Seminar at KRCOI

The K. R. Cama Oriental institute (KRCOI) will be holding a two-day seminar on "Krishnadevaraya and his Times — Cultural Perspectives” on January 7 and 8, 2012 at the Dr Sir J. J. Modi Memorial Hall of the Institute from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The year 2010 was commemorated as the 500th birth anniversary of the coronation of Krishnadevaraya of the Vijayanagara Empire. This seminar has been organized to celebrate the occasion and to highlight the contribution of this great ruler. Krishnadevaraya ruled from 1509-1529, welding together much of southern India not only politically but also culturally. While his achievements in the political area have been fairly well documented, the contribution of this great monarch and his immediate successors of the Tuluva dynasty (1505-1565 AD) of Vijayanagara in the promotion of the new concepts of kingship and creating a common zone of cultural exchange and identity, as well as the cultural continuity in southern India from the 16th century to modern times has not been adequately explored. The seminar focuses on this and also presents a wider picture of the forces of both cultural continuity and change in southern India from the pre-Vijayanagara periods onwards.

The paper presenters at the seminar include various world renowned authorities on the subject from India and abroad such as Prof Anna Dallapiccola and Dr Crispin Branfoot from UK, Prof John Stratton Hawley, Dr Kathleen Morrison, Dr Valerie Stoker, Elizabeth Bridges from the USA, Dr Sr Anila Verghese and Dr Purnima Srikrishna from Bombay, Dr K. G. Gopala Krishna Rao, Dr Annapurna Garimella and Dr S. K. Aruni from Bangalore, Prof Venkata Raghotham from Pondicherry, Prof Srinivas Sistla from Visakhapatnam and Amita Kanekar from Goa, among others.

The seminar will be inaugurated by Dr Y. Subbarayulu, researcher and head, Department of Indology, French Institute of Pondicherry, and the valedictory address will be delivered by Dr George Michell, a renowned international scholar on Vijayanagara.

Delegate fees will be Rs 500 per head, which is inclusive of a kit, tea and lunch on the two days. For students, on production of valid ID cards, the fees are Rs 100 per head. Due to limited accommodation, registration will close on December 26, 2011. Delegates are required to be present for the seminar at 9 a.m. on January 7, 2012 at the venue. Cheques should be marked "A/C payee” and drawn in the name of "The K. R. Cama Oriental Institute.” Payment for registration may also be done in cash.

Dr NAWAZ B. MODY

Seminar Coordinator and Joint Honorary Secretary, K. R. Cama Oriental Institute