Dave Maley, 4/15/2009
ITHACA, NY — One of India’s most significant writers of the post-independence era will give two presentations at Ithaca College. Kiran Nagarkar will read from and lead a discussion on his novel “Ravan and Eddie” on Tuesday, April 21, at 6:30 p.m. in Handwerker Gallery. On Wednesday, April 22, he will give a talk on “Violent and Nonviolent Resistance” at 7 p.m. in Klingenstein Lounge, Egbert Hall. Both events are free and open to the public.
Nagarkar writes in both English and Marathi, with his first novel, “Saat Sakkam Trechalis” (“Seven Sixes are Forty Three”), considered one of the milestones of Marathi literature. His highly controversial play “Bed-Time Story,” based partly on the “Mahābhārata” — one of the major Sanskrit epics of ancient India — ran into so many troubles that it was banned in India for 17 years.
“Ravan and Eddie” is a searing yet humorous critique of modern Bombay, providing insight into the social, political and above all religious diversity of India. Nagarkar’s most acclaimed novel, “Cuckold,” won the topmost literary honor in India, the Sahitya Akademi Award, in 2000.
Nagarkar’s Handwerker Gallery reading is sponsored by the Department of English. His presentation on “Violent and Nonviolent Resistance” is part of the “Chaos or Community? MLK and the Politics of Resistance” series sponsored by the Center for the Study of Culture, Race, and Ethnicity, which is a program of the Division of Interdisciplinary and International Studies.
For more information, visit http://www.ithaca.edu/cscre/discussionseries/.
Originally published in News Releases: Indian Novelist And Playwright Kiran Nagarkar To Give Two Presentations At Ithaca College.
