Valedictory Ceremony Marks Conclusion of GIAN Course on “Indian Women Diaspora: Preserving Linguistic and Cultural Identities” at AMU
TNN News : The five-day Global Initiative of Academic Networks (GIAN) course on “Indian Women Diaspora: Preserving Linguistic and Cultural Identities” concluded with a Valedictory Ceremony at the MMTTC Auditorium, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU). Jointly organized by the Women’s College and the Department of English, AMU, the course created an intellectual platform to examine the experiences of Indian women in the diaspora, especially their efforts to preserve language and cultural roots amidst displacement.
Mr. Mohammad Imran (IPS), Registrar, AMU, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. The Guests of Honour included noted scholar Prof. Anisur Rahman from the Centre for West Asian Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, Prof. M. Rizwan Khan, Dean, Faculty of Arts and Prof. Mohammad Jahangeer Warsi, Local Coordinator of the GIAN course. Other dignitaries present were Prof. Masood Anwar Alavi, Principal, Women’s College; and Prof. Samina Khan, Chairperson, Department of English, AMU.
Delivering the presidential address, Mr. Mohammad Imran reflected on his academic journey and emphasized the profound role of literature in understanding migration, identity, and cultural belonging. He quoted diasporic poet Meena Alexander to highlight the emotional intricacies of displacement.
Prof. Anisur Rahman commended the organizers for their initiative and provided insights into the socio-economic implications of diasporic transitions. Prof. M.J. Warsi thanked the participants and collaborators, noting AMU’s historic role in fostering inclusive scholarship and promoting critical diasporic studies.
In his special address, Prof. M. Rizwan Khan, Dean, Faculty of Arts discussed the complexities of identity negotiations in diaspora, especially the duality of national and cultural affiliations. He appreciated Dr. Sadaf Fareed’s efforts in curating an academically meaningful event. He emphasized that the cultural preservation by women diaspora has not been adequately captured in the written literature, hence it is necessary to consider their contributions in oral literature, as well.
In her inaugural remarks, Prof. Samina Khan highlighted the significance of the course theme and the department’s commitment to inclusive, interdisciplinary education. She underlined the urgent need to revisit diasporic identities, especially from a gendered lens, in today’s globalized world.
Dr. Sadaf Fareed, Course Coordinator, presented a detailed report of the course, outlining the thematic richness, academic rigor, and critical discussions that defined the five-day engagement. She shared that the course saw active participation from 83 individuals, including 60 offline and 12 online attendees from across India and abroad.
Prof. Masood Anwar Alavi delivered the concluding remarks, reiterating the Women’s College’s support for such impactful academic programs and praising the collaborative efforts of the organising departments.
Over the course of five days, participants engaged with eminent speakers including Prof. Purnima Mehta Bhatt, Prof. Nishi Pandey, Dr. Sadaf Fareed, Prof. Nazia Hasan, and Prof. Anisur Rahman. The lectures delved into the intricacies of hyphenated identities, cultural dissonance, gendered displacement, and intergenerational diasporic experiences. Through literary analyses and lived narratives, topics such as food, fashion, language retention, and literature as cultural repositories were thoroughly explored.
The ceremony concluded with a certificate distribution session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Ms. Basrah Hasan Rizvi, a student of B.A. English Literature. The proceedings were compered by Ms. Aiman Fatima and Ms. Maysha Manaal Taj, students of M.A. and B.A. English Literature, respectively.
