A three-day workshop on Chavittunatakam, a unique performance tradition of the Latin Christians in South India, will be held from December 26-28, 2024, at the Muziris Heritage Project Conference Hall in Kodungallur and Gothuruth, Cochin.

Organised by the Mar Chrysostom Chair, School of Gandhian Thought and Development Studies, in collaboration with the Kerala Council for Historical Research, Thiruvananthapuram, Muziris Heritage Project, Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala, and Aazhi Archives, Kochi, the workshop aims to explore the origins, evolution, and future of this vibrant art form by bringing together scholars, researchers, and stakeholders.

The workshop will feature sessions by eminent international scholars, including Prof. Ananya Jahanara Kabir from King’s College London, Prof. Hugo Cardoso, a linguistics expert specialising in Creolisation in South and Southeast Asia, and Dr. Francesca Negro, a specialist in Comparative Literary and Artistic Studies. Participants will have opportunities to witness live performances, engage with performers, and discuss the genre with local stakeholders from tourism and heritage industries.

Doctoral and postdoctoral scholars working on Chavittunatakam or related traditions are invited to submit a 250-word abstract and a 100-word bio to ananya.kabir@kcl.ac.uk by December 3, 2024. The organisers will provide accommodation, meals, and local transport for the selected participants. Papers presented during the workshop may be considered for inclusion in an edited volume.

For more information, please contact Prof. M.H. Ilias, Coordinator, Mar Chrysostom Chair, School of Gandhian Thought and Development Studies, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam.