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Center for
South Asian Studies
University of
Michigan
Fall 2021
Newsletter
Letter from the Director
Dear Friends and Colleagues, The pandemic kept us from gather- We hope that as the COVID situation
ing in person, but the shift to virtual improves, we will again be able
I am delighted to welcome every-
events allowed many more people to welcome students to the U-M
one—students, community members,
from around the world to join in campus from affiliate institutions in
faculty and staff to the new academic
Center events. The 2019 annual UM India and Pakistan, especially the
year. While our campus returns to the
Pakistan conference on “Religious Indian Institute of Science Educa-
joys of something resembling the old
Landscapes” in April 2020 was tion and Research, Pune, and Habib
normal, we have to acknowledge the
canceled, but we were happy that our University in Karachi.
pandemic’s devastating impacts in
presenters could join us virtually a
the US and in South Asia, especially Again this year Center will provide
year later. The discussion centered
Contents in vulnerable communities. extra support for our graduate
on how religious practice has devel-
students brownbags, faculty-student
Letter from the Director 2 Let me first take the opportunity to oped in in South Asia in relation to
reading groups and other student-
Farewell to Jatin Dua 3 thank Jatin Dua for his excellent longstanding sacred geographies
led initiatives. In addition, we will
leadership over the past year as and networks, intersecting with mod-
Farewell to Josephine Tolin 3 director of the Center. Despite the ern identity formations in unusual
also be strengthening our academic
sharing program that provides K-12
Trautmann Honorary Lecture 4 challenges of the pandemic, Jatin and unexpected ways.
teachers and faculty members from
maintained the Center as a space
Datla Memorial Lecture 4 Our events this Fall will again be other higher education institutions
of vibrant exchange, expanding
Anti Caste Writing Conference 5 entirely virtual, but we hold out hope library resources and mentorship
participation in center activities to
that we can join together in person for developing South Asia-related
Michigan India Conference 5 people from around the world, even
curricula and research.
for Winter semester events. We
while those of us on campus were
U-M Pakistan Conference 6 look forward to an exciting speaker
not able to gather in person. I also In the pages that follow you’ll find
series, beginning on September 24th
Global Summer Institute 7 extend my thanks to Pinki Vaishnava more information on the Center’s
with a lecture from our very own col-
(Asian Languages and Cultures), activities over the past year as well
New Book Talk 7 league Joyojeet Pal in the School of
David Brick (Asian Languages and as those we have planned for the
South Asia Colloquium 8 Cultures), Madhumita Lahiri (English
Information on misinformation and
coming year. You’ll also read about
social media in India. The Thomas
Academic Writing Workshop 8 Language and Literature), for their research on and engagement with
Trautmann Honorary Lecture of Pre
continuing service on the Center South Asia from across U-M.
CSAS and MIIIE Consortium 9 Modern India will be given by Prof.
executive committee. I’m sorry to
Stephanie Jamison from Univer- I look forward to seeing you at
WHaLI Initiative Workshops 9 report that Josephine Tolin, our India
sity of California, Los Angeles, in upcoming events, virtual and in-
K-14 Workshops 10 Communication Specialist, is leav-
December. Our second endowed person, all of which are free and open
ing us. For the last three years, her
K-12 Teacher Fellow 11 lecture, the Kavita Datla Memorial to the public.
terrific articles, interviews, podcasts,
Lecture on South Asian History will
CSAS Film Series 11 and posts vividly covered all the Sincerely,
be given by Rama Mantena from
research and events connecting the
Faculty News 12 this University of Illinois Chicago Matthew Hull
university with India (See p. XX). This
in April. The Center will be hosting Director, Center for
New Faculty Q&A 13 fall she begins a Master’s of Fine
a virtual conference “In and Out of South Asian Studies
U-M – University of Puerto Rico Arts program in fiction at the Univer-
South Asia: Race, Capitalism, and Associate Professor,
Report 13 sity of Tennessee. While sad to see
Mobility” in December. In the spring, Department of Anthropology
her go, we wish her great success.
Race, Mobility & Capitalism 14 the Center will hold our annual U-M
Finally, I would also like to recognize
Library News 14 Pakistan conference in April fol-
the hard work of our dedicated Cen-
lowed by a May workshop, “Muslim
Graduate Student News 15 ter staff, especially our administrator,
Modernity in South Asia” Workshop.
