Salesian College, Sonada

Salesian College, Sonada is one of the founding colleges of University of North Bengal.   It is a Catholic College owned by the Salesians of Don Bosco, a Trans-National Educational Society managing over 3000 institutions of various types in 136 countries. Salesian College is one of the 25 Higher Education Institutions run by the Don Bosco Society in India.  Established in 1933, the college has a tradition of nearly 70 years of imparting quality education. The college provides Honours Degree Courses in three subjects namely, English, History and Education. The College also offers Career Oriented Programmes in four disciplines namely, Computer Application, Travel and Tourism Management, Communicative English, and Music. The college is known for its Music Department and is the only college in North Bengal University offering a  course in Music as of now.

The Department of English at Salesian College was initiated in 1962. The Department has to its credit two publications entitled Vibrations of the Heart. John Henry Newman: The Dynamics of Conversion (2004) and Life  with an Author (1998)

Theme of the Seminar

SPIRITUALITY IN THE VICTORIAN POETRY
In the history of English Literature, Victorian era played  a pivotal role in setting the tenor for  normative concepts as well as critical thinking in the minds of people. Some poets of this age have  tried to bridge a midway understanding of the true values that prevailed in society. Besides, in this era, we find poets who are true to their faith, strongly founded in their beliefs and traditions. Some of them highlighted the values contained in the Bible whereas others sought after new strands of secular spirituality.  GM Hopkins, a Jesuit priest and major poet of the era, for instance, took to writing poetry to share his thoughts with the ordinary people on the streets and to keep them rooted in their faith.  This seminar proposes to initiate an explorative study on the  poets of the era to guage their impact amidst the upheavals of the time like the evolutionary discourse begun by Charles Darwin.

Delving into the making of English Literature, some would find the prevalence of a nuanced Christian sensibility. It would be interesting to identify the origins of writing drama,  poetry, and novel and their linkages with Church practices. The attempts by Church authorities to promote different modes of preaching the Good News, as well as the efforts by authors and poets, despite scriptural influence, to deviate from the Church doctrines have left, it could be said, a mark on the lineage of Victorian literature.
The seminar intends to take a closer look at the constant struggle in the British Literature between a group of authors trying to preserve the tradition of living by faith by nurturing a spiritual vision and the others trying to break away from the tradition of giving credence to faith and spirituality.  The Victorian era through its stalwarts   played an important role in providing stability and thereby making poetry of the time mature in outlook. These poets seem to have touched the hearts of common people and helped restore true values of life embedded in the scriptures.
This seminar intends to engage the resource persons and the participants to return to a past age and a different cultural context in seeking concrete steps to usher renewal in our own society, by analyzing the various strands of the linkages between literature and religion.

Major Sub-Themes:
1. Spirituality in the poetries of Tennyson
2. Spirituality in the poetries of Robert Browning
3. Spirituality in the poetries of GM Hopkins
4. Spirituality in the poetries of Mathew Arnold

Objectives of the Seminar
1. To bring awareness among the participants of a lurking spiritual dimension in the common man or women.
2. To highlight the different ways Victorian poets understood spirituality and expressed it in their lyrics.
3. To evaluate the texture of spirituality that dominated
     the Victorian era and its aftermath.

Call for Abstracts and Papers
Interested academicians and  scholars in the field are invited to present papers in the Seminar. Last date for submission of abstract, within 300 words computer typed and printed on A4 size paper with double spacing, is 30th June 2008. The chosen sub theme of the seminar should also be mentioned. The full text of the paper is to be submitted along with complete address of the contributor by 20th July 2008. The abstract and the paper may also be sent by e-mail to the following college ID: scssdb@salesiancollege.net

Location
Salesian College, Sonada is on the  Siliguri-Darjeeling National Highway-55. It is about 16 kms before Darjeeling town and about 60 kms from Siliguri. It takes  an hour and a half to reach Salesian College from Siliguri by taxi which is available at different points like N.J.P Railway Station, Tenzing Norgay Bus Stand and Bagdogra Airport.

Registration
Registration will start from 9.30 am on 31 July 2008 at the Reception Counter.

Accommodation
Free accommodation will be provided to registered outstation participants on sharing basis.

Weather
The normal monsoon weather is expected during the seminar period. Light woolen garments and an umbrella are recommended.

UGC- Sponsored State Level Seminar
 on
SPIRITUALITY IN THE VICTORIAN POETRY

at
Salesian College, Sonada
Darjeeling Dist, West Bengal 734219

Date:  31st  July 2008

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7. Whether willing to present paper: Yes /No ……….

8. Title of the Paper: …………………………………...

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Date:

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Signature of the participant

(Please send the filled in form to the specified address of Convener/Secretary latest by 20th June 2008. Photocopy of the registration form is also valid.)

Contact Persons

Fr. (Dr) George Thadathil SDB                        
Principal & President, Organizing Committee
Salesian College,
Sonada P.O.
Darjeeling (Dist)
West Bengal - 734219
Tel (0354) 2222 - 159/138
Email: principal@salesiancollege.net

Fr. Francis Gomes SDB
Convener, Organizing Committee
Department of English
Salesian College, 
Sonada P.O.
Darjeeling (Dist) 734219
Tel: (0354) 2222147
Cell: 9434881028
Email: scssdb@salesiancollege.net

Mrs. Sisodhara Syangbo
Secretary, Organizing Committee
Department of English
Salesian College, Sonada.
Sonada P.O. 734219
Darjeeling (Dist)