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Renting Wombs and the Question of "Labour": Thinking through the New Surrogacy Bill

Renting Wombs and the Question of "Labour": Thinking through the New Surrogacy Bill

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Renting Wombs and the Question of "Labour": Thinking through the New Surrogacy Bill
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<strong>CENTRE FOR WOMEN'S STUDIES, JNU</strong> a Seminar Followed by Film Screening and Discussion of Can We See the Baby Bump Please? Seminar by <strong>Arathi P.M.</strong> (Associate Fellow, Council for Social Development, Delhi) <strong>Renting Wombs and the Question of "Labour":  Thinking through the New Surrogacy Bill</strong> The categories such as production, reproduction, labour and work have become extremely complex in the contemporary time, especially under the historical conditions of globalisation and the development of new reproductive technologies. The interpretations of these terms are central to the present understanding of surrogacy in different societies. From an empirical experience, the presentation will discuss the narratives of the surrogates from the field work Dr. Arathi P.M. has conducted at in vitro fertilization(IVF) clinics in Kerala exploring how surrogates conceptualise "labour" and reproductive "labour". In contemporary India, the social location of surrogates is critical in differing conceptualisations of surrogacy. While this has to be the starting point for analysis, it cannot be the end. Is a non- exploitative altruistic surrogacy possible in a class-caste divided, patriarchal society? How can the transformative potential of technologies and legal regulation of it benefit the women who are the most exploited in the triad of contracting couple- surrogate baby - and the surrogate mother? The presentation will focus on the context and the politics of the new proposed surrogacy law in India and the new dilemma and challenges emerging in the field of research and practice of surrogacy. <strong>Film Screening and Discussion with Surabhi Sharma (Director)</strong> <strong>Can We See the Baby Bump Please?</strong> 2012/ 49 mins Routine Skype conversations with the parents of the child growing in her womb does not make the surrogate's condition less alienating. This often exploitative and stigmatised labour of the marginalised woman is the keystone of the rapidly expanding fertility industry. The global reach of medical tourism and commercial surrogacy spawns a range of clinics and practices across big cities and small towns in India. Anonymous, often with limited choice, woman's labour is yet again pushed into the background. A whiff of immorality, the absence of regulation and the erasure of the surrogate's experience collude to produce a climate of callousness. This film meets with surrogates, doctors, law firms, agents, and family in an attempt to understand the context of surrogacy in India. <strong>Date: 27th September 2016</strong>  

A warm welcome to the modified and updated website of the Centre for East Asian Studies. The East Asian region has been at the forefront of several path-breaking changes since 1970s beginning with the redefining the development architecture with its State-led development model besides emerging as a major region in the global politics and a key hub of the sophisticated technologies. The Centre is one of the thirteen Centres of the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi that provides a holistic understanding of the region.

Initially, established as a Centre for Chinese and Japanese Studies, it subsequently grew to include Korean Studies as well. At present there are eight faculty members in the Centre. Several distinguished faculty who have now retired include the late Prof. Gargi Dutt, Prof. P.A.N. Murthy, Prof. G.P. Deshpande, Dr. Nranarayan Das, Prof. R.R. Krishnan and Prof. K.V. Kesavan. Besides, Dr. Madhu Bhalla served at the Centre in Chinese Studies Programme during 1994-2006. In addition, Ms. Kamlesh Jain and Dr. M. M. Kunju served the Centre as the Documentation Officers in Chinese and Japanese Studies respectively.

The academic curriculum covers both modern and contemporary facets of East Asia as each scholar specializes in an area of his/her interest in the region. The integrated course involves two semesters of classes at the M. Phil programme and a dissertation for the M. Phil and a thesis for Ph. D programme respectively. The central objective is to impart an interdisciplinary knowledge and understanding of history, foreign policy, government and politics, society and culture and political economy of the respective areas. Students can explore new and emerging themes such as East Asian regionalism, the evolving East Asian Community, the rise of China, resurgence of Japan and the prospects for reunification of the Korean peninsula. Additionally, the Centre lays great emphasis on the building of language skills. The background of scholars includes mostly from the social science disciplines; History, Political Science, Economics, Sociology, International Relations and language.

Several students of the centre have been recipients of prestigious research fellowships awarded by Japan Foundation, Mombusho (Ministry of Education, Government of Japan), Saburo Okita Memorial Fellowship, Nippon Foundation, Korea Foundation, Nehru Memorial Fellowship, and Fellowship from the Chinese and Taiwanese Governments. Besides, students from Japan receive fellowship from the Indian Council of Cultural Relations.