International Conference on Literature, History, Culture 20-21 December 2019 Organized by Faculty of Arts, University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh

Abstract

In the present day academic world, and especially in the developing countries like Bangladesh, our focuses are shifting fast from liberal humanist education to professional degrees and technology-based skill developments. Even many people like to think that humanities are dying and what is still persisting in the name of education in the humanities is either useless or insufficient to address the needs of present day problems and crises. But this very tendency to declare the study in the humanities obsolete or futile is the malady the people in the humanities identify as a major crisis in a world that is suffering from problems like local and global disparities, unequal distributions of power and wealth, the lack of fundamental rights for the majority of the world population, the rise of ethnic and religious extremism and becoming more and more segregated, intolerant and violent. It is true that we have limitations and we have failed time and again. But our failings and our shortcomings need careful scrutiny and remorseless examinations and reexaminations to find out the ways of going beyond and coming up with ideas, approaches, measures and suggestions that will help us be ready to face the crises, show our commitments and devote our energy, time and life to create and develop a world more beneficial for humans and more sustainable for peaceful and meaningful human existence and, in short, a better future.

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