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Decorative South Asian-inspired illustration featuring lotus flowers, an elephant, peacocks, mountains and traditional musical instruments alongside the conference information “5–6 November, 2026, Kaunas, Lithuania.” The visual represents the international conference “Encountering the ‘Other’: Europe’s Interactions With South Asia,” organised at Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) by the Faculty of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities.

Encountering the “Other”: Europe’s Interactions with South Asia

The international conference “Encountering the ‘Other’: Europe’s Interactions with South Asia” will take place on 5–6 November 2026 at Kaunas University of Technology (KTU), Kaunas, Lithuania.

About the Conference

The conference “Encountering the ‘Other’: Europe’s Interactions with South Asia” will bring together scholars and researchers from across the Globe to interrogate historical, cultural and political encounters between the two regions. It aims to explore the complex, multifaceted interactions between Europe and South Asia, from colonial encounters to postcolonial dialogues and contemporary global flows.

Inspired by Edward Said’s seminal work Orientalism (1978), which critiqued Europe’s construction of the “East” as an exotic Other, we invite reflections on how European representations of the East as the cultural “Other” persist in literary writings, religious texts, travelogues, music, art and various other forms of media.

Drawing on Homi K. Bhabha’s concept of hybridity and the “third space” (The Location of Culture, 1994), Gayatri Spivak’s interrogation of the subaltern voice (Can the Subaltern Speak?, 1988), Dipesh Chakrabarty’s provincialization of Europe (Provincializing Europe, 2000), and Paul Gilroy’s analysis of postcolonial Atlantic routes (The Black Atlantic, 1993), among others, we seek to unpack power dynamics, cultural exchanges, and mutual transformations.

Keeping in mind the complex historical connections between Europe and various South Asian countries, as well as the expanding South Asian diasporas in Europe and rising global geopolitical tensions, this conference asks: How has Europe “encountered” South Asia, and how has South Asia reshaped Europe?

We welcome interdisciplinary papers from scholars, artists, and activists in cultural studies, postcolonial theory, history, literature, philosophy, linguistics, media, anthropology, and beyond.

  • Deadline for abstract submission: 25 May, 2026
  • Decision about acceptance: 8 June, 2026
  • Registration deadline: 1 July, 2026
  • Final programme: 1 October 2026

Registration Fees

  • Regular in-person: 70 Euros
  • Regular in-person: 110 Euros (includes lunch)
  • Regular online: 50 Euros Student in-person: 40 Euros
  • Student in-person: 80 Euros (includes lunch)
  • Student online: 30 Euros
  • COST ESIND Members: Registration fee exempted
  • COST ESIND Members: 40 Euros (lunch; optional)

For more details see “Call for Papers” below.

call for papers

The participants of the international conference “Encountering the ‘Other’: Europe’s Interactions with South Asia” will receive certificates upon request after the event by contacting via encounters2026@ktu.lt.

request a certificate

Conference Programme

5–6 November, 2026
A. Mickevičiaus St. 37, Kaunas

Detailed information about the conference programme will be announced on 1st October.

Keynote Speakers

A man with glasses and a full beard looks directly at the camera, wearing a dark suit, white shirt, and patterned tie. The background features a colorful wall with abstract artwork.

Dr. Martin Farek

Associate Professor at Technical University Liberec, Czech Republic
A smiling older man wearing glasses, a black shirt, and a blue patterned tie raises both hands with open palms. He has short gray hair and a small goatee, and a name badge is pinned to his shirt. The background is plain and light-colored.

Dr. John Hutnyk

Associate Professor at Ton Duc Thang University, Vietnam

Organizers

Scientific Committee

  1. Runa Chakraborty Paunksnis, Kaunas University of Technology
    (Lithuania), chair of the committee
  2. Saulius Keturakis, Kaunas University of Technology (Lithuania)
  3. Nerijus Čepulis, Kaunas University of Technology (Lithuania)
  4. Saulė Petronienė, Kaunas University of Technology (Lithuania)
  5. Saulutė Juzelėnienė, Kaunas University of Technology (Lithuania)
  6. Šarūnas Paunksnis, Kaunas University of Technology (Lithuania)
  7. Dario Martinelli, Kaunas University of Technology (Lithuania)
  8. John Stewart Gordon, Kaunas University of Technology (Lithuania)
  9. Domantas Milius, Kaunas University of Technology (Lithuania)

