke of “Nature in
Whitman.” The session was chaired by Prof Anil Raina. In his highly erudite
talk, Prof Sharma explored the dual significance of nature
in Walt Whitman's poetry, highlighting both its imagery and his deep,
internalized connection to the natural world. He emphasized how Whitman's
engagement with nature was both intense, reflecting its raw energy, and
non-conventional, particularly in comparison to his contemporaries like Emerson
and Dickinson. His groundbreaking work, "Leaves of Grass," showcased
a distinct poetic approach that intertwined his creative consciousness with the
essence of nature, revealing a symbiotic relationship between the two.
The
ISM Award Session for the best paper presented by a young speaker had three
participants: Debasmita Das, Ritu Varghese, and Shruti Gaur. Chairing the
session was Prof Virginia Dominguez who logged in online from Urbana-Champaign,
USA. The prestigious award went to Ritu Varghese from Vellore Institute of
Technology, Andhra Pradesh, whose paper on “Miramais in Vrindavan:
Reading Bhakti, Spatiality, and Trauma in K. R. Meera’s The
Poison of Love” was much appreciated by all.
For the unversed, the Isaac Sequeira Memorial Award is
in its 17th year now. Highly competitive, it is one of the main
attractions of the MELOW Conference. This year, as many as 75 delegates
competed for the award which comprises a certificate, a cash prize of Rs.
5,000, and – of course – a lot of prestige!
Behind the scenes:
While there is no doubt that the conference in the
safe precincts of the university campus was a resounding success, there was a
lot of turmoil outside the conference venue. The first day passed peacefully,
with all the participants reporting on time and the sessions taking off
according to schedule.
However, on the second day of the conference, amid
incessant downpour, a landslide occurred early in the morning, severely
affecting the area around some of the hotels where our delegates were housed.
The crisis necessitated immediate action in the face of inclement weather.
Rescue teams were mobilized, and participants evacuated safely but only after
some of them had spent more than twenty-four hours trapped in their hotel rooms
without internet, water, or electricity. Buses from Kathmandu University were made
available to transport them to the university bag and baggage. From there they
were moved to safer areas. Roadblocks caused delays for many other participants
and some could not make it to the venue at all. Their presentations were
rescheduled for the third day or – those who still did not make it – were held
the following week online.
Swift decisions and appropriate action taken by the
local organizers and the MELOW team ensured the safety of all the participants,
coordinating evacuations and transportation from various hotels
and rescheduling the conference program, morale-boosting, and ensuring a
smooth continuation of the event.
The conference “Echoes of the Earth” centered on
Nature and its diverse manifestations, including the caprices of the natural
world and the repercussions of Mother Nature when humans overstep their bounds.
Remarkably aligned with the conference theme, delegates witnessed Nature’s fury
firsthand as it inundated the countryside, uprooted trees, triggered
landslides, and halted all human activities. Fortunately, after this tumult,
Nature revealed its gentler side, as blue skies returned, the sun shone with
renewed hope, and birds sang in the air. The conference in Kathmandu proved to
be a profoundly holistic experience that will linger in our memories for years
to come.
Acknowledgments
MELOW would like to place on record its debt to
the local organizers, the Vice-Chancellor, faculty and students of Kathmandu
University for the enthusiasm and sincerity evident in their support during the
conference. In particular, the contribution of Dr. Khagendra Acharya and Prof
Susmita Talukdar who first initiated the planning of the conference, is
gratefully acknowledged. The Registrar of KU; Dean of Management; Dr. Hem Raj
Kafle; Mr. Narayan Niraula, Dr. Kashiraj Pandey, Mr. Yadav Adhikari, and Mr. Punya
Koirala, all joined hands to ensure the smooth conduct of the conference.
Hopefully, this association between MELOW and KU will continue in times to come
and there will be many more occasions for mutual interaction and exchange of
ideas.
In the GBM that followed, some
discussion took place which will be communicated to members in due course.
Meanwhile, let us congratulate ourselves on reaching a milestone: the 25th international
conference of an academic organization is no small achievement. Well done,
MELOW members! Keep going!
Manju
Jaidka (Prof), President, MELOW
Supported
by:
Vice-President:
Debarati Bandyopadhyay, Prof, Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan, WB
Secretary: Manpreet Kaur Kang, Prof, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha
University, Delhi
Jt.
Secretary: Roshan Lal Sharma, Prof, C.U. of Himachal Pradesh, Dharamshala
Treasurer: Aneel
Kumar Raina, former Prof of English, Panjab University, Chandigarh
[Report compiled by Srishti Sharma,
IPU, Delhi, with the help of the media team of Kathmandu University]
