Middle Bengali Retreat-cum-workshop 2025
5-15 August, Győr (জ্যোর), Hungary
This year we are holding the Middle Bengali Retreat at Győr, Hungary from the 5th to the 15th of August, 2025.
The retreat aims to bring together scholars and advanced students of Bengali to read and discuss Middle Bengali texts. We will read a variety of texts in Middle Bengali and related literary idioms of eastern South Asia (Avahattha, Old Maithili, Brajabuli, Assamese, Oriya). We hope that participants benefit from the session leaders’ expertise and that the session leaders benefit from the participants’ feedback. Those involved are scholars of Bengal studies and graduate students; however, undergraduates with a firm commitment are also encouraged to apply.
The format will be similar to our past retreats and will include outings and reading texts outdoors. Each day, three ninety-minute reading sessions will be conducted. The readings will cover a variety of genres (narrative, lyric, didactic) and periods (from the Bengali Sultanate to late Mughal/early colonial times). We will start with a general introduction on grammar, prosody and literary genres. Advanced fluency in modern Bengali is expected. The list of session leaders and the detailed program will be out by mid-May 2025. Session leaders will include Rebecca Manring and Thibaut d’Hubert, and the complete list of texts and session leaders will be published by mid-May. Partners and children are welcome if they do not need a visa since the university will not be able to sponsor visas for them.
Program
Arrival: morning, Tuesday, August, 5th
Reading sessions start: Tuesday afternoon, August 5th
Last session: morning, Friday, August 15th
Departure: afternoon, Friday, August 15th
Daily Schedule
09:00 – session 1
10:30 – tea/coffee/snacks
11:00 – session 2
13:00 – lunch
14:00 – session 3
The university is situated near a smaller branch of the Danube and a nature park called Püspökerdő. We aim to make several outings to nearby places, such as Danube backwaters, Pannonhalma Abbey, Bakony Hills and Lake Balaton.
Logistics and Other Information
Accommodation will be at the student halls of residence of Széchenyi István University, where two rooms have a shared bathroom. Rooms cost 15000 HUF / night. Rooms with bathroom cost 30,000 HUF / night
It is also possible to book rooms at Hotel Famulus: 35 000 HUF / single room / night, buffet breakfast or 38 000 HUF / double room / night, buffet breakfast.
Tax: the prices includes VAT but excludes tourist tax of 450 HUF/person/night (for people
over 18 in 2024)
Lunch at SZE restaurant will cost around $11.5. Informal tea, biscuits and pastry for $4 will be available throughout the day.
Breakfast and dinner need to be arranged individually at nearby shops or catering places.
Readings will be held at Czuczor Gergely Benedictine School , which is about 15 minutes walk from the accommodation.
The overall cost of participation excluding travel to and from Győr is estimated between to be between USD900 and USD 1100.
Transportation
Győr can be reached by train from Budapest, Vienna and beyond. Győr is served by Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest airports. From these airports you can take airport taxi, such as Aerobus | Anyone, anywhere from anywhere! or other companies. This is especially recommended if you can share a taxi. FlixBus: Cheap Coach Travel Across the UK & Europe also operates affordable buses to Győr. The best option from Budapest Airport is by airport bus+metro+train.
Please, fill out and send the application form (click here to access the form) to the following address: middlebengali2025@gmail.com
Deadline for applications: April 15th, 2025
Organizing Committee:
Imre Bangha (University of Oxford, )
Thibaut d’Hubert (University of Chicago)
Rebecca Manring (Indiana University, Bloomington)
The retreat is supported by:
भारत अध्ययन विभाग ॥ ELTE Department of Indian Studies, University of Budapest
Czuczor Gergely Benedictine School
University of Oxford