TGT Correspondent
Kathmandu, September 16: Central Department of English, Tribhuvan University organized the first-ever “Graduate Conference 2020” among its MPhil students from September 10 to 12 virtually on ZOOM. Coordinated by instructors, Assistant Professors Dr. Komal Phuyal and Dr. Tara Lal Shrestha, the three-day event featured MPhil scholars presenting their papers on various literary and cultural issues. “Graduate Conference, 2020 is both academic and pedagogic platform for professors, scholars, and students to exchange the insights from classroom research. We take this opportunity to thank you all for your wonderful support to make this even possible,” said an information bulletin issued by the organizers.
Soon after its formal inauguration by the Department Chair Prof. Dr. Jibalal Sapkota, the first day of the Conference featured ten papers on the general theme, “Repressive Orders: Casteism and Dalit.” Bimal Prasad Paudel, Chet Prasad Sapkota, Manju Gurung, Mohan Dangura and Tej Raj Pant read their papers. The second session of the day featured papers on “Power, Repression, and Protest” read on various narrowed-down issued by Anisha KC, Arim Khadka, Devi Prasad Pokhrel and Rubee Maharjan. Dipendra Regmi, Gatha Rijal, Manoj Lama, and Rajesh Bhaata presented their works on various dimensions of Rabindra Nath Tagore and his national and regional voice, basing their papers on the Noble laureate’s works.
The second day of the Conference had presentations on three broad themes. The first, “Making of Person: Agency, Self and Subjectivity” was participated as presenters by Bharat Neupane, Padam Bahadur Rai, Pratibha Panditm, Rekha Joshi and Samita Lamichhane, while the second theme, “B. P. Koirala: The Personal and the National” had papers presented by Madhav Gajurel, Padam Narayan Joshi, Subhadra Dhakal, Yog Raj Lamichhane. The last plenum on the day was on “Identity, Border, and Media” for which, the presenters were Chhatra Bahadur Darlami Magar, Dipak Lungeli and Keshav Lamsal.
The final day had two technical sessions followed by a valedictory session. The first technical session, themed as “Voices from the Margin: Minorities and the Subalterns” had papers presented by Aarati Regmi, Dhaneshwor Paudel, Lok Nath Dhamala, Mousami Nepal and Muna Sapkota. The second session of the day, and the last technical session of the entire business had “Voices from the Margin: Minorities and the Subalterns” as its general theme, and the presenters were Bidur Rai, Nirjala Adhikari, Sarmila Joshi and Thaneshwor Chalise.
Each of these sessions was chaired by senior faculties of Tribhuvan University, teaching at English departments at various colleges of the University. Most of the presenters based their readings and arguments on Nepali or Indian texts and contexts.
Talking to The Gorkha Times, one of the Conference conveners, Dr. Komal Phuyal said, “A conference builds confidence in young scholars. We organized this virtual in order to impart the skills of presenting findings from research in front of a scholarly gathering. I have found that it has boosted the morale and confidence of the MPhil scholars. It is a very satisfying intellectual experience.”