The Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS), Shimla, inaugurated a two-day National Seminar on “Modern Hindi Literature and Bhartiyata” today at the Institute’s Seminar Hall. The event commenced with welcome and thematic remarks by the seminar convener, Dr. Manoj Pandey.
The keynote address was delivered by Prof. Chitranjan Mishra, former Head of the Department of Hindi at DDU Gorakhpur University. The inaugural session was presided over by Prof. Soma Bandopadhyay, Vice-Chancellor of the West Bengal University of Teachers’ Training, Education Planning and Administration. Mehr Chand Negi, Secretary of IIAS, proposed the vote of thanks.
The seminar explores how the concept of Bhartiyata (Indianness) is expressed in modern Hindi literature—through conceptual, cultural, and social lenses. As outlined in the concept note, the seminar highlights cultural interlinkages among Indian languages, the emotional unity of the Indian psyche, and the various layers of national-cultural consciousness within literary texts.
The objectives of the seminar include identifying elements that contribute to the shaping of Indian identity, evaluating Bharat-bodh (a sense of India) in modern literary thought, and examining Indian worldviews embedded in Hindi literature. Scholars are engaging in discussions that bridge literary criticism, cultural history, and national discourse.
Day 1 Sessions – 3 September
Three academic sessions followed the inaugural.
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Session I (Chair: Prof. Girishwar Mishra) featured Prof. Vijay Kumar Rode and Prof. Akhilesh Shankhdhar.
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Session II (Chair: Prof. Alok Gupta) included Prof. Sarvesh Singh and Prof. Veerpal Singh Yadav.
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Session III (Chair: Prof. Shiv Prasad Shukla) featured Prof. Vijay Kumar Pradhan, Dr. Girja Shankar Gautam, and Dr. Rampravesh Rajak.
The topics addressed ranged from cultural perspectives on Indianness to themes of modernity, language, and nationhood in contemporary literature.
Day 2 Sessions – 4 September
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Session IV (Chair: Prof. Soma Bandopadhyay) will feature Prof. Rajesh Kumar Garg and Dr. Sunil Kumar ‘Manas’.
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Session V (Chair: Prof. Brijendra Pandey) will include Dr. Manoj Kumar Rai and Dr. Prafull Kumar.
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Session VI (Chair: Prof. Vinod Mishra) will host Dr. Vinamra Sen Singh, Dr. Anurag Tripathi, and Dr. Aparna Dixit.
The seminar will conclude on 4 September with a valedictory session presided over by Prof. Himanshu Kumar Chaturvedi, Director of IIAS. The valedictory address will be delivered by Prof. Ambikadatta Sharma, and Dr. Manoj Pandey will present the seminar report.
The key sub-themes of the seminar include:
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The concept of Bhartiyata in modern literature
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Modernity and its engagement with Indian literary traditions
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Registers of national consciousness in Hindi writing
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Social upliftment through literature
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Representation of Bharat-bodh in modern Hindi prose and poetry
The seminar aims to deepen scholarly engagement with ideas of Indian identity, cultural values, and the evolving role of Hindi literature in articulating national consciousness.
