SAARC Regional Seminar on ‘Traditional Knowledge and Traditional Cultural Expressions of South Asia’

Introduction

The SAARC Regional Seminar on ‘Traditional Knowledge and Traditional Cultural Expressions’ will be organized as a platform to brainstorming on the key issues, to moot research questions and also to identify themes and subthemes of traditional knowledge of South Asia that merit independent and in-depth research. Academics and experts on the subject are invited for the Seminar to present papers on a relevant theme.

Objectives of the Regional Seminar

• To identify the TK and TCE in and of the Region;
• To identify current situation of TK and TCE in the SAARC Member States;
• To analyze the applicability and impact of prevailing international and national instruments in protecting traditional knowledge;
•   To examine the role and the impact of Government institutions and Non-Government Institutions actions related to safeguarding TK and TCE;
• To identify effective ways of safeguarding traditional knowledge in South Asia. 
•  To identify research topics and questions related to TK and TCE in the Region that need further investigation; and
• To recognize research approaches and methods for further research in TK and TCE of the region.

Themes of the Seminar

• Traditional healing
• Traditional livelihood
• Traditional engineering
• Traditional agriculture
• Traditional handicrafts
• Traditional architectural forms
• Traditional culinary art
• Traditional costumes
• Traditional music
• Traditional art and design
• Traditional dance

The SAARC Regional Seminar on ‘Traditional Knowledge and Traditional Cultural Expressions’ will be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka for 2 days from 29 and 30 April 2013

Post-Seminar Tour

One day Post-Seminar tour will be organized on 1 May 2013 to Kandy, for all registered delegates of the Seminar. Kandy being the last capital of the ancient king’s era of Sri Lanka, boast of rich heritage of traditional knowledge in arts and crafts, architecture, industries and health.

Participation at the Regional Seminar

Official Nominees from the Member States:

The SAARC Cultural Centre invites all the Member States to send a minimum of three nominations (maximum 10 persons can be nominated by a Member State) from amongst the experts and academicians of their country.

Accompanying Persons:

Every person accompanying the official nominees of the SAARC Member States (viz. the Delegates/ Resource Persons-cum-Panel Heads) should pay a registration fee of US $ 300/- towards his/her boarding and lodging during the Seminar. All such accompanying persons will be accommodated with the respective official nominee on full board/ twin-sharing basis.

 Other Participants:

The SAARC Cultural Centre would also accept the participation of other experts from the region (other than the nominees of the respective SAARC Member States) as well as from those residing outside the SAARC Region provided they are able to meet their travel and accommodation expenses to attend the Seminar. However, to facilitate their stay during the Seminar, the SAARC Cultural Centre would assist them in securing accommodation in guest houses/ hostels at economic/ subsided rates.

The SAARC Cultural Centre, however, reserves the right to accept or reject any request for participation in the Seminar.

Registration fee:

Official nominees of the SAARC Member States       :           Nil

Accompanying persons of the Official nominees         :           300.00 US$

Other participants                              Local               :           500.00 (LKR)

                                                         Overseas         :           50.00 US$       

All payments are to be made in favour of the SAARC Cultural Centre, Colombo, either through e-payment OR in cash at the registration counter at the Seminar.

For E-payment:

Name of the Bank         :           Bank of Ceylon

Address                        :           Torrington Square Branch, Colombo -07 (Sri Lanka)

Sri Lankan Rupee A/c   :           0009773920

US $ A/c                      :           9825298

Swift Code                   :           BCEYLKLX

Nomination process:

All nominations should include:

i.                    Full Name and affiliation of the Person with a detailed CV; and

ii.                  An Abstract (c. 500 words) of the proposed paper/ presentation.

The participants would be required to submit their full papers before the Seminar and make a short presentation at the Seminar.

The language for the Seminar would be English.

The last date for sending the nominations/ registration forms is 31 March 2013.

Logistic Support

The SAARC Cultural Centre would provide the local hospitality (hotel accommodation on full board basis) and the local transport to all official nominees of the SAARC Member States (viz. the Delegates/ Resource Persons-cum-Panel Heads) and the registered accompanying persons.

The airfare of the nominees of the SAARC Member States is to be borne by the respective Member State. Other participants are required to make their own arrangement to meet the airfare and accommodation expenses.

The seminar facilities (delegate kit, tea, working lunch), as well as invitation to special events and the field trip would be extended to all registered participants and accompanying persons.

Seminar Outcome

The last session of the Seminar will hold a Plenary Session which would prepare a document summarising the main recommendations emerging out of the deliberations and also chalking out a road-map for the research projects (see para 4 below). The SAARC Cultural Centre will, subsequently, publish a report on the Seminar and would invite research proposals on the identified themes.