1. About the Conference
The incessant debates, discussions, and evolving discourses in academia are an attestation of the scholarly fervor to develop ideas. SIO Telangana ardently believes such discussions can spark a wave of ideas. The Academic Conference – ‘Tracing Trajectories, Reimagining Politics’ aims to deal with the theme “Power, Politics, and Cultural Memory: Trajectories of Muslim Identity and State Engagement in Post-Colonial India.” This academic conference aims to provide a platform where distinguished national and international academicians will present diverse ideas and views, illuminating routes that advance the existing scholarly discourse. We believe that the Pre-Conference activities on various themes and the 2-day Conference scheduled on 14th and 15th September 2024, will present an exuberant and vibrant debate for the scholarship that seeks to understand the community and the subsequent challenges it faces in present-day India. We hope you benefit from the lectures, papers, panel discussions, and the discourse of the conference. We hope that these series of events prove to be a timely gathering that elicits relevant ideas guiding the community in its fight for social justice for the people of this country.
2. Concept note
TRACING TRAJECTORIES, REIMAGINING MUSLIM POLITICS
ACADEMIC CONFERENCE
14th & 15th September, 2024 | Hyderabad
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Power, Politics, and Cultural Memory: Trajectories of Muslim Identity and State Engagement in Post-Colonial India
Modernity’s characteristic drive is to break away from traditions of the past, altering the way we understand, political, social, and even self-identity constructs. The fixity of identities and codification of traditions has led to the construction of minorities and majorities. The question of minority ‘existence’ has been haunting social scientists since the early eighteenth century, starting with the ‘Jewish Question’ in Europe and evolving into the modern-day Muslim Question. The issues took a new shape with the Dreyfus affair – calling in the loyalty question of minorities at its primacy. The existence of minorities has elicited various responses, invoking a range of emotions and actions such as assimilation, annihilation, emancipation, state protection, accommodation, etc. The very presence of minorities challenges the homogeneous imagination of ‘nation(s)’.
Recent histories of genocide and ethnic cleansing, such as those in Yugoslavia and Rwanda, along with growing concerns over the potential genocide of minorities worldwide, have renewed academic interest in the subject of minorities. Some scholars, like Appadurai and Mamdani, critique the definition of minority based solely on numbers, while others, such as Kaviraj, argue against the politicization of identities. Scholars like Kymlicka and Taylor have proposed multiculturalism as an alternative. Consequently, debates now range from political and policy accommodation to the fundamental question of what constitutes a ‘minority’.
In this context, examining the specific questions of Muslims as ‘religious minorities’ in Western democracies and the debates surrounding the construction of ‘minority’ can be analysed within the Indian framework. In India, the intense debate about Muslims as a distinct qaum (nation) and the ummah can be explored through the ideas of leaders like Maulana Azad, Hussain Ahmed Madni, and Islamic political theorist Maulana Maududi. Additionally, the minority question can be extended to the citizenship experience of Muslims in Indian democracy, considering the accommodative role played by the state, the assimilatory role played by social organizations, and the resistance to numerical definitions offered by scholars during the pre-and post-partition debates.
Examining these specific questions in specific locations can provide deeper insights into the broader dynamics of minority issues. This approach allows us to understand the unique ways in which citizens have responded to the challenges of minority construction and experiences.
Tracing a community’s cultural history helps us understand the underlying realities of its socio-political actions. Hyderabad, in particular, has been regarded as a political gateway to South India and a space for dialogue among civilizations and cultures. From its Muttahida Tehzeeb (Composite Culture) and patronage of poets to the debates over the ‘Dakhni’ language and the concerns of the ‘Telangana-Telugu,’ which became a rallying cry for the creation of Telangana State, culture has been a driving force for political development in Telangana, an erstwhile Deccan State.
The Hyderabad State, governed by ‘The Nizams’ for several centuries, left an indelible mark on the people of the Deccan. It was crucial in shaping the culture and political imagination of the Muslim community in Hyderabad and the Deccan. This took a drastic shift with the annexation of Hyderabad in 1948, as the Indian state assumed a new role adapted to the political context. The memory of this event has led to varying rhetoric in the state, ranging from celebrations of ‘national integration’ to ‘liberation day.’ This collective memory, or the lack thereof, continues to influence the region’s politics.
