KARACHI: A two-day conference titled “Questioning South Asia” will begin on February 1 with give sessions and panel discussion at Habib University Karachi. The conference where Keynote speaker is Dr. Markus Daechsel from Royal Holloway, University of London along with other speakers like Jack Clift from School of Oriental & African Studies, University of London, Dr. Craig Phelan, Dean of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences, Dr. Karen Ruffle from University of Toronto, Dr. Edward Simpson from School of Oriental & African Studies, University of London, Dr. Edward Simpson from School of Oriental & African Studies, University of London. Dr Fahad Ali, Program Director, told that the conference aims to aware the students with the geopolitical significance of South Asia which has been a well-known fact in policy and security studies for the last several decades. In academic circles too, the logic of South Asia has become a naturalized reality: its appearance in the area studies departments of many US/western institutions signals acquiescence if not participation in an agenda informed by pursuit of global hegemony. He told that the topic would be covered such “What are the obstacles to developing comparative research perspectives for scholars constrained by ‘South Asia’? How can we shift away from the dominant framework of South Asia as an already-determined category, and devise new research agendas? And what demands for change, transformation, or recalibration might this place on us as subjects undertaking research?” He told that series of programs have been arranged for the students, comprising renowned educationist from abroad during two day conference adding that conference would be an important milestone in the country’s education and Habib University as well.
Published in Daily Times, January 31st 2018.