 |
RSC Insights
RSC Roundtables
Keynote Speech
Salman Rushdie
RSC Study and Book Clubs
Exhibits
Public Lectures and Discussions
Film
Community Receptions
Winter 2003 Course Offerings
Salman Rushdie
“What is freedom of expression? Without the freedom to
offend, it ceases to exist.” —Salman Rushdie
Salman Rushdie remains arguably one of the most celebrated and controversial
authors of our time. He has used much of his writing as a platform to
explore identity, history, and religion, often recapitulating his ideas
into contemporary literary forms of fantasy, myth-making, and magical
realism. His Indian roots, English upbringing, and complicated public
persona have left this author with lucid observations on what it means
to live in contemporary society. As part of The Michigan Residency, Rushdie
will be the artist-in-residence for a number of educational events, candidly
engaging in public dialogue on topical themes related to his work and
the production of Midnight’s Children.
PUBLIC INTERVIEW
“Indian History, Politics and the Making of Midnight’s
Children”
Tuesday, March 11, 7:00pm
Rackham Auditorium, 915 E. Washington St.
Rushdie interview with Ashutosh Varshney, U-M Associate Professor of
Political Science and Director of the Center for South Asian Studies.
Although Salman Rushdie is well known for his literary works, he is also
a thoughtful and opinionated observer in many other areas of inquiry.
From the media, intellectual freedom, and free speech, to politics, religion,
and family life, Rushdie always seems to have something crucial to say.
Ashutosh Varshney, author of the recent publication Ethnic Conflict
and Civic Life: Hindus and Muslims in India, will engage Rushdie in
these subjects and the RSC’s new stage adaptation of Rushdie’s
Booker Award-winning novel, Midnight’s Children.
A UMS collaboration with U-M Center for South Asian Studies and International
Institute.
PUBLIC INTERVIEW and READING
“The Literary Rushdie”
Wednesday, March 12, 11:00am–12:30pm
Rackham Auditorium, 915 E. Washington St.
Salman Rushdie interview with Gauri Viswanathan, Class of 1933 Professor in the Humanities and Director of the Southern Asian Institute at Columbia University. Program will be introduced by U-M President Mary Sue Coleman. Outside literary circles, Salman Rushdie is probably most famous for
his book The Satanic Verses (1988). But he was an accomplished
author long before that book brought him international notoriety. His
many fiction and non-fiction publications include Step Across This
Line (2002), Midnight’s Children (1980), Shame
(1983), and Fury (2001), to name a few. Noted Rushdie literary
expert Guari Viswanathan (author of Masks of Conquest: Literary Study
and British Rule in India (1989), among other titles) will talk with
Rushdie about his body of work. Rushdie will also read selections from
his work.
A UMS collaboration with the U-M Department of English Language and Literature,
the U-M Center for South Asian Studies, and International Institute.
INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM
“Knowing South Asia: Reflections on the World
of Salman Rushdie”
Wednesday, March 12, 1:30–4:30pm
Rackham Auditorium, 915 E. Washington St.
This international symposium will elaborate on the complex links between
nation, religion, and diversity in the writings of Salman Rushdie. Topics
will include a portrait of South Asia after the partition; Rushdie and
the Indian Diaspora; Rushdie and Pakistan; Rushdie and South Asian and
Middle Eastern Muslims; and the impact of Rushdie’s works on Indian
and Pakistani writers of his generation.
Panelists:
•Juan Cole, Professor of History at U-M and author of Sacred Space
and Holy War: the Politics, Culture, and History of Shi’ite Islam
•Sunil Khilnani, Professor of Political Science and Director of the
South Asia Program at Johns Hopkins University and author of The Idea
of India
•Shashi Tharoor, Executive Assistant to Kofi Annan, the Secretary
of the United Nations, and author of India: From Midnight to the Millennium
•Husain Haqqani, Visiting Scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, D.C., advisor to prime ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, and former Pakistani ambassador to Sri Lanka
•Sara Suleri Goodyear, Professor of History at Yale University
•Ashutosh Varshney, Associate Professor of Political Science and
Director of the Center for South Asian Studies at U-M and author of Ethnic
Conflict and Civil Life: Hindus & Muslims in India
Moderator: Daniel Herwitz, Mary Fair Croushore
Professor of Humanities and Director of the Institute for the Humanities
at U-M.
For more information, contact the U-M Center for South Asian Studies
at 734-764-0352 or visit
the Current Affairs page of their website.
A UMS collaboration with U-M Center for South Asian Studies, Institute
for the Humanities, International Institute, Office of the Vice President
for Research, and the Center for World Performance Studies.
back to top
|
|
