Indian Association for Science Fiction Studies in collaboration with the host the Department of English had organized the First World Conference on ‘Science Fiction Studies’ in India on 1^st and 2^nd February 2013. The world conference was the first largest event in the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of Bharati Vidyapeeth. The Conference was inaugurated at the auspicious hands of renowned Scientist and Chief Mentor, Indian Space Research Organization, Bengluru Padma shri Dr. Y S Rajan and Dr. Christina De Coursey from Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong was the guest of honour for the function. Dr. Vishwajit Kadam, Secretary, Bharati Vidyapeeth was in chair. The organizing President Dr. R. S. Zirange introduced the theme of the conference. Dr. V A Rankhambe introduced the chief guests. Principal K D Jadhav welcomed all the dignitaries and scholars in his welcome address. The Conference proceedings which consists 141 research abstracts had been released at the hands of Dr. Vishwajeet Kadam.

This conference was organized in association with Vigyan Parishad, New Delhi, Marathi Vidnyan Parishad, Mumbai and Indian Association for Science Fiction Studies, India. There were 257 delegates participated in the conference from 15 states of India and 5 countries of the world.

Prof. Dr. Y S Rajan enlightened the audience with his thoughtful inaugural address. He said, “Over the last six decades, we have failed to make our people friends of science. He said and called for efforts by science fiction writers to bring people closer to science through their imaginative Stories, Novels and Serials.

According to Rajan, Science and its applications used in the Nehruvian sense are too precious to be overlooked. There is a greater need to apply Science to solve economic and social problems in more practical ways. He said “In India, Sci-Fi writers have the unique advantage of the country’s culture and heritage as embedded in Indian Languages, epics, mythologies, folklore literature and living traditions”.

While giving Chair Person’s address Dr. Vishwajeet Kakam visualized the Bharati Vidyapeeth and its academic activities and continuous progress. He concluded by congratulating the Department of English for having thought on this interdisciplinary theme of the conference.

In the First Plenary Session Dr. Christina De Coursey, the prime speaker, spoke on ‘Virtuosity in Verne: Scientific and Antiquarian Models of Knowledge in Journey to the Centre of the Earth’.She deliberated on the 19^th century historical context in which Verne was writing to interpret two inter-related Victorian versions of scholarship, the scientific and the antiquarian. The triumph of Darwin has tended to mean that contemporary scholars see 19^th century science and humanities as competing epistemologies. Yet at the time Verne was writing, the supremacy of science, and even its separation from humanistic models of knowing, was neither fixed nor complete. In the 19^th century, the term “science” covered a broad range of knowledge, including history, linguistics, politics and philosophy.

Dr. De Coursey related Verne’s literary representation of virtuoso scholars to scholarly practices and personas of that time, and through this build a more accurate picture of the human practice of knowledge Verne sought to express and celebrate.

While offering his Chairperson’s remark Dr. Palnivel, Former Professor and Head, Department of English, Bharatihar University, Coimbatore expressed happiness about the scientists and humanitarians are coming together for the welfare of the mankind. He said that teachers of English Literature need to go in for a paradigm shift in teaching SF. We must get away from the esoteric impulse to mystify SF and rather use its plots as concrete contexts to make students become responsive and sensitive to theories in Sciences so that they think about the way they are impacting life on this earth, probably elsewhere too. In recent times biological fantasies have dominated creative imagination, in fiction as well as in movies, and may offer us a meaningful start to achieve the goal.

The Second Plenary Session was chaired by Dr. A P Deshpande, Honorary Secretary, Marathi Vidnyan Parishad. The Chief Speaker, Mr. Samar Nakhate, noted Film Critic and Former Dean, FTII, Pune talked about the image making, image creation, reality, logical imagination, fantasy and fact. Being a film critic he presented some video clips to justify his stand on Science Fiction. In his lively and cheerful talk he surveyed the whole genre of Science Fiction Films.

Dr. A P Deshpande, in his Chair Person’s remark deliberated that history of science fiction writing is about 100 years old in Maharashtra, however it really picked up after 1970. Film and television can make a forceful effect on the minds of people, even on illiterate mind. Although not directly propagating a science fiction but channels like; Discovery, National Geography etc. are the examples, how science can be brought forward to people in an interesting way. In fact these channels are, providing seeds for science fiction.

The Third Session of the first day was devoted to paper presentation. Paper Presentation Sessions had been observed in six different classrooms simultaneously. Overall 60 papers were presented on the first day.

