Austen's fiction is enduring and accessible: Mr. Gareth Owen

Hyderabad:

"Jane Austen was far ahead of her time, not only as a novelist but also as a woman writer", said Mr. Gareth Wynn Owen, British Deputy High Commissioner for Telangana & Andhra Pradesh today at Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU). He was speaking as the chief guest in the inaugural session of one-day national seminar “Jane Austen @ 250: Relevance, Readings and Reimaginings”.

Mr. Owen noted that through wit and subtle social critique, Austen interrogated societal roles and expectations, creating characters that are rich, diverse, and psychologically nuanced. Austen’s works appeal equally to young readers and mature audiences, making her literature both accessible and enduring, he added.

In his Presidential Remarks, Prof. Syed Ainul Hasan, Vice-Chancellor stated that Jane Austen has left an enduring legacy through the values she explored and the memorable characters she created. Describing her works as timeless, he referred to Pride and Prejudice as a zenith of Romantic fiction that combines emotion with sharp social criticism. He further observed that Austen initiated literary criticism much earlier than many formal English critics and noted that Indian literary, academic and theatrical traditions, particularly during the 1990s, drew significantly from British literary heritage.

Prof. Ishtiaque Ahmed, Registrar, MANUU, observed that Jane Austen’s novels continue to inspire new readings and interpretations across cultures and generations, making her profoundly relevant even in the present times.

Prof. Gulfishaan Habeeb, Dean, SLL&I, outlined the objectives of the seminar and emphasized its focus on revisiting Jane Austen’s works through contemporary critical lenses. Prof. Mohd. Razaullah Khan, Director, CDOE, highlighted the University’s commitment to fostering interdisciplinary dialogue and global literary engagement.

Prof. KottacheruvuNagendra, Head, Department of English proposed a vote of thanks.

The seminar was organized by the School of Languages, Linguistics and Indology (SLL&I) in collaboration with the Centre for Distance and Online Education (CDOE), Department of English, and the Cultural Activity Centre.