Clemente Beghi, who make possible
Making a Gift to CSAS 15 All these events will bring scholars
our many activities.
based in South Asia and throughout
CSAS Events 16
the world. A detailed calendar for
these and other events is provided at
Cover painting: Bibi Hajra the end of the newsletter.
Editors: David Merchant, Clemente Beghi,
Josephine Tolin
2 Un iversity of M ich igan Center for South Asian Studi es • Fall 2021
Farewell to
Jatin Dua as the language initiative to work collaboratively
with our language faculty to create new pedagogical
A conversation with tools and resources as well as an outreach initiative
Josephine Tolin with the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center. None of
this would have been possible without the support
and resourcefulness of our staff at CSAS, especially
Clemente, Josie, and Shivalika and other colleagues
at the International Institute, many of whom I only
Josie: This past year has certainly been unique we were somehow able to do all this without a major, got to know virtually!
from a collaboration and leadership perspective. or even minor, technical glitch!
Can you discuss some of the challenges of direct- Josie: Do you have a favorite CSAS memory from
Josie: Can you describe, in detail, some of your the past year? Why is it your favorite?
ing the Center through a pandemic? Some of the
accomplishments as CSAS director?
bright spots? Jatin: The intellectual energy and community that
Jatin: I’ve been particularly committed to ensur- we were able to foster through our programing was
Jatin: One of the key challenges directing the ing that the Center continues to be a generative
Center this past year, especially a place like CSAS one of my favorite memories from this past year. In
recourse and intellectual home for South Asia. I am particular, I really enjoyed getting to work with our
which is built on a strong ethos of collaboration
thrilled that we’ve been able to sustain a number of student and faculty affiliates in organizing talks,
was trying to envision what collaboration looks like
international partnerships with institutions in South workshops, and conferences and witnessing lively
when we’re not all in the same place. There were
Asia throughout the pandemic as well as continue and engaging discussions. One particular moment
numerous programs that had to be put on hold such
key programing and outreach initiatives. really stands out for me which was our final event
as the Summer in South Asia Undergraduate Fel-
lowships (SiSA) and that was very disappointing for This past year we’ve been committed to being a for the academic year, the Kavita Datla Memorial
us and especially the students involved. At the same resource for graduate students, and undergraduate lecture. This year’s lecture was delivered by Prof.
time, distance and virtual planning did lead to some students through supporting numerous student- Muzzafar Alam, a former teacher of Prof. Datla and it
unexpected kinds of coming together. We were led initiatives and workshops. The shift to virtual was very clear that he was deeply affected to be giv-
able to spearhead numerous collaborative projects, programing also meant re-envisioning formats and ing a lecture in memory of his student. In addition to
including with other Centers at the International audiences and ensuring that our programing con- being an intellectual tour de force, what was so pal-
Institute. Our speaker series and conferences such tinues to remain accessible and engaging to audi- pable at the lecture even through the zoom screens
as the Pakistan Conference and the Fall conference ences in many different places. Our goal through was the love, generosity, and care that connected so
on Anti Caste Writing and Translation drew audi- all this was to help facilitate forms of community many who were attending the lecture. I was honored
ences from across the globe, including from South and collective thinking and being together in a year that Kavita’s family attended the event and that we
Asia creating a very dynamic and lively (virtual) where that has been elusive and difficult. Finally, we were able to create the space to come together and
intellectual community. A major bright spot was that were also able to launch some new initiatives such honor her scholarship and life.
