The S K Somaiya College of Arts, Science and Commerce recently hosted a landmark event, the “Renegotiating Globalized Nationalities: A SAARC Dialogue” international conference, sponsored by the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR).
The two-day conference, held on March 1 and 2, 2024, brought together scholars, researchers, and experts from across South Asia to engage in a multidisciplinary dialogue on pressing issues facing the region.
Chaired by Dr. Purushottam Wadje, the Principal of S K Somaiya College, and co-chaired by Dr. Charlotte Braganza, the Vice Principal, the conference was meticulously curated to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and scholarly exchange.Under the constructive convening and thematic formulation of Dr Sindhu Sara Thomas as the Convenor and Dr Chhaya Goswami as the Co-Convenor, the conference invited a diverse array of panellists and speakers who provided invaluable insights into the complexities of globalized nationalities within the SAARC region.
Award winning bilingual writer, Daya Dissanayake attended the conference from Sri Lanka. The paper presented by Daya Dissanayake focused on the importance of considering South Asia as one family; one kutumbha. Some of the wide range of panel themes covered by the conference included “Geopolitics and SAARC Response: Navigating Regional Dynamics,” “Literary Legacy, Culture, Linguistics, History, and South Asian Diasporic Tradition,” “International Relations and SAARC: A Regional Perspective,” and “South Asia and the Indian Ocean World: Navigating Connectivity and Challenges.” The sessions were marked by intense discussions, critical analyses, and thought-provoking presentations, with over 30 research papers received for the technical sessions.
Overall, the “Renegotiating Globalized Nationalities: A SAARC Dialogue” conference was a resounding success, fostering meaningful exchanges and generating new perspectives on the challenges and opportunities facing the SAARC region. The event served as a testament to the importance of academic collaboration and dialogue in addressing complex socio-political issues and charting a resurrecting path towards a more interconnected and prosperous future for South Asia.
