Gauhati University Invites Papers for National Seminar on the Brahmaputra and Its Knowledge Worlds

Guwahati, October 21: Researchers, academicians, students and cultural practitioners have been invited to submit research papers for a two-day national seminar on the Brahmaputra, with discussions planned around the river’s influence on culture, ecology, literature, indigenous knowledge and community life. The seminar, titled “The Brahmaputra and Its Knowledge Worlds: Rethinking Rivers, Knowledge, Culture, Ecology, and Community,” will be held on December 22 and 23, 2026, at Gauhati University in Guwahati.

The event is being organised by Asomiya Sahitya Sanmilani and the Department of Modern Indian Languages and Literary Studies at Gauhati University, in collaboration with the Brahmaputra Board. The academic gathering aims to bring together scholars from different disciplines to examine how the river has shaped the region’s history, social relationships, cultural traditions and understanding of the natural environment.

Seminar to Examine the Brahmaputra Beyond Its Geographical Role

The seminar will explore the Brahmaputra not merely as a river system but also as a source of knowledge shaped by generations of people living along its banks. Its influence extends to agriculture, fishing, navigation, folklore, music, literature, migration, trade and settlement patterns across the Brahmaputra Valley.

The academic discussions are expected to examine how communities interpret seasonal changes, floods, riverbank erosion and the formation of riverine islands known as chars and chaporis. Traditional knowledge developed by local and indigenous communities will also form an important part of the discussion, particularly in relation to ecological adaptation and responses to environmental uncertainty.

The seminar also seeks to encourage dialogue between traditional knowledge systems and scientific research, bringing perspectives from literary studies, history, anthropology, geography, hydrology, sociology, environmental humanities and development studies into a common academic platform.

Researchers Invited to Submit Papers in Three Languages

The organisers have invited scholars, researchers, teachers, students, writers, artists, environmentalists, scientists, practitioners and community knowledge holders to contribute papers related to the central theme. Submissions are accepted in Assamese, Hindi and English.

Proposed papers may address subjects such as indigenous knowledge systems, river-based literature and cultural imagination, historical memory, environmental conservation, riverine livelihoods, flood management, erosion and resilience, river governance, science and technology, translation, visual culture and comparative river studies.

Research examining gender, caste, class and other social dimensions of life along the river is also welcome. The organisers have particularly encouraged interdisciplinary research, comparative studies, field-based work and projects involving local communities.

Abstract Submission Deadline and Important Dates

Interested participants must submit an abstract of 250–300 words along with the relevant author information. Each submission should include the paper title, author name or names, institutional affiliation, email address, contact number, five keywords and a brief biographical note of approximately 100 words.

The important dates are:

• Last date for abstract submission: November 15, 2026
• Notification of acceptance: November 25, 2026
• Seminar dates: December 22–23, 2026

Abstracts and the required details can be submitted through the official Google Forms submission link.

Registration Fees and Venue

The seminar will be conducted in offline mode at the Department of Modern Indian Languages and Literary Studies, Gauhati University, Guwahati, Assam.

The registration fees are ₹1,700 for teachers, professionals and salaried persons, ₹1,200 for research scholars, and ₹800 for students.

Selected papers may be considered for publication in a peer-reviewed edited volume or journal, subject to the relevant editorial and peer-review processes. Publication is not guaranteed.

Contact Details for Participants

For information regarding abstracts, participation and the seminar, interested applicants may contact the coordinators:

Dr. Dhurjjati Sarma — Coordinator
Department of Modern Indian Languages and Literary Studies, Gauhati University
Email: dhurjjati.sarma@gauhati.ac.in
Phone: 7002107621

Dr. Bhaskar Bhuyan — Assistant Coordinator
Chief Secretary, Asomiya Sahitya Sanmilani
Email: bhaskarbhuyan@gauhati.ac.in
Phone: 8751943387

Prof. Anuradha Sarma, Professor and Head of the Department of Modern Indian Languages and Literary Studies at Gauhati University, is listed as the chairperson of the seminar.

The advisory board includes Dr. Ranbir Singh, IAS (Retd.), Chairman of the Brahmaputra Board; Prof. Mukul Chakravarty, President of Asomiya Sahitya Sanmilani; and Prof. Dilip Borah, Professor and former Head of the Department of Modern Indian Languages and Literary Studies at Gauhati University.

The seminar offers an opportunity for academic and community perspectives to contribute to a broader understanding of the Brahmaputra, including its cultural significance, ecological challenges and role in shaping the lives of people across the region.

Official seminar details: Asomiya Sahitya Sanmilani
Official university announcement: Gauhati University