Whose Stories Get to Be Told? Join the National Conversation on Marginalized Memories

 

Whose Stories Get to Be Told? Join the National Conversation on Marginalized Memories

In a world often defined by "mutilated times"—periods of war, displacement, and upheaval—what happens to the stories that don't make it into the history books? VNR Vignana Jyothi Institute of Engineering and Technology (VNRVJIET), in collaboration with the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), is inviting you to find out.

The upcoming two-day national conference, "Marginalized Memories during Mutilated Times: Diaspora, Displacement, and Transnational Memory," is set to be a landmark event for researchers and thinkers alike.

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🧠 Why Memory Matters Right Now

Memory is more than just looking back; it’s a site of resistance and survival. This conference dives deep into the "liminal spaces" occupied by migrants, refugees, and marginalized communities. From the trauma of partition to the digital storytelling of the modern era, we are exploring how suppressed memories challenge dominant national narratives.

Key Themes Include:

• Diaspora & Displacement: Narratives of loss, longing, and belonging.

• Intersecting Marginalities: Exploring gendered, caste-based, racialized, and queer memories.

• Trauma & Postmemory: Understanding collective trauma in refugee communities.

• Media as Memory: How cinema, literature, and social media act as sites of "remembering and forgetting."

• Resistance: Erasures and survivals within Dalit, Adivasi, and Indigenous communities.

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🎤 Hear from the Experts

The conference will feature insights from distinguished keynote speakers:

• Prof. Simi Malhotra: Department of English, Jamia Millia Islamia.

• Prof. Ajay K. Sahoo: Head of the Centre for Study of Indian Diaspora, University of Hyderabad.

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📅 Mark Your Calendars (Important Dates)

If you are an academic, doctoral scholar, or even an independent researcher, this is your platform.

• Abstract Submission Deadline: May 1, 2026

• Notification of Acceptance: May 10, 2026

• Full Paper Submission: June 15, 2026

• Conference Dates: July 29–30, 2026

Pro-Tip: Selected participants will have the opportunity to publish their work in an edited volume with a renowned international publisher.

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📝 How to Participate

Ready to contribute? Submit an abstract of 250–300 words outlining your research question and arguments.

• Submit to: cmsst@vnrvjiet.in

• Registration Fee: * Paper Presenters: INR 1,500

  • Attendees (Indian Participants): INR 200

Need a place to stay? Limited hostel accommodation at VNRVJIET is available on a first-come, first-served basis!

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📞 Contact & Queries

For more information, reach out to the organizing team:

• Email: cmsst@vnrvjiet.in or sudharani_d@vnrvjiet.in

• Helpline: 98490 57294 (Dr. D. Sudha Rani) or 98668 38285 (Dr. S. Kanchana)

Don't let these stories fade into silence. Be part of the dialogue that imagines more inclusive futures.