The Center for South Asia at UW–Madison recently hosted the 53rd Annual Conference on South Asia, the largest and most preeminent annual academic forum for South Asian studies worldwide.
With over 1,000 registered participants, the four-day conference offered a massive platform for discussion, spanning 15 symposia, 141 panels, and 32 roundtables. Faculty and graduate students participated in equal numbers, and the Center for South Asia was able to provide over 50 registration fee waivers to this year’s attendees.
On October 23, the Joseph W. Elder Keynote Address featured Alpa Shah from the University of Oxford. After the keynote, many scholars connected at the all-conference reception, enjoying assorted hors d’oeuvres and seasonal desserts. To end the successful day, the lights were dimmed and popcorn was served during a film screening of Rhythm of Dammam by Jayan Cherian.
A popular fixture of the conference was the dedicated time for “New Book Talks” on Thursday and Friday. Scholars reserved 20-minute time slots at the New Books Table to discuss their most recent publications. These informal presentations, run entirely by the presenting scholars, allowed authors to personally speak with colleagues about their latest work.
The following day, another film screening took place with a double-feature showcasing Abundance: Living with a Forest by Dolly Kikon and Go On, Rituparna by Aashish Kumar.
After the films concluded, the plenary session spotlighted Farhana Sultana from Syracuse University, who pr
esented her research on student revolt and the reshaping of Bangladesh. The plenary drew a large crowd and engagement from participants.
The main events concluded with a memorial celebrating the influential life of Joseph Elder, which featured closing remarks delivered by Frances Vavrus, vice provost and dean of UW–Madison’s International Division.
Building on the momentum from 2024, the 2025 conference reinforced UW-Madison’s role as a vital site for South Asia scholarship. The Center for South Asia would like to thank everyone who attended and contributed to the conference’s success. Dates for the 2026 conference will be announced in January.