Organizing committee

Local organizing committee, Kaunas University of Technology
(Lithuania):

  1. Šarūnas Paunksnis, chair of the committee
  2. Runa Chakraborty Paunksnis
  3. Audronė Pauliukevičiūtė, research administration & project management
  4. Kamilė Mončytė, communication, website administration
  5. Domantas Milius, researcher
  6. Milda Ramanauskaitė, communication with organizers and participants

Partners

The conference Encountering the “Other”: Europe’s Interactions With South Asia is organized with the support of COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) and ESIND (Europe’s Representations of India: Texts, Images, and Encounters, COST Action CA23144).

COST is a funding organisation for research and innovation networks. COST Actions are bottom-up networks with a duration of four years that boost research, innovation and careers.

ESIND examines the development of Europe’s representations of India and their impact on encounters between the two regions. It aims to create a multidisciplinary pan-European community of researchers, engaging in comparative research on the crystallization of European representations of India in many different regions and languages. The Action willcontribute to (a) creating new knowledge in areas of fundamental research, policymaking, intercultural understanding, and education and (b) training a new generation of researchers concerned with the relations between Europe and India.

Arrival and Accommodation

Arrival

Minimal white linear icon of an airplane on a dark black contrasting background representing air travel to Kaunas, Lithuania.

Kaunas Airport (KUN) is the nearest airport, about 15 km from the city centre. Bus 29G connects the airport with the central bus station in 30–40 minutes. Taxis are available outside the terminal, taking around 20 minutes to reach the venue.

Vilnius Airport (VNO) is the main international airport, located about 100 km from Kaunas. Intercity buses and trains connect the airport or central Vilnius with Kaunas in 1.5–2 hours. Taxis and ride-hailing services are available outside the terminal, taking about 1–1.5 hours.

Minimal white linear icon of a bus on a dark black contrasting background representing public transport connections in Kaunas.

International and intercity buses arrive at Kaunas Bus Station (Vytauto pr. 24). From there, the Faculty of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities at A. Mickevičiaus g. 37 is just a short ride or 20-minute walk away. City buses and trolleybuses run frequently across Kaunas.

Minimal white linear icon of a taxi on a dark black contrasting background representing taxi transportation options in Kaunas city.

Licensed taxis and ride-share services (Bolt, Uber) operate throughout Kaunas. From the airport or bus station, rides to the conference venue take 10–20 minutes.

Minimal white linear icon of a train on a dark black contrasting background representing railway travel to Kaunas, Lithuania.

International and intercity trains arrive at Kaunas Railway Station (Kauno geležinkelio stotis), located at M. K. Čiurlionio g. 16, Kaunas. From there, the Faculty of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities at A. Mickevičiaus g. 37 is about a 15–20-minute walk or a short ride by city bus or trolleybus.

Accommodation

Kaunas offers a wide range of hotels and other accommodation options located near the conference venue in the city centre. For the convenience of conference participants, Victoria Hotel Kaunas has partnered with Kaunas University of Technology to provide discounted rates for attendees.

Details about these special rates are provided below.

For any inquiries regarding accommodation at Victoria Hotel Kaunas, please contact the hotel directly.

accommodation details

Sustainability Statement

The conference “Encountering the ‘Other’: Europe’s Interactions with South Asia” is organized in accordance with sustainability principles:

  • Venue and accessibility: the event takes place at Kaunas University of Technology in a centrally located and easily accessible venue that can be conveniently reached by public transport or on foot.
  • Materials and information: the conference programme and presentation materials are provided in digital format in order to reduce paper consumption.
  • Partnerships: the conference encourages collaboration with academic institutions, local communities and partner organizations to foster responsible dialogue between research and society.
  • Catering: priority is given to seasonal and locally sourced products as well as sustainable catering practices.
  • Waste reduction: the use of reusable tableware and responsible waste sorting is encouraged throughout the event.
Person riding a bicycle in Kaunas city centre with a KTU backpack and reusable bottle, promoting sustainable and environmentally friendly travel for participants attending the conference at Kaunas University of Technology.

Contacts

Conference Communications Team
A. Mickevičiaus St. 37, LT-44243 Kaunas
el. p. encounters2026@ktu.lt

Faculty of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities
A. Mickevičiaus St. 37, LT-44243