The Sanskrit, Marathi, Hindi and English departments of our college organised the UGC sponsored Two Day National Seminar on 'Post - Independence Indian Literature' on 16th and 17th Jan' 2009.

The Post - Independence Indian literature is rich and its study has opened new vistas to the reading, interpreting, understanding and deconstructing the literature in the context of Indian history, society and culture. A huge variety of literature has been produced in 22 officially recognised languages over the years. The desire for freedom from imperial bondage became the main voice of Indian Literature.

The seminar focused on the fact whether the changing scenario of Life has properly been reflected in Post - Independence Indian Literature as the study of Literature becomes more relevant to understand the changing India since Literature after independence faithfully mirrored complex human relations, violence, expressions of the dumb, pathos of downtrodden, sexuality, individualism and at the same time Indian culture, ethos, civility and  so on. The seminar made a seminal contribution to the understanding of Indian society and the furtherance of creative writing in India .

As a prelude to the seminar, two workshops were conducted on 22nd Aug' 2008 and 20th Nov' 2008 respectively on the main theme of the seminar. In both the day - long workshops 28 research papers were presented by the members of teaching staff, invitees and few a students of the college.

The seminar was inaugurated by Shri. Arun Sadhu,  former president of All India Marathi Literary Meet and a well known journalist. Shri. Shivkumar Mishra, a well known  Hindi critic from Gujrat, delivered a key note address. Prof. Damodar Morey gave the introductory speech. Principal Dr. (Mrs.) Shakuntala Singh gave a welcome speech. Shri S. V. Karandikar, a member of Vidya Prasarak Mandal, presided over inaugural function and delivered a presidential talk and wished 'all the best' to everyone for the successful conduct of the seminar. Prof. (Mrs) Mugdha Kulkarni proposed vote of thanks. The inaugural ceremony took place on 16th  Jan'2009. The souvenir of the seminar was also released, on this occasion, at the auspicious hands of Shri. Shivkumar Mishra.

On 16th Jan' 2009, three sessions were conducted on 'Modernism', 'Dalit literature' and 'Regional and Tribal Literature' respectively. There was a special organization of 'Kavi sammelan' in the evening.

The first session on 'Modernism' was chaired by Dr. Girish Jani, a scholar of Sanskrit from Mumbai. Prof. Pankaja Waghmare ( Aurangabad ) presented a paper on 'Modernism in Post - Independence Sanskrit literature.' Dr. Vasant Patankar (Mumbai) presented his research paper on 'Sensitivity in Post - Independence Marathi urban Literature.' Dr. Satish Deshpande ( Aurangabad ) presented a paper on 'Modernism and Indian writing in English.' The chairperson Dr. Jani made his valuable comments. (Mrs.) Mugdha Kulkarni was the Co-Chairperson of this session.

The second session on 'Dalit Literature' was chaired by Dr. Suryanarayan Ransubhe, a famous personality in the realm of Dalit Literature from Latur. In this session the research paper of Dr. Manohar Jadhav (Pune) was read by Prof. Damodar Morey on his

behalf  on 'Post - Independence Marathi Dalit poetry.' Dr. Bajrang Bihari ( Delhi ) read paper on 'Interconnections of Dalit Literature' (special reference : Dalit stories of New Generation); Prof. Raji Ramesh Iyer presented her paper on 'Glimpses of Tamil Dalit Literature with special emphasis on Bama's novels.' Mr. Anil Dhawale co-chaired this session.

Dr. Ramnika Gupta, an ex - MLA and social worker from New Delhi , Chaired the third session in which Dr. Sisilia Carvhalo presented a paper on Post - Independence Marathi - Christian Literature: Dr. Gupta spoke on 'East and West Tribal Literature.' Her lecture and comments were scholarly. Mr. Damodar Morey co-chaired the session.

The special feature of the seminar was a 'Poet's Meet.' The Kavi Sammelan was chaired by the noted poet of Marathi Shri. Narayan Surve. This poetry recitation session included participation of noted poets like Shri. Prakash Holkar, Dr. Mukesh Gautam, Prof. Prashant More and Shir. Mahesh Dubey. Poets handled several themes and entertained and enlightened the audience. Shri Surve concluded this session by presenting thought - provoking superb poems and expressed that it was poetry that alone taught him the way of the world. It was a beautiful ending of the first day. Alok Bhattacharya anchored this session.

On 17th Jan' 2009, two sessions were conducted on 'Contemporary Indian Literature' and 'Criticism' followed by a brain storming symposium on 'Feminism'; Prof. Pushpa Bhave, a stout feminist and thinker, chaired the session. In this session, Prof. Dr. Lalita Namjoshi read her paper on 'Reflection of Feminism in Post - Independence Sanskrit Literature.' Dr. (Mrs) Pushpalata Rajapure - Tapas, Dr. (Mrs) Sudha Arora and Dr. (Mrs) Shoba Ghosh participated in the symposium and made presentation through  Marathi, Hindi and English respectively and commented on the image and role of woman in Marathi, Hindi, Plays and English novels. This session was the most successful one in terms of scholarly presentation, audience querries and criticism of male - dominated society.

Prof. Pushpa Bhave said that the post - independence India witnessed manifold movements centered around women's problems. The face of woman, she continued, has totally changed due to spread of education. Marathi theatre has perfectly projected these reflections of women. She presented the picture of woman - oriented plays be citing examples of works of Marathi play wrights and held men of the society instrumental for the precarious condition of woman.

The second session on  'Contemporary Indian Literature' was chaired by Dr. N.K. Ghosh, an international scholar of English Literature from Agra . In this session, Dr. Chandragupta Varnekar presented paper on 'Importance of computer in the composition of Sanskrit'. Dr. Tabassum Sheikh read her paper on 'Post - Independence Urdu Literature.' Prof. Kalpana Athlye read paper on Post - Independence modern Sanskrit Literature genres.' Prof. Pramod Kharate was the co-chairperson of this session.

The third session on 'Criticism' was chaired by Prof. Dr. Bharati Nirgudkar. Dr. N. N. Joshi presented paper on 'Criticism in Post - Independence Sanskrit Literature.' Dr. Shatrughna jadhav (Hingoli) read paper on 'Trends in Post - Independence Marathi Criticism' Dr. Veena Bhalla presented a paper on 'Individual Freedom in Post - Independence Hindi Novels' Dr. Madhuri Batta, read her paper on 'Shashi Deshpande's That Long Silence' : A study.' Mr. Anil Bhabad co-chaired this session.

The seminar was attended by scholars, invitees, delegates, members of teaching and non- teaching staff, pressmen, academicians and students in large numbers. This two day seminar was a literal intellectual feast for knowledge loving people and to those who are related to Literature. The seminar was conducted by the departments of Sanskrit, Marathi, Hindi and English. Hence, all languages were represented by the speakers, resource persons, delegates and the paper readers at the seminar.

I thank Principal Dr (Mrs) Shakuntala A. Singh to whom the entire success should be owed and who stood steadfastly behind all to fetch success to the seminar. I equally thank the Vice - Principals, Prof. (Mrs) Leela Bhat, Dr. Padmini Murthy and Prof. (Mrs) U. S. Beke, Vice - Principal Jr. College , for their constant support and overall supervision. Many thanks to the coordinators Prof. Damodar Morey, Prof. Anil Dhawale and Prof. Mugdha Kulkarni for successful conduct of the seminar. Thanks are also due to the different committee chairpersons and members who laboured a lot for the beautiful organization.

Committees appointed for the Two Day National Seminar on

"POST  - INDEPENDENCE INDIAN LITERATURE "

Friday, Saturday, 16th and 17th January 2009