Cultural and Religious Mosaic of South and Southeast Asia:
Conflict and Consensus through the Ages

A Regional Conference co-hosted by IAHR under UNESCO New Delhi, January 27-30, 2005

The Inaugural Conference of South and Southeast Asian Association for the Study of Religion

(SSEASR)

in collaboration with K. J. Somaiya Centre of Buddhist Studies, Mumbai

Prof Chirapat Prapandvidya, Silpakorn University, Bangkok, Thailand                    

Assoc. Prof Mani- Samouthe, National University of Laos, Laos

Prof (Ms) Tran My-van, Vietnam

Dr Matthew Santamaria, La Salle University,Manila

Prof Rosalind I J Hackett, Vice President, IAHR

Prof Michael Pye (Former President, IAHR)   

The region of South and Southeast Asia is well known for a multiplicity of cultures and religions, containing as it does Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, Jainism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Lamaism, Sikhism, as well as a large number of folk and tribal cultures and religions. The history of these religions in terms of their origin, growth, and expansion is complicated, Hinduism being the oldest and Sikhism being the latest—the folk and tribal religions are, of course, ageless as far as our knowledge goes. The cultures, which developed around these religions, were not always monolithic. We have, therefore, Indo-Islamic culture, Hindu-Buddhist culture, etc. Historically, it is true that there have been conflicts between religious groups of different hues and shades, sometimes very violent, but the co-existence of the people of different religions in time and space also led to the phenomenon called ‘consensus’. The history of the Sakas, Kushanas and Hunas in India covering the first five centuries of the Christian era makes this clear. From 7^th century onwards we also see within a Buddhist complex in South and Southeast Asia, Hindu deities existing side by side with Buddhist deities. Living in one space, people can not live in conflict all the time even though tensions may persist in smaller areas.

            It is well known that although some religions in the initial stages had tensions with most of the other contemporary religions due to various socio-political reasons, their history shows reconciliation and adjustments also. Muslims, for example, had no difficulty in Southeast Asia in keeping their original Hindu names, at least partially, and practicing dances, drama, and music of Hindu-Buddhist origin. However, while in Southeast Asia, ‘consensus’ is again giving way to ‘conflict’, in South Asia India and Pakistan are coming closer to each other not only politically and economically but also socially, culturally and in terms of religious co-existence.. The proposed conference will highlight the phenomenon of conflict and consensus unique to this part of the world where no single religion can claim absolute majority, neither Hinduism, nor Islam, nor Christianity, nor Buddhism. The tribal religions are, of course, exclusively regional with their own intra-regional conflicts and consensus. However, here also co-existence in terms of mutual

 understanding is becoming the order of the day.

            The conference will highlight cultural and religious dynamics in which conflict and consensus both figure prominently. The contemporary history of this region was becoming extremely volatile in the years from 2000 to 2002. Fundamentalist forces are creating conflict everywhere in South and Southeast Asia but can we visualize a situation in which consensus prevails over conflict, and dialogue over acrimony in the region in the near future?

Speakers are asked to consider in their papers not only past but also present situations. Papers can deal with the heritage of the regions in terms of art and architecture, iconography, performing arts, social formations, state and society, religion and civilizations, ideals and practices, etc., in the overall framework of the theme, viz. conflict and consensus among civilisations. But analyses of the more intangible forms of heritage in which this region is rich, such as oral tradition, oral history, and folk literature will, it is hoped, also lead to a better understanding of the prevailing socio-cultural and religio-political scenario in the region.

            The proposed sub-themes are as follows:

1.       Dialogue between civilizations: problems and prospects

2.       Symbols of religious and ethnic identities

3.       Religious conflict: past and present

4.       Sacred places, sacred waters and sacred mountains: the role of pilgrimage

5.       Syncretism in art, iconography and architecture

6.       Religion and polity

7.       State formation and the role model of Indic state in Southeast Asia

8.       Syncretism in languages and literature

9.       Epics and Sanskrit-based literature in Southeast Asia

10.   Elite and folk cultures in religion and culture: ‘higher tradition vis-à-vis lower tradition’

11.   Gender in religion

12.   Orality and sacrality in South and Southeast Asia

13.   Methodology in the study of South and Southeast Asian religions

14.   Hinduism and Buddhism in Southeast Asia

15.   On the trails of the Chinese travellers in South Asia to Southeast Asia

16.   Performing arts: reflections of consensus

17.   Medicine, health systems and religion

18.   Economics and the role of religion

19.   Science and religion

20.   Philosophy of life and value system: the various eyes of religions

21.   Religion in relation to tradition and modernity

22.   Religion, human rights and law

23.   Emerging socio-cultural trends and visions for the mid-21^st century

We are also planning to hold two special roundtables featuring Pali and Sanskrit speaking experts from South and Southeast Asia. There would be a set of English speaking moderators who would brief the substance of the subject under discussion for the benefit of the audience. Hence, we solicit scholars who can converse fluently in either of these two languages.

Papers can be submitted on either of the sub-themes as mentioned above or any other relevant topic which fit into the contour of South and Southeast Asia. An individual speaker would be allotted 20 minutes for the presentation and discussion. We would like them to enrich the presentation with visuals and/or transparencies. The full paper should be submitted electronically before 24^th December 2004.

The conference would start on 27^th January 2005 at 10 AM. The academic sessions and keynote addresses would go till 29^th January 2005. A General Body Meeting would be held on 30^th January 2005 to select the office-bearers, adopt a constitution, and plan future course of the SSEASR. We are working on a courtesy tour of Mathura and Agra. Some other post-conference package tours such as the Hindu pilgrimage in the Himalayan region, Buddhist circuit tour, and Khajuraho-Sanchi trip are also being planned on payment basis. For such tours at a reasonably low price, we have entered an agreement with the renowned Shashi Tours and Travels, New Delhi. Furhter details in this regard would be posted in the second circular.

The registration can be done online by filling in the form and clicking the SUBMIT button. The form can also be downloaded and sent by post or fax at the following address: