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Lecture\Seminar\Conference

Lecture\Seminar\Conference

Conference organized by Tamil Stream/SCTS from 2022 :
  • A Book Review Series on the Book entitled Writing Tamil Catholicism through Google meet, from 18.07.2022 to 20.07.2022, organized by Professor R Thamotharan. Mr. Kamalakannan.P, Research Scholar of Tamil reviewed the book. The author of the book Dr. Margherita Trento, Research Fellow at CEIAS, Paris, France delivered a address and Prof. E. Annamalai, visiting Professor of South Asian Languages and Civilizations, University of Chicago, U.S delivered the Guest note on the occasion.
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  • A Book Review Series on the Theme ‘Studies on Tamil Verbs’ through Google meet, for Seven months, as ‘A Book per a month’ basis, organized by Professor R Thamotharan. Dr. T. Mohanraj, Software Engineer, Tamil Indo – European Comparative Etymological Dictionary Project, Chennai reviewed the seven books Tamil Verbal Suffixes  (A Study On Tamil Verbal System), Dynamics of Verbal extension in Tamil, Kurippu Vinaigal in Sangam Literature (With Index), Dynamics of Tamil Finite System, A Revisal on Ancient Tamil Verb forms, Syntax and Semantics of Tamil Verbs, Verbal Participles in Tamil (A Historical Study) on 25.07.2022, 27.08.2022, 24.09.2022, 29.10.2022, 26.11.2022, 26.12.2022, 28.01.2023 respectively. Prof. H. Chithiraputhiran,(Former Head, Department of Lexicography, Tamil University, Tanjore.) Prof. E. Annamalai, (Visiting Professor, University of Chicago, U.S.) Prof. S. Alagesan, (Retd. Tamil Professor, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli.) Prof. R. Kothandaraman, (Former Director, Puduchery Liguistic Cultural Research Institute, Puduchery.) Prof. S. Subash Chandra Bose, (Retd. Professor, Arasar College, Tiruvaiyaru.) Prof. S. Rajendiran, (Professor of Linguistics, Amirtha University, Coimbatore.) Mr. P. Madhaiyan, (Former Head, Department of Tamil, Periyar University.) – the authors of the seven books respectively delivered their thoughts about the review in the Webinars.
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  • A Book Discussion on the Book entitled ON SCREEN OFF SCREEN through Google meet, on 01.03.2023, organized by Professor R Thamotharan. Along with the review of the book by Mr. Backianathan Akilan, (Senior Lecturer, Art History and Fine Arts Department, Jaffna University.) the author of the book Constantine Nagasis, Professor of Anthropology, University of Chicago also delivered the address. Then Dr. N. Govindarajan, Professor, South Asian Languages and Civilizations, University of Chicago, U.S. delivered a talk on the title The Magical Web of Images: some Discussional Notes on Nagasis’ Book  and Dr. Swarnavel Eswaran, Associate Professor, Department of English and Media, Michigan University delivered his talk on the title Cinema History and Theories.
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  • A Seminar on ‘Problems of Various Translations’ through Google Meet, from 05.07.22 – 09.07.22 organised by Prof. R. Thamotharan. The title of the talks were A Target on Legal Translations – Some Solutions, Presented by Mr. L.S. Sathiyamoorthi, (District Magistrate, Special Court, Chennai.), Translation in Department of External Affairs : The Path and Uses, Presented by Mr. Sridharan Madhsudhanan, (Joint Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi) Translation in Publications’ Department – Problems and Solutions, Presented by Mr. Shahjahan, (Senior Translator, New Delhi.) Automated Translation -  A Revolution in Translation Universe, Presented by Mr. Aazhi Senthilnathan, (Founder, Langscape Translation Institute, Chennai.) Translation of Parliamentary Speeches – Problems and Challenges, Presented by Mr. Rajkumar Bala(Senior Translator, Loksabha, NewDelhi).
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  • A Seminar on ‘Contributions of Manarkeni Ravikumar to Tamil Philology’ through Google meet, from 04.07.2022 – 06.07.2022, organised by Prof. R. Thamotharan. There were 6 talks on the topics of Cultural capital being built by Ravikumar by Dr. Thenmozhi(Deputy Commissioner, Commercial Tax Department, Tiruchirapalli), Universal thoughts and a Local Assembly :  Ceaseless Contributions of Ravikumar by Dr. Rajan Krishnan(Associate Professor, School of Culture and Expressions, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar University, New Delhi on 04.07.22. On 05.08.22, Prof. Silambu N. Selvarasu(Former Professor,  Pondicherry Institute of Linguistic and Cultural Studies, Pondicherry) delivered talk on the topic Ravikumar’s Studies and his Methodologies  and Dr. J. Balasubramaniyam(Assistant Professor, Journalism and Scientific Informational Technology Department, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai) delivered his talk on the topic Ravikumar: The Journalist. The talks on the topic  Role of Ravikumar in  Sri Lankan Tamil Literary History and Ravikumar’s Language Tools were delivered by Dr. Sellathurai Sutharsan(Senior Lecturer, Department of Tamil, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka) and Dr. P. Selvakumar(Associate Professor, School of Tamil Language and Linguistics, International Institute of Tamil Studies, Chennai) respectively.
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  • Tamil Stream, JNU organized a Seminar on Prof. George L Hart’s Contribution to Tamil Classics on 27.09.22 and 28.09.22 celebrating the 80th birthday of Prof. George L Hart, Professor Emeritus, University of California, Berkeley. On the First day of the Seminar, Prof. V. Jeyadevan(Former Head, Dept. of Tamil, Madras University), Dr. D. Ravikumar(Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha), Editor, Manarkeni Research Journal, Viluppuram) and Mr. M. Manivannan, (Chief Executive Officer, Sevantiz Corporation, USA) delivered their Felicitation Addresses. Prof. Vasu Renganathan from the Department of South Asia Studies, University of Pennsylvania delivered a lecture on the topic George Hart’s Contributions and Tamils’ pride. On the Second day of the seminar, Prof. E. Annamalai(Former Professor, Chicago University) and Prof. M. Rajendran(Former Vice-Chancellor, Tamil University) delivered Felicitation Addresses. Prof. Srinivas Reddy, Assistant Professor from the Brown University, Rhode Island, USA delivered lecture on the topic Telugu Literature: Between Sanskrit and Tamil.
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  • Tamil Stream, CIL, JNU conducted a National Symposium on TRANSLATION OF TOLKĀPPIYAM IN HINDI EDITION on 01.09.2022 and 02.09.2022. Professors, Scholars and Translators from Various Institutions and places presented their papers on 27 chapters of the Tolkappiyam.
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  • Tamil Stream, CIL, JNU celebrated TAMIL HERITAGE AND INDIAN LANGUAGES WEEK from 12 – 16th December 2022. Researchers delivered Lectures on Various topics about TamilNadu and Tamilology. On 14th December 2022, Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan, Hon’ble Governor of Telangana and Hon’ble Lt. Governor of Puducherry gave the Keynote Address. Prof. Santishree D. Pandit, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, JNU gave the Presidential Address.
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  • The Tamil Stream under CIL was transformed into the Special Centre for Tamil Studies(SCTS). Honourable Vice Chancellor of JNU issued the order.
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  • A Seminar on ‘Contributions of Prof.N. Kumaraswamy Raja to Tamil Philology’ through Google meet, from 02.06.2023 – 04.06.2023, organised by Prof. R. Thamotharan. Dr. T. Mohanraj, Software Engineer, Tamil Indo – European Comparative Etymological Dictionary Project, Chennai introduced and explained the NPP theory of Prof. N. Kumaraswamy Raja. Senior Linguistic Professor R. Kothandaraman also joined the event all the three days and expressed his thoughts about the contribution of Prof. N. Kumaraswamy Raja and explained the importance of his theory.
