A conference organized by EPHE, CRCAO UMR 8155 and INALCO
14-15 May 2012

Provisional Program

Chair: R. Barnett

09h00 – Opening speech by Mr. Denis Pelletier, President of École pratique des Hautes Études
09h15 – K. Buffetrille (EPHE) Self-Immolation in Tibet: Some Reflections on an Unfolding History
09h45 – M. Vovelle (Sorbonne-Paris I) Title to be announced
10h15 – Morning break
11h00 – J.A. Benn (McMaster University) Multiple Meanings of Buddhist Self-immolation, a Historical Perspective
11h30 – H. Stoddard (INALCO) Offering the Body in Buddhist tradition: Texts and Images
12h00-14h00 – Lunch

Chair: J. Benn

14h00 – F. Macé (INALCO) Immolation: the Japanese Case
14h30 – F. Cavard (EHESS) Self-immolation by Fire as a Conditional Martyrdom: the Case of Bouazizi in the Arab Revolutions
15h00 – M. Biggs (Oxford University) Self-immolation in Context, 1963-2012
15h30 – Morning break
16h00 – F. Jagou (EFEO) Chinese Policy Towards Tibet versus Tibetan Expectations for Tibet: A Divergence Marked by Self-Immolations
16h30 – Chung Tsering (INALCO) On Some Opinions about Self-immolation Expressed in Exile Tibetan Social Medias
17h00 – D. Berounsky (Charles University) The Kirti Monastery of Ngaba (Rnga ba): Its History and Recent Situation
17h30 – Discussion

Chair: M. Biggs

09h30 – T. Shakya (UBC) Self Immolation: Transforming the Language of Protest
10h00 – E. Sperling (Indiana University) Conversations and Debates: Chinese and Tibetan Engagement with the Broader Discussion of Self-Immolation in Tibet
10h30 – Morning break
11h30 – D. Avon (Université du Maine-Le Mans) Immolation in a Global Muslim Society. Revolt Against Authority, Transgression of Strict Religious Laws
12h00 – O. Grojean (Université Aix-Marseille) Self-immolations by Kurdish Activists in Turkey and Europe (1982-2011)
12h30-14h00 – Lunch

Chair: E. Sperling

14h00 – M. Lecomte-Tilouine (CNRS) Self-immolation by Fire and Other Forms of Suicide for Cursing, Harming or Protesting in Hindu Nepal and India
14h30 – R. Barnett (Columbia University) Political Self-Immolation by Tibetans as Exemplary Behaviour in China: The Lessons of Popular Culture
15h00 – L. Noyontsang (INALCO) Immolations in Tibetan Exile Poetry
15h30 – F. Robin (INALCO) Fire, Flames and Ashes. How Tibetan Poets Talk About Self-Immolations Without Talking About Them
16h00 – Discussion and closing
17h00-19h00 – Screening of “Red River Valley” (Hong Hegu) by Feng Xiaoning (China, 1997)

Venue: Collège de France, Salle 5,
Place Marcelin Berthelot, 75005 Paris
Métros: Cluny La Sorbonne, St-Michel, Odéon

Information: www.ephe.sorbonne.fr/actualites