Goodbye Josephine and podcasts about the amazing
research carried out by our faculty
Her experience at the Center has
helped her to develop and flourish
Josephine tolin joined the Center and the impressive achievements as a writer, and she is continuing on
for south asian studies as the india of our alumni, with the overall goal this path by pursuing her Master’s of
Communication specialist in June of of strengthening the connection Fine Arts in fiction at the University
2019, after graduating from lsa with between the university and india. of Tennessee.
majors in english and spanish.
it’s hard to select her best articles, as She will be dearly missed, as she has
she has kept everyone updated on she has written so many, but please been a great presence at the Center
all things related to india and the check out the following pieces if not just in terms of professionalism,
University of Michigan, managing you haven’t already: “amid global but also as an individual with a bright
the Center’s facebook and twitter Pandemic, students find alternative and friendly character. We wish her
accounts, and enriching the center- Modes of research” and “ishtyle, by all the best, and we hope to see her
related UM-india impact website Kareem Khubchandani, forthcoming name in the pages of magazines and
with a wide variety of articles, from University of Michigan Press.” literary journals in the future!
interviews,
3
Thomas R. Trautmann Honorary Lecture
The study and profession of his- “I joined the PhD Program at the University of
Cambridge in 1977. I received my doctorate in
tory is more vital now than ever. 1981, so I have been in the business, so to speak,
Consensus of memory is crucial for over forty years, and perhaps you could say
to the democratic functioning I’m heading for fifty. In that time, the historical
discipline has changed radically,” Guha said.
of nations.
The study and profession of history, Guha
“I’ve been at the University of Texas for seven years, explained, is more vital now than ever. He said
where, as Faulkner famously said, ‘The past is not consensus of memory is crucial to the democratic
dead. It’s not even passed,’” Guha said. “It’s only functioning of nations and smaller collective
Dr. Sumit Guha been a few years since statues of Confederate units like communities and organizations.
generals such as Robert E. Lee were taken down
“The past, memory, monuments--this is what I’ve
from the University of Texas campus--in the dead of
on Friday, January 19, dr. Sumit Guha, been reflecting on over the last couple of decades,
night, so as not to arouse the opposition of the kind
Professor, frances higginbotham Nalle Centennial more recently in the context of the President that
of crowd that, just a few weeks [before the lecture]...
Professorship in history, University of texas at has just left office, and the whole degradation
assembled and tried to storm the US capital.”
austin delivered this year’s virtual thomas r. of expertise, factuality, and memory that ensued
trautmann honorary lecture, titled “time, Mem- Guha’s evolution as a historian began in 1974 during his term. Broadly, the lecture [was] about
ory, oblivion, social frames, and the Production when he joined a master’s program at Jawaharlal collective memory, the ways in which communities
of Collective Pasts.” this timely lecture explored Nehru University. He said the lecture was an effort remember this sort of havoc, form an agreement or
the function of collective memory in both pre- to reflect on himself as a historian as well as the a consensus on the past, and how those collective
colonial south asia and the world at large. larger academic world. memories actually shape the community as it is.”
CSAS Kavita Datla Memorial Lecture
on Friday, April 16, dr. Muzaffar Alam, “discourse between these two sufi orders was
professor of south asian languages at the Univer- not new. But in the eleventh century, a kind of
sity of Chicago, delivered this year’s Kavita datla compromise emerged. a ‘true’ sufi was one who
Memorial lecture, titled “Muslim religious ideas always acted in accordance with how the jurist
and identities in Mughal North india.” alam’s projected the sharia,” alam said.
lecture explored Muslim identity as it has evolved
“in the thirteenth century, Jalal ad-din rumi is
over time, with a focus specifically on Mughal
reported to have said that he was one with all
North india and the religious doctrinal debates
seventy-three sects of islam. and when he was
between two major sufi orders, the Chishti and
abused by the follower of a particular school for
the Naqshbandi-Mujaddidi.
this statement, rumi reportedly smiled and replied,
“i feel honored to have been invited for this talk ‘i’m also in agreement with whatever you say.’”
in memory of Kavita,” alam began. “she opened Alam’s lecture explored Muslim Professor alam’s major publications include The
up new ways of thinking about histories of indian
secularism. i taught her at [Jawaharlal Nehru identity as it has evolved over Crisis of Empire in Mughal North India (1986,
New oxford india Perennial edition, 2013); The
University] JNU. she shared with me many of the time, with a focus specifically Languages of Political Islam in India: c. 1200–1800
things which relate to our questions of research
and also personal life. i cherish her memory.”
on Mughal North India. (2004); Indo-Persian Travels in the Age of Discovery:
1400-1800 and Writing the Mughal World: Studies in
alam went on to introduce the topic of his lecture, jurisprudence. The overarching question he posed: Political Culture (co-authored with sanjay subrah-
saying he wished to share some features of what constituted a “true” Sufi Muslim, as defined manyam, 2007 and 2013). We are delighted to have
the Mughal indian debate on sharia, or islamic by the Chishti and the Naqshbandi-Mujaddidi? had the occasion to host this prolific scholar.