This session was followed by the Screening of the Science Fiction Film Total Recall. After the film Mr. Samar Nakhate, noted Film Critic commented upon the scientific elements of the film and its pedagogical implications.

The Second Day began with the second paper-reading session of the World Conference. The First Plenary Session was chaired by Dr. M H Shrinarhari, Secretary, Indian Association for Science Fiction Studies, India. The Prime Speaker of the session Mr. Niranjan Ghate, noted Marathi Science Fiction Writer pondered on his own shaping as a Science Fiction Writer. He said that his popular science writing has helped him handling new themes in his Sci-Fi stories. Unfortunately, there is no good criticism of SF in Marathi. SF is not taught anywhere. Marathi professors do not understand science in SF while science professors do not understand literary style. Writing SF is a balancing act, a tight rope walk maintaining balance between science and literature but it brings tomorrow, today with all its problems

While offering the Chair Person’s remarks Dr. Shrinarhari appreciated Mr. Niranjan Ghate. He talked about Computer, Internet, Space travel and its application while teaching Science Fiction in Classroom situations. He concluded by briefing about the contribution of Indian Association for Science Fiction Studies.

The Second Plenary Session of the Day was engaged by Dr. Abhay Rajput, Head, Library, Information and Publication Division, Indian Institute of Tropical Meterology, Pune. He deliberated on Science Poetry as a Genre of Science Communication. Science poetry presents science in a creative, imaginative and innovative way that can be interesting and entertaining while taking the message of science across. Science poetry communicates through metaphor, and imagery created through the intelligent and creative use of words. As humans, we learn through images rather than words. Therefore, poetic images of science can have a lasting impact on our understanding of science and of course, on our memory. Further, poetic expressions coupled with emotions and feelings can even make the experience more enjoyable and memorable

The Session was chaired by Dr. S G Deshpande, Head, Department of Marathi, SNDT University, Mumbai. He said that Sci-Poetry is not just depiction of a scientific phenomenon or a device to increase one’s knowledge or wordsmithing from a science dictionary.  It is very much an evolution of ultra neo poetry with new and modern perspective and matching the scientific systems with aesthetic pattern that one selects. Note that scientific system does not mean logical thinking using cause and effect

The Third Session was devoted to the paper-reading. Paper Presentation Sessions had been observed in six different classrooms simultaneously. Overall, 30 papers were presented in the session.

The Fourth Plenary Session was engaged by Mr. Arvind Gupta, Senior Scientist, IUCCA, Pune with practical representation of various Science Experiments. He guided to prepare Science Toys through simple material, instruments. In the last twenty years there has been a remarkable shift in science teaching. From the passive chalk and talk method science teaching is slowly shifting towards a more active method – learning by doing. Before children can understand a thing, they need experience: seeing, touching, hearing, tasting, smelling; choosing, arranging, putting things together, taking things apart. Children need to experiment with real things. Often such “activity” based learning is termed as elitist. Some think that this method can be used only in developed country with an abundance of resources.

While offering the Chair Person’s remark Dr. K S Purushottaman advised to cultivate scientific mind. He said that SF is a wonderful literary genre. The SF wonder, in most stories, is because of the innovative gadgets that is the result of advancing technology.  Spaceships, Flying Saucers, Time Machines, Ray Guns and a plethora of robots are the attractions for eager eyed youngsters. Like Leonardo Da Vinci’s various machines which are being studied and appreciated even today, SF inventions have always fascinated SF fans and readers. With the advent of the SF cinema, especially films like ET, Star Wars, Jurassic Park, etc brought about a visual perception of SF’s power of invention and innovation

In the Fifth Plenary Session, Dr. Coomi Vevaina, Head, Department of English, University of Mumbai, Mumbai, was the prime speaker and Noted Scholar Mr. Y S Kalamkar was the Chairperson. Dr. Coomi Vevaina deliberated that as a literary genre, science fiction, permits “realistic speculation about possible future events, based solidly on adequate knowledge of the real world, past and present, and on a thorough understanding of the nature and significance of the scientific method”. While offering imaginative renderings of the Horatiam dictum “to teach and to delight”, the formenables the literary writer to discuss philosophical ideas such as freedom, identity, morality and power politics, to name only a few.  As against hard core science fiction which deals with extra-terrestrials, ray guns and teleporting, the science fiction of Shelley and Atwood belongs to a sub-genre known as “soft or social science fiction”.

Prof. Y S Kalamkar, while offering his Chair Persons remark summarized the Speakers view and briefly talked about the recent trends in Science Fiction Studies. He lamented on the necessity of serious critics of the Science Fiction genre. He concluded by the hope that Science Fiction studies will gain the magnitude in the field of research and other critical pursuits

The Valedictory Session of the Conference was graced by Dr. Y H Deshpande, Secrtary, West Zone, Indian Association for Science Fiction Studies, India and Joint Secretary of Bharati Vidyapeeth Prin. K. D. Jadhav was presiding over the function. Prof Dr. Palnivel from Coimbatore, Mr. Sudev Basu, from Shantiniketan, Kolkatta, and Dr. Coomi Vevaina, From Mumbai made impression speeches. In his Valedictory address Dr. Y H Deshpande summarized all the sessions in of the conference.

Courtesy: Dr. R. S. Zirange

    

The 9th National Science Fiction Conference was held December 8-9, 2007 at Pondicherry University in Puducherry, India. Vignyan Prasar (an organization for the popularization and propagation of science & technology, and an autonomous body under the Department of Science & Technology in the Indian government) and the Department of English at Pondicherry University joined with the Indian Association for Science Fiction Studies (IASFS) in organizing the conference. More than 200 delegates from various parts of India, students of the University, and two Americans representing NakedLaw.org actively took part during the sessions. The inaugural function was followed by eight sessions of 28 paper presentations with themes including “Science in Science Fiction”, “Science Fiction Today”, “Science Fiction Theme: Time”, “Science Fiction: The Human Aspect”, a story reading session, a replay of a video conference featuring James Gunn, “Science Today”, “Science Fiction in Vernacular Languages”, and a concluding valedictory function.

After the traditional Indian invocation ceremony, Dr. Natarajan Professor (head of the Department of English) welcomed the distinguished guests and delegates. Dr. Clement S. Lourdes, coordinator of the program, explained the scope of the conference. While reading the Annual Report, Dr. Srinarahari (the General Secretary of IASFS) thanked the editors and publishers around the world for publishing reports on previous conference proceedings in Locus, Concatenation.org, Emerald City, SFS.org; for the full-length articles by Andrew Sawyer and James Gunn; and for the publication of articles in German and Spanish by Nova and Axxon respectively. In addition, he thanked the National Book Trust, various Indian Universities, and other public and private organizations for conducting SF sessions and special lectures, promoting research, and instituting awards for Indian SF authors.

In his address, IASFS President Dr. Purushothaman said SF is important because it can change the attitudes of people. Quoting Isaac Asimov’s observation about rational man in an irrational world, he spoke on the concept of the unification of minds. In his inaugural speech, Dr. Kannan (the Honorable Vice Chancellor of Thiruvalluvar University, Tamil Nadu) expressed his happiness in inaugurating the conference. As a scientist, he stated that SF provides authenticity and develops scientific spirit and temper. He said the conference was a turning point, and expressed his concern that though most of the people write, there is lack of readership. He called on the younger generation to read and write extensively. Showing immense concern about future science ventures, he said, “Though the sea is beautiful and bountiful, marine plants and animals are endangered. Little work has been done in the area of marine biology. Therefore, exploration of the possibilities of preserving and developing research in the unexplored vast regions of the undersea world is the need of the hour.”

In his keynote address, Dr. Balaswamy, a retired professor of English, recalled that in the previous conference the theme was “Grain”, and spoke on the relevance of the focus on Science in Science Fiction. He said students should learn about the second law of thermodynamics at the same time they’re learning about Shakespeare, and that there should be a culmination of science and fiction. SF is predictive genre, and a literature of change, and hence it explores “what if…” He concluded by saying humanity is software and science is hardware, and there should be a marriage between the two.

Dr. Subodh Mohanti spoke about the organization Vignyan Prasar and explained its goal of fostering the spirit of science and technology at various levels in the country. In popularizing science, the projects should reach the rural India. He expressed his wish that vernacular languages should produce qualitative and quantitative literary works — one of the aims of Vignyan Prasar is to encourage young writers. Since readers and writers are humans, SF must stress the human angle.

The IASFS publication division published Understanding Science Fiction by Drs. Srinarahari & Purushothaman. Concise and comprehensive, the book combines a brief account of the origin, history, concepts, forms, and themes of the genre with an exhaustive bibliography. Dr. Panneer Selvam explained the book is useful for students, teachers, research scholars, and to readers new to SF.

