Scholars from the humanities and social sciences have repeatedly faced the challenge of writing  history beyond the constraints and frameworks set through grand narratives and established historiographies. This conference addresses intentional processes of concealment and self-concealment with a focus on the history of Asian bondage, coercion and dependency, as this often implies unearthing and giving voice to self-concealed and invisibilized actors.

Bringing together international specialists on bondage and coercion in modern Asian history, this conference aims at furthering our understanding of how grand narratives are forged, while, simultaneously, bringing to light the potential of concealed agents to challenge these narratives.