DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY 

National Young Sociologist Competition 2016-17 

The Department of Sociology, Christ University, Bangalore, organises an annual National Young Sociologist Competition for undergraduate students having Sociology as one of their subject. It aims to encourage the young generation to carry out small research projects on socially relevant subjects and issues to enhance their critical and analytical thinking. The Competition seeks to fulfil this aim by inviting the participants to write original papers on topics prescribed below to participate in the paper presentation competition which will be held on 19 December 2016.   Theme and Topics

The theme for the National Young Sociologist Competition 2016-17 is Society, Culture and Identity. Culture in its truest form holds a revered meaning in Sociology and Social Anthropology. One of the most comprehensive definitions of the term culture was provided by the 19th century British anthropologist, Edward Tylor. He defined culture as “that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society.” These stocks of knowledge determine the nature of a group. And the world hosts a plethora of such cultures, culminating towards Cultural Pluralism. The diversity can extend to a multitude of political ideologies, religious beliefs, languages, customs and art forms among many others.
Cultural pluralism helps to express the richness of human capabilities and also expands the intellectual horizon of an individual. This plural nature of societies can be best realized when
cultures are studied with an earnest sociological perspective. Cultural transmission has thus enabled to condition and influence the mindset of people all along. An individual has multiple identities and projects one identity in a social situation. Identity formation at any time is the positioning of several actors, and has an inherent ‘us’ and ‘they’ context. These identities are often contested leading to conflict, especially, in a heterogeneous country like India. It is evident by the recent rise of phenomena such as Xenophobia and Ethnocentrism around the world in general and India in particular. This is further spurred by processes such as globalization and migration.
Diversity in India can be best summarized in Mark Twain’s remark upon touching the shores of Bombay in 1890s. He said “the land that everyone desires to see, and having seen once by even a glimpse, would not give up that glimpse for all the shows in the world combined”. India was so exciting he wrote, because it was “the home of two thousand religions and two million gods”. Underlying all these diversities, there is a remarkable measure of unity. This can be witnessed in the geo-political, geo-cultural, religious accommodation and functional interdependence expressed in various forms in India.
Today the world is quick on prejudices, stereotypes, labeling and trolls based on cultural differences which can create a major dent in the way individuals interact in everyday lives. The world has already witnessed the ill effects of cultural intolerance from disasters like Apartheid and Holocaust. Along with these, identity politics has emerged as a negative byproduct of increased globalization and multiple levels of migration. Fundamentalism and identity politics have developed into a major divisive factor and a real time threat to the modern world.
Sub themes
• Unity and Diversity
• Cultural Pluralism
• Identity Politics, Gender and Religion
• Fundamentalism and Intolerance

Eligibility

The competition is open to all regular undergraduate students studying Sociology as one of their subjects in any of the institutions in India.

Submission Guidelines

As a first step to participate in this competition all participants need to send a 300 word abstract of their paper by August 20, 2016 to:

National Young Sociologist Competition 2016-17 

C/o Head, Department of Sociology 

Christ University Hosur Road, Bangalore–560029 

Email: prithadas.gupta@christuniversity.in Tel: 91-80-4012 9067 

Or 

National Young Sociologist Competition 2016-17 

C/o Dr Sudhansubala Sahu or Prof. Suparna Majumdar Kar 

Co-ordinator for YSC 

Department of Sociology Christ University Hosur Road, Bangalore–560029 

Email: ysc@soc.christuniversity.in 

Tel: 91-80-4012 9436 

1.  The abstracts should be accompanied by the contact details of participants including name, college/institution details, postal address, email address, and phone number.  
2. Participants need to enclose a bonafide certificate from the Head of their Institution and a copy of their college/university identity card along with the abstract.  
3. There is no limit to the number of entries from a single institution. 
4. All entries should be original works of the participant with appropriate references. Plagiarized entries will be disqualified.  
5. Co-authored papers will not be considered. 
6. Submitted abstracts will be screened and the authors of shortlisted abstracts will be notified by August 25, 2016. 
7. Authors of shortlisted abstracts have to submit two hard copies and the soft copy in of their full-length paper in word format to either of the above-mentioned addresses by November 1, 2016. 
8. Participants whose papers have been selected for the final presentation at Christ University, Bangalore will be notified by November 15, 2016. 
9. Travel will be reimbursed (second class sleeper) for outstation paper presenters. 
10. Accommodation will be provided for outstation paper presenters.
11. Final papers will be considered for publication. 

Evaluation Process and Rewards

1. The entries will be evaluated by an eminent panel of judges and the authors of the ten best entries will be invited to Christ University to make a presentation and to defend their ideas in the presence of students of Humanities and Social Sciences. 
2. Awards are given to the prize winners. The first prize carries Rs 15,000/-, the second Rs 10,000/-, and the third Rs 7,000/-. The conveyance expenditure of the finalists would be reimbursed as per Christ University guidelines and the finalists would receive hospitality from Christ University community. 

Important Dates

• August 20, 2016  Last date for submission of abstract 
• August 25, 2016 Notification of shortlisted abstracts 
• November 1, 2016 Submission of full-length paper 
• November 15, 2016 Announcement of finalists for paper presentation 
• December 19, 2016 Final paper presentation at Christ University