Shimla, September 29, 2026: Himachal Pradesh University (HPU), Shimla, organised a national seminar on “Indigenous Epistemologies and Postcolonial Resistance: Literary Traditions from Australia, New Zealand, Canada and India”, bringing together academics, researchers and students from across the country.
The seminar was organised by the Centre for Australian & New Zealand Studies (CANZ) in collaboration with affiliated academic units of the university. The event focused on indigenous knowledge systems, cultural memory, identity, resistance and literary traditions in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and India.
The inaugural session began with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp, followed by the university anthem and welcome address. The International Journal of Australian Studies (IJAS) was also released on the occasion.
Prof Neelima Kanwar, Dean, Faculty of Languages, HPU, and former director of CANZ, delivered the inaugural address. Prof B.K. Shivram, Dean of Studies, HPU, attended the session as the chief guest.
Prof Vivek Sachdeva of the University School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indraprastha University, New Delhi, and founding president of the Association for Film Studies in South Asia (AFSSA), delivered the keynote address.
Several scholars, including Prof R.L. Zinta, Dean of Students’ Welfare, HPU; Dr Priyanka Vaidya; Dr Tirthankar Chakraborty; Prof Supriya Singh; and noted Himachali writer S.R. Harnot, participated in different sessions and shared their perspectives.
The seminar examined indigenous and tribal knowledge traditions, cultural identity, colonial legacies and forms of resistance through an interdisciplinary lens. Discussions covered literature, history, sociology, political science, folk culture, law, media, cinema and digital platforms.
As many as 65 research papers were presented in online and offline sessions. Researchers, teachers and students from institutions across the country presented papers on themes including indigenous epistemologies, cultural resistance, trauma and memory, indigenous feminism, decolonisation, land and identity, oral traditions, indigenous literature, media and cinema, and postcolonial resistance.
Participants included researchers and faculty members from HPU, IIT Mandi, institutions affiliated with Delhi University, St Bede’s College, Shimla, various government colleges in Himachal Pradesh and other universities across the country. Online sessions also enabled participation from researchers based in different parts of India.
At the valedictory session, Prof Aparna Negi, Chairperson, Department of Buddhist Studies and Director, CWD & DIS, HPU, addressed the gathering as a special guest and speaker. Prof Roshan Lal Sharma, former vice-chancellor of Central University of Himachal Pradesh and Dean, Faculty of Languages, CUHP, delivered the concluding keynote address.
Registrar HPU Jyoti Rana also attended the closing session as a special guest. Certificates were subsequently distributed among the participants.
The seminar provided an academic platform for discussions on indigenous knowledge traditions, literature and cultural resistance, while encouraging dialogue across disciplines and geographical boundaries. The organisers expressed gratitude to the scholars, researchers, students and participants for their contribution to the event.