4 Un iversity of M ich igan Center for South Asian Studi es • Fall 2021
Anti Caste Writing Circulation Michigan
Conference India
Conference
tamil with the goal of demystifying the linguistic
(and often sociohistorical) decisions a literary
translator must make. the series of multilingual the 12th Michigan india Conference,
workshops were coordinated with the depart- “Focusing on Stability and Change,”
ment of asian languages and Cultures and co- was held virtually throughout March 2021.
sponsored by the Center for south asian studies More than 450 alumni and professionals
and the language resource Center. from around the world participated in the
event, which featured some of the most
during the first workshop, “Marginal Perspectives
influential decision-makers and thinkers
on Publishing anti-Caste literature,” excerpts
surrounding india’s government, dynamic
from the work of writers like Urmila Pawar and
economy, and the indian consumer.
aruni Kashyap, as well as translators like arun
Mukherjee and Maya Pandit, were studied as a it consisted of 3 events: a panel discussion
segue into an ethical discussion about how to was with dr. anantha Nageswaran and Mr.
retain meaning as a literary translator when work- Neelkanth Mishra, moderated by Mr. gopal
ing from a source text that in itself expands upon srinivasan on the 2021 budget and the in-
a rich and complex history. dian economy in general; the keynote lecture
by Mr. d. shivakumar, moderated by ravi
the second workshop, “Building global soli-
Pendse, about the importance of stability and
darities in the twenty-first Century,” featured
change in india’s dynamic economy; and a
Literature Professor emerita and trans- speakers Perumal Murugan, Meena Kandasamy,
“fireside chat” featuring ambassador tim
lator Arun Mukherjee's public keynote Urmila Pawar, g.N. devy, and aniruddhan vasude-
roemer, moderated by dr. Madhumita lahiri,
van, who discussed their plurality of roles as
speech, “reading the americanized Joothan: the on why he believes that a strong relation-ship
translator’s Cringe” was held as a Zoom Webinar translators, publishers, editors, scholars, writers,
between the U.s. and india is crucial for
on friday, November 13th. Comparing the samya educators, and activists, drawing on their work
global security and prosperity.
Press and Columbia University Press editions of with women, dalits, buddhists, bahujans, adivasis,
her english translation of omprakash valmiki’s and dNts. the conversation around these roles
autobiography, Joothan, Mukherjee used side-by- investigated the place of literature--as well as
side PowerPoint slides to examine and reflect on its production and distribution--in anti-racism
the differences between the indian and american and anti-caste discussions and educations.
editions of her translation while explaining the source texts for this discussion included works in
decisions she made to protect the beauty of Joo- Marathi, tamil, hindi, and english.
than, which was originally written in hindi.
the third and final workshop, “anti-Caste literature
organized by the Center for south asian studies and its Challenges to embodied forms of Caste
and funded in part by a title vi federal grant and race,” focused on anti-caste literary pro-
from the Us department of education, Professor duction in hindi specifically. Using towards an
Mukherjee’s keynote served as both the source of aesthetics of dalit literature by sharankumar
inspiration and the launchpad for three workshop limbale (translated by alok Mukherjee) as a
sessions--one following her keynote on Novem- launchpad for talking about theoretical articulation
ber 13th, with the other two taking place on of dalit aesthetics and politics in literary studies,
November 14th and 20th, respectively--in which the session examined locations of caste-based
authors, translators and publishers discussed critique in hindi.
