Construction of Identity

I attended the First International Conference on Social Sciences and Humanities by Centre for Social Science Research (CSSR) held on August 23-25 at Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB). CSSR is the only social science research centre at a private university in Bangladesh.

It is difficult to sum up the experience. Obviously, I did not find straightforward answers to my questions regarding identity, but the awareness I gained was valuable. The conference was inaugurated by the Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid. Eminent Modern Asian History scholar, Professor Willem van Schendel, who was the keynote speaker, gave a beautiful account on 'Interconnected Asia'. The Plenary Session was chaired by the Vice Chancellor of IUB, Professor M. Omar Rahman. The conference ended with the remarks of Professor A.K. Azad Chowdhury, Chairman, UGC.

As a 21-year-old, standing in front of my mirror after attending the conference, thousands of realisations engulfed me. I looked at myself and asked 'Who am I?' 'What is my gender?' 'Is my gender constructed by society?' 'Why did the question of gender even arise?' 'Is it because of where I live?' 'Should I wear the clothes that I wear every day?' 'Do they go hand in hand with my culture?' 'Do they abide by my religion?' 'But is my religion my first identity or my culture?' 'What about the music I listen to or the movies and TV series I watch or the food I eat -- do they go with my culture, with my true identity?' 'What is my true identity and how should I behave then?'
I'd like to thank CSSR for this conference that strongly hit my conscience. Before attending the conference I wrote about the political, social, economic identity crises of the people (mainly of the third world nations) in a globalised world. But when I finally had the chance to go through the sessions, I was highly influenced to question my own identity. When the sessions discussed globalisation and language or women's empowerment, I thought of my own state as a female in this society; is it the same as it used to be ten-fifteen years back? I thought of the language I speak, is it also changing? When discussions on globalisation and migration, national memory, war and history came I thought of my own version of '2013' when Shahbagh Movement broke out and I was thinking why should I be there? When issues were raised on globalisation and new media and film it reminded me of me using Facebook and all the posts I 'Share', all the pages I 'Like', all the movies I watch -- do they have any connection with forming my identity? It is fascinating that so many different yet interconnected issues are always working behind the curtain, toiling away like an automated machine and shaping, reshaping us, as human beings -- be it technology, education, perception of gender, traditions, modernity, or even merely the use of Facebook.

The greatest thing that happened to me while attending this conference was that it made me pursue some thoughts that normally I overlook; thoughts that may influence my every move, without me even knowing. Behind this surprising enlightenment were the contributions of renowned scholars with their presented papers and informative arguments. With all the sharing of knowledge and thoughts, I felt the event was successful -- a true feast of knowledge.

The writer is a student, Department of Media & Communication, IUB.