The ANU School of Culture, History & Language at the ANU College of Asia & the Pacific is pleased to announce the 15th International Conference on Early Modern Literatures of North India (ICEMLNI).

Following the conference’s rich tradition since its inception in 1979 as the ‘International Middle Hindi Bhakti Conference’, ICEMLNI continues to serve as a vital meeting place for scholars of early modern North Indian literary traditions.

The conference embraces diverse perspectives and approaches, including but not limited to hagiography and devotional literature; oral traditions and performance; textual criticism and manuscript studies; poetics and literary theory; religious and philosophical texts; literary historiography; multiple language traditions of North India; trans-regional literary networks; and courtly and popular literary cultures.

Important Dates

Registration Deadline: 30 April 2025
Old Hindi Reading Retreat (‘Braj Camp’): Week of 7 July 2025

Registration and Fees

Registration fees are structured as follows:

In-person Attendance:

Regular Registration: AUD 450
Student/Unwaged: AUD 300

Online Attendance:

Regular Registration: AUD 250
Student/Unwaged: AUD 150

Registration fees cover:

Conference materials
Catering (1 conference dinner, all lunches, and morning and afternoon teas)
Facilities fees
Technology costs

Registration Deadline: 30 April 2025

Note: Fees do not include travel, accommodation, or personal expenses. Information is provided on our website about accommodation in Canberra. Non-presenting participants are welcome to register and attend at their own expense by the registration deadline.

Special Opportunity: Old Hindi Reading Retreat (‘Braj Camp’)

Following the main conference, participants are invited to join an Old Hindi Reading Retreat at ANU’s Kioloa Coastal Campus on the New South Wales South Coast during the week of 7 July 2025. This additional opportunity allows scholars to extend their academic engagement in a focused setting. Details about this optional retreat will be provided with registration information.

Participation

We especially welcome participation from:

Early-career scholars
PhD students
Researchers representing diverse approaches to early modern North Indian literary studies

Scholars who wish to attend without presenting papers are also welcome to participate.

Contact Information

For queries and submissions:
Email: christopher.diamond@anu.edu.au
Website: www.icemlni2025.org

Host Institution

College of Asia & the Pacific
Australian National University
Canberra ACT 2601
Australia

The ICEMLNI remains committed to fostering productive and enriching diversity of perspectives in the study of early modern North Indian literary traditions.