pre-circulated texts in english, hindi, Marathi and
5
2021 UM Pakistan Conference
the 10th Annual university of on the second day of the conference, Jatin
Michigan Pakistan Conference, 10th U-M Pakistan ConferenCe : dua (department of anthropology) and
entitled “religious landscapes,” was held religioUs LandsCaPes Zehra hashmi (departments of anthropol-
virtually this year from april 2-3. organized ogy and history) shared their welcoming
by the Center for south asian studies, the april 2-3, 2021 • center for south asian studies remarks. Next was the panel entitled,
please register here: https://umich.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYtdoGqrz4se9r0i-wXdY8r3ap8rjtute55
U-M Pakistan Conference is an initiative “Crossing islamic frontiers,” which show-
aimed at highlighting new research in cased papers by Neelam Khoja (yale Uni-
Pakistan while fostering conversations versity), Nosheen ali (New york University),
between academics, activists, and artists. and teren sevea (harvard divinity school).
this year’s theme used a multidisciplinary
in the first talk, “afghan spaces in early
approach to show how the relationships
Modern Pakistan,” Khoja challenged the
between religion, identity, historical net-
notion of afghan “diasporas” in south asia,
works, and sacred landscapes have shaped
explaining how afghan rulers and leaders
schools of thought in Pakistan.
created homesteads and burial sites in the
Jatin dua (department of anthropology) region throughout early modern history. in
and Brittany Puller (department of asian ali’s paper, “Mannkahat: Poetic Knowledge
languages and Cultures) offered opening Friday, april 2, 2021 11:15-11:45 Film-Screening Break Nosheen ali (Global Faculty-in-Residence
and shah abdul latif through sur,” she
remarks on the first day of the conference. 9:30-9:45 Opening remarks
9:45-11:15 panel 1: religious Thought
The Making of Teesri Dhun (2015),
Jo Range Sarange (2015), and Vadhai (2019)
at the Gallatin School, New York University),
“Mannkahat: Poetic Knowledge and Shah discussed the musical and performative
Abdul Latif through Sur”
and Tradition among differences 11:45-12:45 performing pieties
they were followed by the first panel, ali Usman Qasmi (Associate Professor of Claire pamment (Assistant Professor of
World Theatre, The College of William and
Teren Sevea (Assistant Professor of Islamic
Studies, Harvard Divinity School), “Pakistan
role of latif’s verses, acknowledging how
History, Lahore University of Management Dreams: Visions of Islamic Statehood from
“religious thought and tradition among Sciences), “One Nation, One ‘Id?: Controversies
About Moon Sightings in Pakistan”
Mary), “Performing Pieties in Pakistan’s
Transgender Rights Movement”
the East” poetic word-sounds act as a means of heal-
11:30-1:00 Keynote
Sherali Tareen (Associate Professor of
differences.” ali Usman Qasmi (lahore Religious Studies, Franklin and Marshall
College), “The Promise and Peril of Hindu-
SaTUrday, april 3, 2021
9:30-9:45 Opening remarks
Jamal Elias (Walter H. Annenberg Professor
of the Humanities and Professor of Religious ing, theatre, dialogue, and spiritual power
Muslim Friendship” Studies, University of Pennsylvania),
University of Management sciences), Simon Wolfgang Fuchs (Lecturer in Islamic and
9:45-11:15 panel 2: Crossing islamic
Frontiers
“Glimpsing History Through Literature's
Window: Religious Sentiments, Emotional
for women. sevea’s presentation, “Pakistan
Middle East Studies, University of Freiburg), Neelam Khoja (Inter-Asia Connections Styles, Punjabi Poets”
sherali tareen (franklin and Marshall Col- “Potentials of Periphery: How Pakistan’s
Religious Scholars Engage Global Islam”
Postdoctoral Associate at the Macmillan
Center, Yale University), “Afghan Spaces in dreams: visions of islamic statehood from
Early Modern Pakistan”
lege), and simon Wolfgang fuchs (Univer-sity the east,” examined how prominent Muslim
500 Church St, Ste. 400 Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1106 This conference is possible thanks to the support of the U.S. Department of Education Title VI grant, and the
of freiburg) all presented papers. intellectualists and activists from Malaya,
734.615.4059 csas@umich.edu ii.umich.edu/csas following units at the University of Michigan: Anthropology, Center for South Asian Studies, Center for World
CSAS Events: http://bit.ly/UMPakCon2020 Performance Studies, College of LSA, Global Islamic Studies Center, History, History of Art, Rackham Graduate
School, Residential College, Middle East Studies, and Women’s Studies.
