KazNU scholars discussed issues of nation-building in South and Central Asia

The Faculty of Oriental Studies of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University organized an international conference on “Nation-Building in South and Central Asia: Ethnicity, Religion, and Traditions”.

The conference was organised within the framework of the research project AP14871064 “Ethnic, Ethno-Confessional Discourse of Nation-Building in South Asia (Afghanistan, India, Pakistan)” funded by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan (2022-2024). The event is dedicated to the celebration of the 90th anniversary of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. The principal investigator of the project is Professor L.G. Yerekesheva.

At the opening of the conference, a member of the Board - Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation of KazNU, Zhamila Aitzhanova, and Dean of the Faculty of Oriental Studies, Natalya Yem, made welcome addresses. The principal investigator of the project, Professor Laura Yerekesheva, introduced with the key research findings of the project.

During the sessions, issues related to the influence of ethnic and ethno-confessional factors on the processes of nation-building in modern societies in South Asia (Afghanistan, India, and Pakistan) were discussed. In particular, the specifics of ethnic and clan-tribal mosaics, formal institutions and informal institutions, ethnic and religious processes, and intellectual discourse were considered.

The conference was attended by specialists and experts on South and Central Asia, in particular, researchers from the Department of Politics and International Studies of the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) at the University of London (UK) - Matthew Nelson, Rochana Bajpai, Bhavna Dave; Director of the Institute of Asian Studies Sultan Akimbekov, expert from Tajikistan Rakhmatullo Abdulloev, scholars from India - Hilal Ahmed from the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, Sanjay Pandey from the School of International Studies at the Jawaharlal Nehru University, Maitreyi Pandey from Kamala Nehru College, Delhi University, etc.

During the conference, members of the research team L.G. Yerekesheva, A.M. Muratbekova, K.T. Gabdullin, doctoral student of the Faculty of Oriental Studies Sh.E. Kanafyeva and master’s student T. Urumova presented the results of their research. It should be noted that both leading scholars and young researchers, including doctoral and master's students, took part in the project.

The high research and organizational level of the conference, discussions and debates are of great importance for the development of scientific, educational spheres, applied analytics for the field of South Asian studies, as well as the development of international scientific cooperation.

Press-service of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University