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  • A Seminar on Contributions of Prof. S. Rajaram to Tamil Philology through Google meet, from 06.11.23 to 08.11.23 organised by Prof. R. Thamotharan. Various Speakers from Various Educational Institutions delivered talks about the multifaceted contributions of the eminent Tamil Linguist and Grammar Researcher Prof. S. Rajaram. He too joined the Event all the three days and gave his thoughts about the talks on the final day. Prof. Santishree Pandit, Honourable Vice Chancellor of JNU delivered the Presidential Address on the first day and released the book ‘Su. Rasaraam enum mee ilakkanar’ edited by the Scholars of SCTS.
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  • Special Centre for Tamil Studies, JNU coordinated the Bharathiyar Birthday Celebration and Indian Languages Day on 11th December 2023. Justice V. Ramasubramanian, (Honble Former Judge, Supreme Court of India) delivered the Keynote Address. Thiru R. Venkataramani(Attorney General of India) delivered the Guest note. Honourable Vice Chancellor of JNU Prof. Santishree D Pandit delivered the Presidential Address. Prof. Shoba Sivasankaran and Prof. R. Thamotharan delivered the Welcome address and the Vote of Thanks respectively.
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Special Lectures organised by Tamil Stream/SCTS:
  • Tamil Stream, CIL, JNU organised a Special Lecture on 08.07.22 on the Topic ‘Marabu’ in Tamil Dramatic Milieu – A Travel Through Recent Stage Performances by Dr. K. Parthibaraja(Dramatist, Assistant Professor of Tamil, Sacred Heart College, Tirupathur, TamilNadu).
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  • Tamil Stream, CIL, JNU organised a Special Lecture on 16.08.22 on the Topic Recent Trends in Comparative Studies by Dr. P. Anandhakumar(Professor of Tamil, Gandhigram Rural University, Dindugal, TamilNadu).
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  • Tamil Stream, CIL, JNU organised a Special Lecture on 08.02.23 on the Topic Sitharunda Nilathin Sorkal  - A Talk about Srilankan Tamil Poems by Kirishanth(Poet, Srilanka).
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  • A Special Lecture on 06.03.23 on the Topic Prakrit Literary Theories. by Dr. Andrew Ollett(Neubauer Family Assistant Professor, South Asian Languages and Civilizations, The University of Chicago) was organized by Professor R Thamotharan.
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  • A Special Lecture on 20.06.23 on the Topic The Sri Lankan Ramayana Tradition: The Interface of Sinhala and Tamil Literature and Folklore by Dr. Justin Henry(Assistant Professor, Department of Religious Studies, University of South Florida) was organized by Prof. R. Thamotharan, SCTS.
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  • Special Centre for Tamil Studies, JNU organized a Special Lecture on 21.09.23 and 22.09.23 on the Topics Unknown Temples of the Cholas and Evolution of Sculptures from Pallavas to Vijayanagar Empire by Mr. S. Gurumurthy(Heritage Enthusiast, Coimbatore).
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  • Special Centre for Tamil Studies, JNU organized a Special Lecture on 09.11.23 on the Topic Contemporary Trends in Tamil Children Literature by Mr. Udhayasankar(Winner of Sahitya Akademi Bal Puraskar).
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  • Special Centre for Tamil Studies, JNU organized a Special Lecture on 24.11.23 on the Topic Musical Elements in Paripadal by Dr. Sivaraman(Research of Musical Tamil). Dr. R. Prasanna Kumari(Assistant Professor, Vocal Musical Department, KalaiKaveri Finearts College, Trichy.) gave the interpretation of the Music.
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  • A Commemoration Lecture of Prof. Alexander Dubianski, an eminent Russian Scholar of Tamil was organized by Prof. R. Thamotharan on 18th November 2023. Dr. Sonu Saini(Assistant Professor at Centre of Russian Studies, JNU) gave the Felicitation Address. Dr. Tatiana Dubyanskaya, (Associate Professor, Institute of Oriental and Classical Studies, HSE, Moscow) spoke on the Topic Prof. Alexander Dubianski and Tamil Studies in Russia. Dr. Nikolai Gordiychuk (Research Fellow at University of Hamburg) gave the keynote address on the topic Prof. Alexander Dubianski and Tamil Studies in Russia. Mr.P.Kamalakannan(Research Schholar,SCTS,JNU) reviewed the book of Prof. Alexander Dubianski, Ritual and Mythological Sources of Early Tamil Poetry.
 