The watercolor painting above is titled “Enflamed” and was painted by Bibi Hajra. Poster design: Hammond Design
Java, and sumatra imagined and propa-
Qasmi’s talk, “one Nation, one ‘id?:
gated a “progressive” and “genuine” islam.
Controversies about Moon sightings in Paki- This year’s theme used a multi-
stan,” highlighted contestations of sovereign this year’s keynote address by Jamal elias
power, religious power, and scientific rationality
disciplinary approach to show (University of Pennsylvania), “glimpsing his-
amongst the ulama and postcolonial state, with how the relationships between tory through literature’s Window: religious
a focus on Pakistan’s appropriation of islam for
religion, identity, historical sentiments, emotional styles, Punjabi Poets,”
its nationalization project. in tareen’s presenta- concluded the conference. in this lecture, elias
tion, “the Promise and Peril of hindu-Muslim networks, and sacred land- analyzed Punjabi and Persian works from sufi
friendship,” he discussed how twentieth-century scapes have shaped schools poets to examine how Muslim identities were
debates around cow slaughter and protection imagined and shaped historically. these poets
created competing views amongst various
of thought in Pakistan. participated in both Punjabi and Persian emo-
groups of indian Muslim scholars, a debate that tional communities, using linguistic registers to
and Mary, was held. The screening was followed
revealed both the anxieties and possibilities shape their messages, identities, and values.
by Pamment’s presentation, “Performing Pieties in
for hindu-Muslim friendship during the Khalifat
Pakistan’s Transgender Rights Movement.” In this This conference was made possible by the generous
Movement. fuchs’ paper, “the Potentials of
talk, Pamment discussed how the traditional per- support of the Pakistani Student Association, Ameri-
Periphery: how Pakistan’s religious scholars
formance practices of khwaja siras or hijras at both can Institute of Pakistan Studies, and a number of
engage in global islam” positioned Pakistan
Sufi shrines and homes negotiate multiple axes of units at the University of Michigan. This conference
at the forefront of religious thought in the con-
exclusion. Pamment further explored how perfor- was also funded in part by a Title VI federal grant
temporary islamic world, emphasizing how both
mances of piety offer opportunities for transgender from the US Department of Education.
sunni and shi’i ulama have contributed to global
activism amidst the pressures of reformist Islamic
debates and modern interpretations of islam.
movements in Pakistan. She incorporated her films
later, a screening of the film, vadhai (the gift) into the presentation by showing clips not just of
by Claire Pamment of the College of William Vadhai, but also Rang and Teesri Dhun.
6 Un iversity of M ich igan Center for South Asian Studi es • Fall 2021
School of Nursing Global New Book Talk
Reproductive and Sexual
Health Summer Institute Starting from this academic year Csas is
showcasing recent, ground-breaking publications
focused on contemporary south asia through a
series of book talks.
the first speaker of the series was ethiraj gabriel
dattatreyan, from the University of london depart-
ment of anthropology. his book, The Globally
Famil-iar: Digital Hip Hop, Masculinity, and Urban
Space in Delhi, was published in september 2020
with duke University Press.
CSAS joined the university of Michigan health policy with USAID’s Senior Maternal and
School of nursing for their 2021 global Newborn Health Advisor Deborah Armbruster.
summer institute, which took place May 11-13 The event concluded with a public panel discus-
in a virtual format, drawing attendees from 30 sion led by U-M School of Nursing faculty mem-
countries. bers reflecting on 2020 as the Year of the Nurse
and the Midwife, along with guest speakers from
focusing on the theme of “sexual reproductive
Haiti, Indonesia, Mexico and China.
