Comprehensive history of literature in English needed

Kolhapur, Dec 27 (UNI) Prof G S Balrama Gupta, a well known critic and the editor of the Journal of Indian Writing in English (JIWE) today stressed upon the need for a comprehensive history of literature in English works of global scope and coverage.

''We are all aware that we have enough number of scholars well equipped to undertake this important task'', said Mr Gupta.

''The University Grant Commission (UGC), the Sahitya Akademi and other similar governmental agencies will come forward to support endeavours in this direction'', he added.

Prof Gupta, who is the former head, department of English Gulbarga University, was delivering the presidential address at the inaugural function of the three-day '51' All India English Teachers' Conference of Indian Association for English Studies at the Shivaji University Shahu hall here. The function was presided over by University Vice-Chancellor Prof Manikrao Salunkhe.

''Such conferences are useful only when there is adequate time for discussion, which alone can help those who present the papers and those who listen to them and participate in the discussion'', said Prof Salunkhe.

''Not many of our teacher-professors are motivated by any noble values. There is a woeful lack of mutual understanding among the members of English faculties,'' he said.

Around 500 teachers from various states are participating in this conference.

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