Methodology and Tamil Studies for Doctoral and Postdoctoral Researchers

Objectives

Tamil studies as a discipline has been shaped in part by its porous boundaries and its relationship to more defined disciplines, including Comparative Literature, History, Women’s Studies, Political Science, Art History and Anthropology. The methodologies used to approach Tamil literature, culture and history vary greatly from one university to the next, and from one country to the other. While this flexibility allows for an intellectual freedom that can generate creative scholarship, it can also leave students of Tamil lost in a methodological soup, or limited to the approach of their advisor. These different methodological approaches have also tended to isolate Tamil scholars working in different parts of the world, from India to Europe to the USA.

This one and a half day workshop, cosponsored by the Tamil Chair, University of California, Berkeley, and IFP, brings together doctoral and postdoctoral researchers from Tamil Nadu universities and several American universities to discuss the methodologies used in their scholarship, and the strengths and limitations of these approaches. The workshop will allow these scholars to share a brief presentation of their work before opening up the conversation. While we do not expect or wish to establish one common methodology, this workshop will provide an opportunity to share ideas, ask questions, and think critically about the next generation of Tamil studies. The workshop will be organized into three panels, defined by a series of key critical methodological questions.

The researchers will present their work for 15-20 minutes each.

Organizers

• French Institute of Pondicherry (IFP)
• Tamil Chair, University of California at Berkeley

Coordinators

• Kannan M. (IFP)
• Jennifer Clare (University of California at Berkeley)

Funding

• French Institute of Pondicherry (IFP)
• Tamil Chair, University of California at Berkeley

Discussants

• Prof. Y. Subbarayalu
• Prof. François Gros
• Prof. David Buck
• Dr. Herman Tieken
• Matt Baxter

Participants

History and Archaeology

• Ms. Risha Lee, “Where do Tamil Studies fit into Art History ?”, Columbia University, USA.
• Mr. Selvakumar, “Historical Geography of Tamil Nadu, 1300-1600 AD.” University of Pondicherry, Pondicherry.
• Mr. V.P Yatheeskumar, “Archaeology of Amaravathi River Valley”, University of Pondicherry, Pondicherry.
• Mr.S. Manikandan, “Ethno-history of Southern Tamil Country, late 18th and early 19th centuries”, University of Pondicherry, Pondicherry.

History and Literature

• Mr. R. Ezhilraman, “Siddhar philosophy from a historical point of view”, University of Pondicherry, Pondicherry.
• Mr. Simon Schmidt, “Tamil Correspondence in the 16th Century”. University of Leiden, Leiden.
• Mr.V.Rajesh, “Reproduction and Reception of Classical Tamil Literature in Colonial Tamilnadu, 1800-1920”, IIT, Chennai.

Classical Tamil Literature

• Dr. A. Sathish, “Medieval Commentaries on Cankam Tamil Literature”, University of Madras, Chennai.
• Mr. Jaiganesh, “A History of Tamil Grammatical Commentaries”, University of Madras, Chennai.
• Ms. Elizabeth Segran, “Gender Studies and the Cankam Tradition”, University of California at Berkeley, USA.
• Mr. A. Senthil Narayanan, “Tolkappiyam Commentaries : a Lexicographical Approach”, University of Madras, Chennai.
• Ms. S. Suja, “Reading the Colophons of Sangam Literature”, University of Madras, Chennai.

Contemporary Tamil Literature

• Mr. J. Sivakumar, “Tamil Studies in the 20th Century”, University of Madras, Chennai.
• Mr. Kiran Keshavamurthy , “Gender Studies and Tamil Literature : Masculinty and Male Sexuality in J.P. Chanakya’s Short Stories”, University of California at Berkeley, USA.
• Ms. S. Prabavathi, “History of Tamil Comics”, University of Pondicherry, Pondicherry.
• Ms. A. Pankajavalli, “Riddles in Puducherry Tamil”, University of Pondicherry, Pondicherry.

Venue

Jawaharlal Nehru Conference Hall, French Institute of Pondicherry, Pondicherry