health and rights for all,” this year’s agenda
included presentations, skills sessions, and More than 400 individuals
panel discussions examining the intersection
of research, practice, and advocacy in sexual
from 30 countries registered In his book, Dattatreyan traces how the rapid
and reproductive health in both local and global to attend this year’s virtual development of information and communication
technologies in India has created opportunities for
contexts. over the course of the institute, attend-
ees had the opportunity to learn about innova-
Summer Institute – the most young people to creatively explore their gendered,
tive practice, research, and policy trends while since the event began in 2017. classed, and racialized subjectivities in and
networking with practitioners, researchers, and through transnational media worlds. His ethnogra-
professionals from the U-M school of Nursing and “Global perspectives are not always presented phy focuses on a group of diverse young, working-
institutions around the globe. in a peer structure. The fact that people at- class men in Delhi as they engage with the African
tended the Summer Institute from all over the diasporic aesthetics and creative practices of hip
More than 400 individuals registered to attend
world not only as speakers, but as students hop. Dattatreyan shows how these aspiring b-boys,
this year’s virtual summer institute – the most
and participants, was unique and invigorating,” MCs, and graffiti writers fashion themselves and
since the event began in 2017. Keynote pre-
said Maddy Harner, a senior in the U-M School their city through online and offline experimenta-
sentations covered maternal health equity with
of Nursing’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing tions with hip hop, thereby accessing new social,
Birth detroit and Birth Center equity Co-founder
program. “It makes this experience much more economic, and political opportunities, while acting
leseliey Welch, sexual and reproductive health
personable. I can’t express how grateful I am to as consumers, producers, and influencers in global
indicators with sylvia s. hacker Collegiate
have had this opportunity.” circuits of capitalism. In so doing, Dattatreyan
Professor of Nursing and sexual health rob
outlines how the hopeful, creative, and vitally
stephenson, as well as maternal and newborn
embodied practices of hip hop offer an alternative
narrative of urban place-making in "digital" India.
7
Premodern South Asia Colloquium
During the Winter 2021 semester, CSAS
helped fund the inaugural Premodern south asia
Colloquium, a student-led initiative to create a
forum for graduate students interested in the
study of premodern south asian cultural histories
to convene and discuss salient works of scholar-
ship in the field. the Colloquium established an
interdisciplinary setting for graduate students
based in different departments throughout the
university to assemble and bring their diverse
scholarly perspectives to bear on the literature
that is actively shaping their disciplines.
Csas sponsored a Colloquium meeting where
participants met with dr. audrey truschke,
associate Professor and asian studies director at
rutgers Uni-versity in Newark, to discuss her new
monograph, The Language of History: Sanskrit
Narratives of Indo-Muslim Rule, which was
published in January of this year. U-M Professor
emeritus of history and anthropology, dr. thomas
r. trautmann, also kindly joined the group for a
presentation of new research, as well as a The Colloquium is a student-led initiative to create a forum for
conversation about his latest book, Elephants and
Kings: An Environmental History.
graduate students interested in the study of premodern South
graduate students who are interested in joining
Asian cultural histories to convene and discuss salient works of
the Premodern south asia Colloquium should scholarship in the field.
contact Jahnabi Chanchani (jahnabi@umich.edu)
and ross Bernhaut (bernhaut@umich.edu).
The Center for South Asian Studies
has been working in collaboration with
Academic Writing Workshop the Sweetland Center for Writing to offer
graduate students focusing on South
Asian studies an opportunity to learn
more about various aspects of academic
writing and publishing. The first work-
shop in this series, held in spring 2021,
focused on best approaches to transform
individual chapters of their dissertation
into scholarly articles. Similar work-
shops, focusing on dissertation writing
and grant writing are being planned for
Academic Year 21-22.
Illustration by Shivalika Kohli
8 Un iversity of M ich igan Center for South Asian Studi es • Fall 2021
Midwest Institute for WHaLI
International/Intercultural
Education Partnership This year, CSAS and the other NRCs hosted
at the International Institute held the 2020
World History & Literature Initiative workshop
titled “Pandemics and Power in World History &
Literature.”
Since 2008, the CSAS has been a strong
partner in providing support to community “Infectious disease,” historian William H. McNeill
college faculty affiliated with the Midwest Insti- asserted, “which antedated the emergence of
tute for International/Intercultural Education humankind, will last as long as humanity itself, and
(MIIIE) consortium. will surely remain, as it has been hitherto, one of
the fundamental parameters and determinants of
In particular, it has co-sponsored several week-long
human history.” The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic
curriculum workshops for community college fac-
confirms McNeill’s assertion, while also reminding
CSAS co-sponsored a ulty to develop curriculums on South Asia. These
us that human understanding of pandemic disease
curriculum workshop workshops are designed to provide exposure to
curriculum resources and ideas of how to infuse
is historically contingent. Ancient scholars argued
on “Global Norms, curriculum packets (modules) with various global
that “plague” emanated naturally from the gods for
mysterious reasons to test human will. Later schol-
Illustration by Shivalika Kohli
Values, and Identity” themes. Examples of global themes co-sponsored
ars might also blame disease on human causes,
by CSAS have been human rights, conflict and
in August 2021. cooperation, languages and culture, world food,
whereby religious and ethnic minorities, the poor, or
perceived enemies of society could be viewed to be
water, and energy issues, global interactions and
spreading or perpetuating disease. Regardless of
exchanges, poverty and inequality, environmental
origin and cause, humanity’s encounter with disease
stewardship, and global norms and values.
