The ‘First International’ Conference on Shan Studies 15-18 October 2009
Chulalongkorn University
Bangkok, Thailand
By Naw Liang
(with SCA-UK, BNI Online, S.H.A.N. and others' assistance)

Attention: My apologies for the 'boring layout' of this post. There have been some formatting problems with Blogger.com, particularly transferring completed posts from MS Word, and, as a result, this post could not be produced to my usual standards. I am working to correct the problem; your patience is appreciated.

Well, it is almost exactly year-to-the-day of my previous post, discussing the inaugural Shan Conference on Buddhism and Culture held at SOAS in London on 8-9 December 2007, that I am happy to announce the coming of another conference on Shan Studies. Although I am unsure if it can honestly and correctly be titled ‘the first’ of its kind (the SOAS event was international, covering a range of professional Shan cultural research and attended by an impressive number of renowned Shan scholars), the purpose of this blog is not to critique the minute, but to promote Shan Studies on the whole.

That said, I am excited to announce that Thailand's prestigious Chulalongkorn University, its Institutes of Asian Studies (IAS) and Thai Studies, in conjunction with the Euro-Burma Office, are organising its First International Conference on Shan Studies (ICSS) to be held in Bangkok from 15-18 October 2009.

Background
The International Conference on Shan Studies is the fourth in a series of academic events by Chulalongkorn University’s Institute of Asian Studies focus on ethnic minorities in Burma: the Arakan History Workshop (2005) (see a paper presented here), the Rohingya Consultation (2006) (view papers here)and the Mon History Conference (2007) (see news of post-conference publication here). Each event built significant support, both within the respective communities and throughout their worldwide academic networks, helping to promote greater exposure and knowledge sharing. Great things are also expected for the Shan.

So far, high hopes have brought promising results. The conference already has the support of Thailand’s considerable Shan community: two of Thailand’s largest Shan community groups are co-managing the event, namely the Chiangmai-based Shan Literature and Culture Society, which is led by Saengmuang Mangkorn (youngest son of the late Shan resistance leader Sao Noi (1927-96), while Bangkok’s significant Shan community will be represented by General Phon Wanakamon, a retired Thai general of Shan origin, who leads their group.

Furthermore, the conference has been a buzzword amongst Shan internet and other circles for nearly a year, even before it was officially announced. Things bode well for mid-October.

The event: details
The International Conference on Shan Studies (ICSS) seeks to bring Shan scholars from around the world to Bangkok from 15-18 October to discuss a range of issues, while sharing their extensive knowledge and discoveries. Although academic panels are set to take centre stage, the key element of the conference is to promote cooperation amongst Shan scholars, researchers, enthusiasts and, most of all, people to bring about better collaboration and understanding in the future. In addition to the academic discussions, attendees will be able to view performances (classical dance and orchestral) as well as wander through significant exhibitions of Shan artefacts and artworks. Other events scheduled include a well-known historical short play Chao Ying Saenwi (Princess of Hsenwi) at the Chulalongkorn Auditorium.

Controversy: auspicious timing
There has been some controversy over the timing of the event. While the Shan community had originally suggested holding the conference during the Shan New Year (which would fall in November of 2009), the IAS has, instead, scheduled the event for October when classes are not in session. This seems a odd to me as, being a Shan event, wouldn’t it be auspicious (not to mention incredibly convenient) to hold the event during the annual celebration, thereby allowing most Shans in Bangkok (and nearby) to participate? "We have to find a way to deal with the congestion inside the campus first before we can come out with a definite date," Dr Sunait Chutintaranond, Director of the Institute of Asian Studies was quoted as saying.
Hmmm, I wonder.

Dear Scholar: A call for papers

The following information as received from an outside source. Apologies for any errors.

The organisers invite papers on all aspects of Shan Studies, including, anthropology, architecture, art history, environment, gender, history, literature, linguistics, music, performing arts, popular culture, religions and traditional medicine. Each contributor will have approximately 30 minutes for presentation. The languages to be used in the conference will be English and Thai.

A selection of the papers presented will be published in an edited volume within a year after the conference. The paper should be submitted by 1 September 2009. The paper should not exceed 10,000 words and it should include appropriate bibliography and citations.

Abstract submissions
An abstract of not more than 300 words (using 1” margins on all sides, 12pt font size and submitted as attachments in MS Word or pdf format) should be sent to the conference organisers by 28 February 2009. Abstracts can be sent via email to: shan.studies@yahoo.com or shanstudies@chula.ac.th. Key information - the title of the paper, the name(s) of the author(s), the affiliation of author(s) and contact details - must be included.

Upon receipt of any submissions and discussion, the conference organizers will decide which speakers will present at the event and contact the author(s) selected. Furthermore, all abstracts submitted in time will be published in an abstract booklet to be distributed during the conference. Finally, the conference organizers reserve the right to solicit papers, if necessary, from individuals who did not submit abstracts.

For abstract submissions, additional information or any inquiries, please contact:

Mrs. Charunee Lucktong
Institute of Asian Studies, Chulalongkorn University
7th Floor, Prachadhipok-Rambhai Barni Building,
Phyathai Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330
THAILAND
Tel: +662 218 7463-4
Fax: +662 255 1124
Email: charunee.l@chula.ac.th

Mai soong kha everyone,

Naw Liang