Bhakti traditions and their literatures have had a deep impact on Indian society for centuries. On the one hand they have served as a language for the expression of existential and social anguish, expressing this often in gendered terms. The injustices of class and caste are a frequent subject of concern. On the other hand—almost at the other extreme—bhakti religiosity (including its ritual and literary forms) sometimes seems to offer an escape valve from these very concerns, trivializing or ignoring them in the process. Or so, at least, it is widely alleged. Where does the truth lie?

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Friday, May 13, 2015

6:00 pm: Reception/Light dinner

7:00 pm: Welcome – Swapna Sharma et al.

7:30-9:00pm: Theme: Two Bhakti Archetypes: Chaitanya and Nanak
Moderator: Jack Hawley
Shrivatsa Goswami
Gurinder Singh Mann

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Swapna Swarma, Organizer
Senior Lector, South Asian Studies
swapna.sharma@yale.edu

Kasturi Gupta
Program Manager, South Asian Studies Council
kasturi.gupta@yale.edu

Bibek Basnet ’19
Student Assistant for the Conference
bibek.basnet@yale.edu

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