These cultural and political dynamics intersect with the experiences of resistance and oppression, both of which have long traditions of academic engagement. Scholars from various schools of thought have tried to make sense of oppression, thereby evolving praxes of resistance. The interaction between religion, politics, and the potential for resistance has been revitalized by recent interests in liberation theology. The question of oppression, stemming from structures of caste, gender, economy, and state, operating within different domains of culture and politics, has given rise to a multiplicity of praxis, ranging from protest to the politics of representation.
The rise of authoritarian regimes, particularly the recent surge of Hindutva forces, has posed a grave challenge to various societal groups, especially Muslims, who face blatant violence from oppressors. Consequently, different modes of resistance to challenge this oppression have become a contentious issue for both the community and academicians across the spectrum.
Through this seminar, we invite scholarly papers to explore the multifaceted dimensions of minority identities, particularly within the intricate framework of Indian democracy. We encourage investigations into the nuanced experiences of Muslim citizenship, examining how the state accommodates them and the diverse influences of societal organizations on assimilation processes. Additionally, we welcome discussions on strategies of resistance to numerical representations and categorizations, especially those historically debated during the pre-partition era. Papers that delve into the status of Muslims as religious minorities in Western democracies are also encouraged.
Additionally, we seek scholarly inquiries that uncover the rich cultural heritage in regions, specifically Deccan, where Muslims play a central role in societal and political discourse. This includes exploring Muslim representation in popular culture and their significant contributions to social movements, notably in areas such as Telangana and the Deccan. Furthermore, we invite papers that examine the intricate relationship between the Muslim community and the state(s), focusing on how collective memory shapes interactions with both the Indian and former Deccan states.
Furthermore, our aim is to comprehensively analyse the diverse strategies employed by Muslims to counteract the violence perpetrated by Hindutva-dominated regimes. We also seek comparative studies that elucidate various forms of oppression and resistance across different contexts, offering valuable insights into the intricate interplay of power, politics, and identity.
3. Thematic Areas of Exploration
We largely look for papers around (but are not limited to) the following themes:-
1) Making of a Minority: State, Nation and Belongingness
2) Resistance in Praxis: Past and Present
3) The Muslim Subject in Hyderabad: Culture, Memory and History
4) Shifting Power Paradigms: The Question of Muslim Political Agency
5) Beyond the Binaries of Nationalism, Minority, and Community: Relocating Indian Muslim
6) Discrimination and Exclusion: Intersections of Political Discourse and the Legal System
7) Political Assertion of Muslims: Beyond Secular Binaries and Mainstream Narratives
8) Urdu, Dakhni, and Vernaculars: The Discourses on Language and Minority
9) Print and Visual Capitalism in the City: Media Ownership, Representation and Aspirations of Minority
10) The Migrant Hyderabad: Inward and Outward Migrations
4. Key Dates
Abstract Submission: 5th August, 2024
Notification of Acceptance: 15th August, 2024
Full Paper Submission Deadline: 7th September, 2024
Hyderabad: 1947 – 1950: 25th August, 2024
Conference Dates: 14th,15th September, 2024
5. Paper submission guideline
Font size 14 for headings and 12 for normal text.
Font preferably Times New Roman
References shall be written in APA 7 style.
It is recommended to add a cover page consisting of the paper title, authors, designations, institute affiliations, email ids, and contact numbers.
Word Limit:
Send your abstract to [email protected]
6. About SIO
Students Islamic Organisation of India (SIO) is a student organization working in the country since its inception on 19th October 1982, for the social progress and development of the students’ fraternity. SIO endeavors to prepare students and youth for the reconstruction of society in the light of Divine guidance.
The organization considers it to be of paramount importance that research and academic initiatives are undertaken by the student community. We, at SIO, focus on providing a conducive environment preparing individuals for the task and encouraging the cadre. We believe that the true function of education should be to impart genuine knowledge about life, existence, and future.
7. About CSR
The Centre for Study and Research is a non-profit organization with a goal to produce knowledge in all fields that impact human civilization. CSR’s work includes:-
– Analyzing policies with regard to different ideological frameworks and offering appropriate alternatives.
– Exploring significant issues affecting humanity and providing potential solutions.
– Monitoring changes in cultural, political, and social spheres and providing critical reviews.
– Studying Indian society, philosophies, practical problems, modern trends, and both theoretical and applied aspects.
Further Information
Mail: [email protected]
Convenor: Abdus Salam Shakir
Contact: +91 8790 627 408
Co-Convenor: Samaan Rafid
Contact: +91 7993 954 844
