The History Society organized a seminar on Gendered Pasts, Masculinist Frames on 8-9 February 2011. The seminar, funded by the Indian Council of Social Science Research, brought together a range of participants from across disciplines, feminist activists and filmmakers. On the first day, the following presentations were made: G Arunima, Urvashi Butalia, Nivedita Menon, and Uma Chakravarti. The second day began with a session on women and law with presentations by Rashmi Pant, Flavia Agnes and Mary John. The last session opened with an illustrated lecture by Radhika Chopra, and concluded with the screening of a film, Majma, directed and introduced by Rahul Roy. A critical engagement with the issues raised in the seminar by the chair/discussants: Janaki Nair, Prem Chowdhary, Patricia Uberoi and Uma Chakravarti; and enthusiastic participation by students from different colleges made the discussions around ‘Gendered Pasts’ a very meaningful experience.

The History Society organized a one day Seminar on The Temple in Early Medieval South India on 17 February 2010. The seminar, partially funded by the Indian Council of Historical Research, introduced multiple aspects of temple as a political, economic, religious and cultural institution. Presentations from eminent scholars: Vijaya Ramaswamy, Kesavan Veluthat, R. Mahalakshmi were followed by students' papers that focused on themes like the Devadasi tradition, Saiva Bhakti, evolution of temple architecture, and ritual aspects of the kolam. A performative aspect of the conference theme was presented in Professor Deepti Omchery Bhalla’s lecture demonstration of the Mohiniattam dance form. The seminar concluded with a photographic overview of an earlier excursion to world heritage sites in Hampi, Aihole, Pattadakal & Badami in northern Karnataka. This was followed by discussions moderated by eminent historians from the University of Delhi. The seminar was well attended by students and teachers from different colleges.