About Conference
Performance and performativity are central to how communities stage, sustain, and see their worlds. They work as vessels that allow the fashioning of identities and the rites that forge arenas for memory, negotiation, and transformation. Often described as an elusive spectre, indigeneity provides one crucial lens for understanding the twin dynamics of these concepts. Conventionally, indigeneity has been understood as the historical identity of communities rooted in specific geographies and as guardians of knowledge systems that contest dominant discourses. More recent scholarship instead emphasises indigeneity as fluid and performative. As Taiaiake Alf red and Jeff Corntassel observe, “being Indigenous means thinking, speaking and acting with the conscious intent of regenerating one’s indigeneity”. Approaching performances of indigeneity from this perspective opens up various forms of indigenous self-representation, including music, dance, rituals and drama, and visual arts.
At the same time, performance and performativity extend well beyond Indigenous contexts. They shape popular cinema, sports, heritage tourism, museum practices, digital media, and everyday acts of social belonging. These varied practices showcase how cultural memory is continuously rehearsed, revealing the braided narratives of politics, aesthetics and identity. Here, performance functions – as Helen Gilbert reminds us – as an “analytical tool” for understanding the evolution of cultural identities across centuries. This conference seeks to foster interdisciplinary dialogue between performance as embodied practice and performativity as a broader cultural process. It aims to map new approaches to cultural memory across Indigenous and nonIndigenous worlds, while also providing a platform for networking among scholars, artists and practitioners. With the objective of exploring how Indigenous or non-Indigenous worlds are “performed,” and how performances and performativity serve as key modes for navigating identity, belonging, and resistance, the conference welcomes submissions for paper presentations for the following two tracks:
The event will be held from February 7–8, 2026 at the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus, Rajasthan, India.
ABOUT BITS PILANI
Birla Institute of Technology & Science (BITS) Pilani, is an all-India Institute for higher education. Founded with strong technical collaboration with MIT (USA) under the Ford Foundation Grant, BITS Pilani has evolved into India's leading institute of higher education, distinguished by its illustrious legacy, modern campuses, and exceptional placement records. The institute's commitment to excellence, adherence to merit, transparency, innovation, and enterprise has been the hallmark of its journey. BITS Pilani has got campuses in Dubai, Hyderabad, Goa and Mumbai in addition to Pilani.
The past six decades have been exceptional for BITS Pilani, marked by groundbreaking achievements in research, teaching and fostering entrepreneurship. Key achievements and milestones include: 1. Institute of Eminence, 2. BITS BioCyTiH Foundation, 3. Center for Research Excellence in Semiconductor Technologies (CREST), 4. BITS-Technology Enabling Centres (TEC), 5. Center for Research Excellence in National Security (CRENS), 6. BITS GATI (Gender Advancement for Transforming Institutions), 7. SATHI Project Award.
ABOUT DEPARTMENT OF Humanities and Social Sciences
The Department of Mechanical Engineering at BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus offers undergraduate, postgraduate, and Ph.D. programs. The department focuses on theoretical learning and hands-on experience. Established as early as 1946, the department is known for research in fields such as Design, Manufacturing, Thermo-fluids, and Industrial Systems Engineering. Our students explore specialized areas such as Robotics, Mechatronics, Energy Management, 3D Printing, and Battery Technology. The students are trained in software tools such as AutoCAD, CATIA, COMSOL Multi-physics, MATLAB, and Fusion 360. Faculty members are deeply involved in cutting-edge research, addressing both fundamental and applied problems, with strong links to industry, academia and research. With a focus on critical thinking, innovation, and problem solving, we contribute to technological advancements while addressing the real-world challenges.
