Lecture on Post Colonialism

 INVITED LECTURE ON POSTCOLONIALISM

The Department of English, Shoolini University, had a virtual lecture on the topic “Postcolonialism Orientalism and other issues in Critical Theory” by the expert, Aneel Raina. Professor Aneel Raina teaches at Punjab University and is a leading figure in Literary theory. He is also the founder member of MELOW, the Society for the Study of the Multi-Ethnic Literatures of the World..

Professor Aneel Raina covered all the vital aspects of Postcolonialism and Orientalism. He started the lecture by introducing the terms which date back to the late 20th century. He then took into account Edward W. Said’s book “Orientalism” and explained the various connotations of the tem and how it is used in critical theory.

Further, elaborating upon the idea of Enlightenment which is associated with reason, science, and technology, progress, human evolution, Professor Raina said that colonizers try to mould their colonized people like their own selves I an attempt to “civilize” them as they are convinced that they are superior. Said has pointed out that the colonizers present a negative picture of the eastern people in their writings. Prof Raina quoted Kant to clarify his ideas, talked about strategic essentialism, the idea of discourse, structuralism, and other related concepts.

The session was informative, the students were delighted with the knowledge they gained from the session. It was attended by the faculty members and students of the Dept of English, Shoolini University, and some invited scholars.