The Sessions held during the two-day conference:

“Science in Science Fiction”, chaired by Dr. Sujatha Vijayaraghavan, included the following programs: “Dreams Come True” by Dr. Srinarahari; “Hindi Science Fiction: An Overview” by Mr. Manish Mohan Gore; “Material vs Immaterial: Time Travel in Octavia Butler’s Kindred and Gibson’s ‘The Gernsback Continuum'” by Dr. Kalpana H; and “Fictionalizing Christ: A Study of Gore Vidal’s Live from Golgotha by Dr. Binu Zachariah.

“Science Fiction Today”, chaired by Professor Palanivel R, included: “Science Fiction Today: Introductory Note” by Dr. Mukherjee PK; “Ecological Nightmares in Science Fiction” by Ms. Zahirah Banu; and “Scientific Humanism: A Study of the SF Indian film Krrish” by Ms.Zuligah.

“Story Reading by SF Writers” was chaired by Dr. N Natarajan and featured Dr. Deshponde YH, Professor Bhoosanurmutt, Dr. Panneer Selvam, and Dr. Srinarahari.

The fourth session was a replay of a video conference. Before switching on the video, the Honorable Vice Chancellor of Pondicherry University Dr. JAK Tareen expressed the concern that, though man can reach the outer world, not much progress is seen in the area of Earth science. He expressed his happiness over the present conference and wished to provide support in the days to come. The video conference was recorded last year and was replayed for the benefit of the delegates in this part of the country. Professor James Gunn, director of the Center for Science Fiction Studies at the University of Kansas, was interviewed by Mr. Deshponde AP, Dr. Bal Phondke and Dr. Deshponde YH. Dr. Gunn spoke about the genre and his earlier interaction with Indian Scholars on the development of Indian Science Fiction.

“Science Today” was chaired by Dr. Deshponde YH and included: “The Contribution to Indian Science by Azim Premji Foundation” by Mr. Surendranath Banarjee; “The Highlights of Science in P. Tejaswi’s Karvalo” by Manoj CR; “Scientific Fantasy and Reality” by Ms. Prashanth Kumari, and “Science in Asimov’s Foundation Triology” by Dr. Panneer Selvam.

“Science Fiction Theme: Time”, chaired by Dr. Murali S, had: “H.G. Wells’s The Time Machine as a Science Fiction” by Ms. Muneera TR; “Scientific Romance in H.G. Wells’s ‘The Truth about Pyecraft'” by Mr. Arun C; “H.G. Wells’s Conscious, Artistic Envisionment of the Prospective Future of Humankind” by Ms. Lily Sharmila; and “The Time Machine: The Truncated Epic Novel in SF” by Mr. Umashankar S.

“Science Fiction: The Human Aspect” was chaired by Dr. Subodh Mohanti and featured these presentations: “Aliens as Humans” by Mr. Ram Kumar; “Science Fiction as Autobiography” by Mr. Mugundan; “The Thematic Study of Gibson’s ‘Burning Chrome'” by Mr. Shanmugavel P; and “Quest for a Genderless World in Le Guin’s The Dispossessed” by Ms. Parimala M.

“Science Fiction: The Human Aspect (Continued)” was chaired by Dr. Babu Abraham and included: “Man as Prey: The Disastrous Consequences of Namnotechnology — An Analysis of Michael Crichton’s Prey” by Dr. Rashmi; “Adventure as Escape: A study of Jules Verne’s 20000 Leagues Under the Sea and Michael Crichton’s Congo” by Mr. Raju Parghi; “Promise or Peril: Fear of Machine in Asimov’s The Caves of Steel and Jayanth Narlikar’s Waman Didn’t Return” by Mr. Vishnu Patil; “Science Fiction and Fantasy” by Dr. Michael Vishwamitr; and “Science Fiction in Vernacular Language — ‘Tamil Science Fiction'” by Dr. Arivunambi.

Dr. VC Thomas Dean, School of Humanities of the University, gave the valedictory address, the felicitation lecture was given by Dr. Bapu Abraham and Dr. Purushothaman presided over the function. Dr. Natarajan and Dr. Mohanti were on the dais. Professor R Bhosnurmutt proposed the vote of thanks, and the conference closed with a singing of The National Anthem. The Tenth National Science Fiction Conference is proposed to be held during October — November 2008 at Varanasi, Uttara Pradesh near New Delhi.

—M.H. Srinarahari

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7th Conference Report:

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Updating Shortly:

The team is searching for the reports, proceedings, brochures, program list, photographs, videos, scholarly papers, and keynote address in each of the missing conferences in the above list. They might be in the form of A drive or B drive floppy discs,CD’s, video cassettes, and wordstar files. Attempts are being made to upload the missing conference reports shortly.

Dr.Srinarahari Secretary – General, for Team IASFS.

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