The concept of "world" in the Indian Ocean World is inherently plural,
encompassing the diverse, interconnected regions that surround the Indian Ocean, including Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Australia. It also embraces the linguistic, literary, cultural, and imaginative worlds forged through centuries of exchange, networks, and interactions, spanning from ancient times to the present. In the context of neoliberal globalism and shifting geopolitical landscapes, the Indian Ocean and its coastal nations have emerged as a focal point of renewed interest, both as a historical crossroads and as a dynamic space of contemporary mobility and interconnectedness. This expansive network has profoundly shaped not only the socio-economic structures of the region but also those of the Western world. Studying these interregional exchanges, from ancient to modern times, offers valuable insights into often-neglected areas of postcolonial scholarship. This conference, taking its title from Sugata Bose, invites papers on a wide array of topics, including language, literature, art, music, film, culture, and oral traditions within the Indian Ocean World. We seek to inspire a reconsideration of the processes of interaction and encounter, while encouraging a fresh interpretation of the arts and intellectual traditions from this crucial part of the world. Mode of conference: Hybrid We invite papers on but not limited to: The Indian Ocean and: Literature, Film, Cultural Intersections, Geopolitics, Identity, the Anthropocene, Popular Imagination, other oceans and their people, the economies of Language, Food, Art, Science, Trade, Traffic. Please send a 250 word abstract with four keywords to: [email protected] Important dates: Last date for submission of abstracts: 31 December 2024 Intimation of acceptance of abstracts: 2 January 2025 Date of submitting full paper: 15 January 2025 Registration Fee For paper presenters: Faculty: 800 INR Research Scholars: 500 INR PG students 300 INR For participants: 300 INR International participants: Faculty: 20 USD Research Scholars: 15 USD PG students: 10 USD Participants: 5 USD If a paper has multiple authors, they must register separately but only one need present. Payment link will be sent to participants whose papers have been selected or who write to the above email id for purposes of participation. Selected papers will be published in a peer reviewed journal or as an edited volume. Conference Coordinators: Dr Sonya J. Nair Dr Kukku Xavier Associate Professor & Head Associate Professor Research and PG Department of English Research and PG Department of English All Saints’ College, Thiruvananthapuram All Saints’ College, Thiruvananthapuram