Abstract submission
WSC2021 invites individual papers to be presented in one of the 22 regular sections.
The deadline for individual paper abstracts is 31 March 2020.
Each paper will be allotted a time of 20 minutes, with an additional 10 minutes for discussion.
Papers may be delivered in English or Sanskrit. We encourage scholars who are presenting a paper in Sanskrit to provide a summary in English.
Regular Sections (Themes)
The conference will feature 22 regular thematic sections, listed below. For each section, a set of invited convenors, specialists in the respective fields, will assist in maintaining a high scholarly standard for the conference.
Convenors will select individual papers for presentation at WSC2021 and nominate session chairs.
The convenors will also be in charge of selecting and editing papers for publication in the proceedings.
The 22 regular sections are listed below:
1. Veda, वेदः
2. Linguistics, भाषाशास्त्रम्
3. Vyākaraṇa, व्याकरणम्
4. Epics, रामायणं महाभारतं च
5. Purāṇas, पुराणानि
6. Tantra Studies, आगमास्तन्त्रं च
7. Ritual Studies, नवध्यिुष्ठािनवमशशः
8. Poetry, Drama and Aesthetics, काव्यमलङ्कारश्च
9. Scientific Literature, वैज्ञानिकं वाङ्मयम्
10. Buddhist Studies, बौद्धनवद्या
11. Jaina Studies, जैिनवद्या
12. Vaiṣṇavism and Śaivism, वैष्णवमतं शैवमतं च
13. Religious Studies, धमशनवमशशः
14. Philosophy, दशशिानि, तत्त्वशास्त्रम्
15. History, Art and Architecture, Epigraphy, इनतहासः कलाः स्थापत्यमनभलेखशास्त्रं च
16. Sanskrit and Regional Languages (including Southeast Asia), संस्कृतं प्रदेशभाषाश्च
17. Sanskrit Pedagogy, संस्कृतनशक्षाशास्त्रम्
18. Modern Sanskrit Writings, आधुनिकं संस्कृतसानहत्यम्
19. Computational Sanskrit and Digital Humanities, संस्कृतं नवज्ञाितानन्त्रकी च
20. Manuscriptology, हस्तलेखनवज्ञािम्
21. Law and Society, धमशशास्त्रमथशशास्त्रं च
22. Yoga and Āyurveda, योगायुवेदौ
Key Dates and Deadlines
Note that these dates are subject to change.
Individual speakers and titles of papers accepted for presentation at WSC 2021 will be announced through the conference website in late 2020.
Special panel proposal deadline – 30 June 2019
Special panel notification – 30 September 2019
Second circular and call for papers for special panels – 31 October 2019
Third circular and registration opens – 31 January 2020
Individual paper abstract deadline – 31 March 2020
Notify presenters of paper acceptance – 30 June 2020
Presenters confirm attendance – 31 July 2020
Early bird registration closes – 31 August 2020
Final registration for presenters – 30 September 2020
Fourth circular – 31 October 2020
Conference opens – 18 January 2021
Conference excursions – 20 January 2021
Conference ends – 22 January 2021
All participants who plan to present a paper must pay their registration fee by 30 September 2020, or their paper will be cancelled. Last minute registration will be available only for non-presenting participants and guests.
Travel and Visa Arrangements
We urge participants to make their travel arrangements as early as possible to minimise costs. In addition, participants should familiarise themselves with any visa requirements that they might have for entering Australia.
The Organising Committee cannot offer personal assistance or advice on how to secure the appropriate Australian visa, since the process differs widely from country to country. For more information and guidance, please consult the Australian Government’s official website (https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/home) and contact your local Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate for specific instructions as early as possible. The time required for securing a visa can be unpredictable and may be as long as several months.
As soon as your abstract has been accepted, we will be able to provide a letter of confirmation to help you secure your visa or travel funds.
After you register, we will send the Australian government your details to facilitate visa applications. For this purpose, participants will need to supply country of passport, passport number, full name (as in their passport), date of birth, gender, current country of residence, and contact details (i.e., email, telephone, address) when registering.
Sorry, No Travel Grants
Travel to Australia is expensive, particularly for scholars coming from South or Southeast Asia, and we are making every effort to keep costs down. However, we regret the WSC cannot offer travel assistance. Participants should seek travel assistance, grants or bursaries from their home institutions or from governmental or international granting agencies.
Student Prize
In the spirit of the conference theme, ‘Future Directions’, and spurred by our shared desire to encourage and support emerging scholars in whose hands the future lies, we will be awarding a prize for the most outstanding presentation by a currently enrolled Masters or PhD student. We will be inviting section convenors to nominate suitable candidates.
