Ithaca College

Amanullah De Sondy, Assistant Professor of World Religions, took his South Asian Religions: Gender, Sexuality and the Body class to Cornell University on Wednesday 5th May to hear a public presentation by Professor Iftikhar Dadi, Assistant Professor in the Department of History of Art & Visual Studies, as he launched his new book on ‘Modernisms and the Art of Muslim South Asia’ and a private gathering with Sorayya Khan to discuss her recently published novel, ‘Five Queen’s Road’.

Dadi’s academic book ‘traces the emergence of the modern and contemporary art of Muslim South Asia in relation to transnational modernism and in light of the region's intellectual, cultural, and political developments.’  Sorayya Khan’s novel ‘weaves family saga and national history’, in the context of the partition of India and Pakistan, on ‘characters who battle memories and each other alike’. 

Gregory Miller (Psychology and Philosophy/Religion Major) summarised his views on the meetings, “just lovely - both speakers and their respected works raised the question of grappling with internal and external forces, whether it be the global climate for modern art or the issues of local politics.  Both offered an interesting, creative and colorful perspective into the resulting struggles of citizens to reconcile the similarly fractioning of identities.”