The National Law School of India University (NLSIU) in Bengaluru is set to host an important academic event titled “Contours of Legal History in India: Pedagogy and Research” on March 27-28, 2025. This workshop is co-organized with the Max Planck Institute for Legal History and Legal Theory, and it aims to explore the evolving field of legal history in India, focusing on innovative methodologies and interdisciplinary approaches.
Workshop Objectives
The workshop seeks to bring together PhD students and early career researchers to discuss their ongoing research on the history of law and legal practices in India. It emphasizes the dynamic relationship between law and society, moving beyond traditional doctrinal studies to include the experiences of petitioners, lawyers, and litigants. The discussions will cover a broad temporal scope, including colonial, postcolonial, and pre-colonial periods, thereby fostering a critical dialogue between modern and historical legal frameworks.
Key Themes
Participants are encouraged to submit papers that address various themes related to legal history, including:
- Legal Histories, Archives, and Methods:Â Exploring new archival resources and methodologies that can reshape our understanding of legal history.
- Imperialism, Nationalism, Sovereignty:Â Analyzing how colonial legacies continue to influence contemporary legal practices in India.
- Material and Visual Histories of Law:Â Investigating the role of material culture and visual representations in shaping legal narratives.
- Borders, Migrations, and Legal Regimes:Â Examining how migration patterns affect legal identities and regimes.
- Science in Law:Â Understanding the intersection of scientific developments and legal frameworks.
- Hierarchy, Inequality, Legal Identities:Â Discussing how legal systems perpetuate or challenge social hierarchies and inequalities.
Call for Papers
The workshop invites contributions from PhD students (preferably in their writing stage) and early career researchers affiliated with Indian universities. Interested participants should submit a 400-word abstract along with a 200-word biography by October 20, 2024, before 11:59 PM IST. Submissions must be sent as a single PDF document titled with the author’s full name. It is essential for applicants to specify which theme their work fits into within their abstract.
Important Dates
Selected applicants will be notified by December 20, 2024. Upon selection, participants are required to submit a 4000-word draft of their paper by February 15, 2025. The workshop format will allow participants to present their research findings and receive feedback from peers and experts in the field.
Financial Support
To facilitate participation, the workshop organizers will provide financial assistance for travel and accommodation to selected participants. This initiative aims to ensure that emerging scholars can engage meaningfully with their peers while contributing to the discourse on legal history in India.
Contextual Significance
In recent years, there has been a growing emphasis on “decolonizing” historical narratives within academic circles. This workshop aims to address how pre-colonial histories have often been rendered timeless while postcolonial interpretations are sometimes viewed as mere replicas of colonial frameworks. By examining these complexities, participants will contribute to a deeper understanding of the historical continuities and discontinuities that shape contemporary Indian law.
Conclusion
The Contours of Legal History in India: Pedagogy and Research workshop represents a significant opportunity for scholars dedicated to exploring the intersections of law, history, and society. By fostering critical discussions among emerging researchers, NLSIU aims to reinvigorate debates within the field of legal history while promoting innovative pedagogical practices. This collaborative effort underscores NLSIU’s commitment to advancing legal scholarship in India while providing a platform for new voices in academia.For further inquiries or clarifications regarding the workshop, interested participants can contact Dr. Reeju Ray at ray@lhlt.mpg.de. This initiative not only highlights NLSIU’s leadership in legal education but also its role as a hub for interdisciplinary research that addresses pressing societal issues through the lens of legal history.
Contact Information
(Fax) +91 80 2316 0535
 
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