Prof. A.K. Awasthi is the Professor of English in Dr. H.S.Gour University, Sagar, Madhya Pradesh. The paper presented by him in the M.B. Emeneau Centenary International Conference on South Asian Linguistics is titled "Aesthetics or Deconstruction-Which can Survive?"

           This paper raises many questions on philosophical values regarding deconstruction and aesthetics, stating that deconstruction's basic problem is to identify individuality itself while aesthetics aims at perfect identity of intuition expression.

           Discussing the problems of deconstruction, Prof. Awasthi regards it as a practice, an analysis of all the hidden assumptions that are implicit in a concept. He states that an affirmation of difference is the affirmation of the principle of nature. He stresses this point of view by quoting the contrasting postulations by Miller, Derrida, Husserl and Heidegger. The fundamental problem of deconstruction, according to him is that there is no escape outside tradition. He says that the whole activity of deconstruction is an exercise to achieve the union of distinct and opposite, subject and object, vibration and recognition and knowledge without imagination and knowledge with imagination.

           In contrast to this, aesthetics or art is the expression of the highest enjoyment of self-centered bliss. He says that the universe alone is complete art and its creator, the perfect artist and asserts that the human language is inadequate to reveal the truth coming out of such experience. Thus, he says, that the Indian aesthetics aims at discovering 'Satchitanand' in art or the over powering beauty of expression in literature.

           In conclusion, while analyzing the question of survival of aesthetics and deconstruction, Prof. Awasthi provides sufficient evidence to prove that aesthetics is the one that survives as the human being basically cares for the unity of the whole and is in search of love, sense, wisdom and peace.

           In the discussion that followed the session, chaired by Prof. Hans Henrich Hock, Prof. Venkat Rao raised a question on the necessity on deconstruction and Prof. Malshe observed that deconstruction is needed to view the other traditions in Indian aesthetics. In reply to these queries Prof. Awasthi replied that his aim was not to oppose deconstruction, but his whole concern is to see pitfalls in it; though deconstruction is valid, the drawbacks were obvious. Prof. Awasthi emphasized that deconstruction lead us to infinite but life is not infinite or endless.