The Department of English, Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) organized an Online International Conference on “Language Ideologies and The ‘Vernacular’ in South Asian Colonial and Post-Colonial Literature(s) and Public Spheres” from 15th to 17th of March 2021 on Zoom. Supported by the Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC), Ministry of Education, Government of India, the conference was organized in collaboration with South Asia Institute, Heidelberg University, Germany. Prof. Nishat Zaidi, Head of the Department of English, JMI and the Conference Chair gave the welcome address.Prof. Najma Akhtar, Honorable Vice-Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia gave the inaugural address where she appreciated the goal of the conference to engage with issues related to language and vernacular.The introduction to the theme of the conference was given by Prof. Hans Harder, South Asia Institute/ CATS, Heidelberg University, and the Conference Co-Chair. The inaugural address titled, “The Idea of the Vernacular in India- A Historical Overview” was delivered by Prof. G. N. Devy, Author, Cultural Critic, and Former Professor of English of MS University of Baroda. His lecture presented a historical overview of how some languages were seen as vernaculars and others as ‘Languages’, beginning with the 4th century BC Paninian system of classification and moving through Bhartrihari’s idea of language.The enlightening address was followed by the Vote of Thanks by Dr. Saroj K Mahananda, Associate Professor of Department of English, JMI, and Conference Co-Chair. The conference was attended by national and international scholars like Margrit Pernau, Neilesh Bose, Charu Gupta, Veena Naregal and Torsten Tschacher.
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