About the University

CHRIST (Deemed to be University) was born out of the educational vision of St Kuriakose Elias Chavara, an educationalist and social reformer of the nineteenth century in South India. He founded the first Catholic indigenous congregation, Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI), in 1831 which administers CHRIST (Deemed to be University). 

CHRIST (Deemed to be University) was established as ‘Christ College’ in 1969. It undertook path-breaking initiatives in Indian higher education with the introduction of innovative and modern curricula, insistence on academic discipline, imparting of Holistic Education and adoption of global higher education practices with the support of creative and dedicated staff.The University Grants Commission (UGC) of India conferred Autonomy to Christ College in 2004 and identified it as an Institution with Potential for Excellence in 2006. In 2008 under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956, the Ministry of Human Resource Development of the Government of India, declared the institution a Deemed to be University, in the name and style of Christ University. One of the first institutions in India to be accredited in 1998 by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), Government of India, and subsequently in 2004, 2016, 2022 CHRIST (Deemed to be University) is currently accredited with ‘A+’ Grade. The University is ranked among top 100 universities in India at 67 in the NIRF India Ranking 2023 of Ministry of Education, Government of India.

The multi-disciplinary University which focuses on teaching, research and service offers Bachelor, Master and Doctoral programmes in humanities, social sciences, sciences, commerce, management, engineering, architecture, education, and law  to about 30000 students. The University offers its programmes at four campus locations in Bangalore in Karnataka, at Lavasa in Pune in Maharashtra, and Ghaziabad in Delhi NCR. 

The campus is a living example of harmonious multiculturalism with students from all the states and union territories and around 60 different countries. CHRIST (Deemed to be University) publishes six peer-reviewed research journals and has published more than 300 books in Kannada and English. A promoter of sports, music and literary activities, it is a nurturing ground for creative excellence.  

About the Conference 

Cityscapes are an integral part of our perception of the present and the future. This conference aims to explore multifarious perspectives on the urban realm and the literary and cultural texts that have emerged from cities.

 Their ubiquitous influence on society and history makes cities an interesting and significant site for study. Transnationalism has allowed for urban spaces to attain unprecedented connectivity and advancement. Cities have, thus, emerged as hotspots for intersecting dialogue between a multitude of fields. From entertainment and art to governance and architecture, cities are a wellspring of activity, meaning and action. Thus, the term ‘urban contemplations’ enables one to think of the ‘urban’ as a dynamic and fluid entity rather than a stagnant and static one. Cityspaces influence the social, political and literary dimensions and vice-versa, making them a crucial nexus for creation, synthesis and transformation.

 In the 21st century, the deepening of the rural-urban divide propels us to contemplate on the diverse implications of cities and their cosmopolitanism. For each one of us who dwell in cities or have experienced the dichotomies and intersections that govern the rural-urban divide, urban spaces have become indispensable to our understanding of the world.

 Cities are a peculiar case in today’s world as some cities continue to echo the clarion call for change while the rest are active sites of military aggression, unrest and extremism. The contradictions and ambiguities that pervade city narratives make it a pertinent subject for study.