Guest Visit
  • Prof. DIMITRIOS VASSILIADIS, President of The Hellenic-Indian Society for Cultural and Development, Director of the Athens Centre for Indian & Indo-Hellenic Studies, Teacher of Hindi and Sanskrit at National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Visited the Tamil Stream,CIL, JNU on 13th December 2022.
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  • Dr. Andrew Ollett, Neubauer Family Assistant Professor, South Asian Languages and Civilizations, The University of Chicago Visited the Special Centre for Tamil Studies on 06.03.23.
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  • Dr. Justin Henry, Assistant Professor, Department of Religious Studies, University of South Florida Visitied the Special Centre for Tamil Studies on 20.06.2023.
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  • Special Centre for Tamil Studies, JNU arranged a Knowledge sharing Session on the Topic Contemporary Indian Literary Studies in Russia with Dr. Tatiana Dubyanskaya (Associate Professor, Institute of Oriental and Classical Studies, HSE, Moscow) who Visited Special Centre for Tamil Studies on 24.11.23.
 
 

A warm welcome to the modified and updated website of the Centre for East Asian Studies. The East Asian region has been at the forefront of several path-breaking changes since 1970s beginning with the redefining the development architecture with its State-led development model besides emerging as a major region in the global politics and a key hub of the sophisticated technologies. The Centre is one of the thirteen Centres of the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi that provides a holistic understanding of the region.

Initially, established as a Centre for Chinese and Japanese Studies, it subsequently grew to include Korean Studies as well. At present there are eight faculty members in the Centre. Several distinguished faculty who have now retired include the late Prof. Gargi Dutt, Prof. P.A.N. Murthy, Prof. G.P. Deshpande, Dr. Nranarayan Das, Prof. R.R. Krishnan and Prof. K.V. Kesavan. Besides, Dr. Madhu Bhalla served at the Centre in Chinese Studies Programme during 1994-2006. In addition, Ms. Kamlesh Jain and Dr. M. M. Kunju served the Centre as the Documentation Officers in Chinese and Japanese Studies respectively.

The academic curriculum covers both modern and contemporary facets of East Asia as each scholar specializes in an area of his/her interest in the region. The integrated course involves two semesters of classes at the M. Phil programme and a dissertation for the M. Phil and a thesis for Ph. D programme respectively. The central objective is to impart an interdisciplinary knowledge and understanding of history, foreign policy, government and politics, society and culture and political economy of the respective areas. Students can explore new and emerging themes such as East Asian regionalism, the evolving East Asian Community, the rise of China, resurgence of Japan and the prospects for reunification of the Korean peninsula. Additionally, the Centre lays great emphasis on the building of language skills. The background of scholars includes mostly from the social science disciplines; History, Political Science, Economics, Sociology, International Relations and language.

Several students of the centre have been recipients of prestigious research fellowships awarded by Japan Foundation, Mombusho (Ministry of Education, Government of Japan), Saburo Okita Memorial Fellowship, Nippon Foundation, Korea Foundation, Nehru Memorial Fellowship, and Fellowship from the Chinese and Taiwanese Governments. Besides, students from Japan receive fellowship from the Indian Council of Cultural Relations.