has also been, and will continue to be, shaped by
All workshops are interdisciplinary, interactive, and tailored to the curriculum needs of community political, social, cultural and economic power. Given
college faculty. Typically, the workshop participants are limited to fifteen faculty in order to provide how important pandemics have been in world his-
personal attention, quality programming, and strong focus on their professional interests and cur- tory, it is not surprising that we have a rich historical
riculum development that reflects the types of courses that these faculty teach on their campuses. and literary heritage capturing how pandemics have
affected peoples, communities, and the world.
A main objective of the workshops is to provide strategies and curriculum resources to enhance
their teaching by infusing their curriculum with a global theme, either focused on a geographic
region, like South Asia, or comparisons across two or more regions. A second objective is to encour-
age interdisciplinary instructional sharing and develop critical pedagogy.
The five-day workshops offer short-presentations (about 45 minutes) of expert faculty, followed by
extensive discussions, working groups, informal networking, extensive opportunities for interdisci-
plinary learning, and the development of curriculum plans.
Following the week-long workshops, the selected faculty will develop curriculum modules, receive
feedback and support from assigned mentors. The faculty are expected to finalize their curriculum
packets and implement them in the classroom (for pre-determined courses) the following academic
year. All faculty are expected to assess the curriculum work with their students and to report the
implementation in the following two years. The faculty developing the curriculum modules and their The World History and Literature Initiative’s
mentors receive modest stipends upon completion of their work, which are partially funded by the (WHaLI’s) three-day conference for secondary
Title VI program of the U.S. Department of Education. teachers focused on these issues, using examples
In May 2021, MIIIE and CSAS organized and offered a curriculum workshop for forty-four community drawn from different historical times and areas
college faculty. Following the workshop, the faculty were invited to submit proposals to develop cur- of the world. The symposium also illuminated
riculum modules with a focus on South Asia. challenges students face in learning such content,
explored ways teachers might meet those chal-
CSAS has co-sponsored a week-long curriculum workshop on “Global Norms, Values, and Identity,” lenges, and provided participants with relevant
which will take place in August 2021. Twelve faculty have been selected to participate and develop cur- resources that can be used in the classroom.
riculum modules by May 2022 and infuse them in their teaching starting with the fall 2022 semester.
9
K-14 Workshops
CSAS recently organized 3 educational
workshops for K-14 teachers in the spring/sum-
mer 2021. Attended by educators from all over the
state and country, workshops were held virtually,
as COVID disrupted the typical in-person format.
CSAS is a National Resource Center. These K-14
workshops are funded by the U.S. Department of
Education’s Title VI National Resource grant.
Something About Mary
On Mother’s Day, May 8, 2021, educators gathered
to discuss one of the most famous figures in
the world, the Virgin Mary, during the workshop
“Biblical Women Across Abrahamic Religions.”
One workshop participant exclaimed, using Mary
“as a tool to teach cultural/religious diffusion and
imperialism was my a-ha moment -- brilliant!”
Participants received a classroom-ready lesson
plan aptly titled “Something About Mary.”
east asian studies and associate Professor of his- asked to ‘smell, feel, remember, relate’ before the
tory at the U-M, described how spanish colonists odorants were revealed. Lively discussions ensued
strategically deployed the image of Mary to convert during a very ‘smelly’ session. One participant wrote
indigenous populations in the Philippines. enthusiastically, “I can’t *wait* to include smells
in my World Literature class! Students will be very
Jamie lee andreson, postdoctoral fellow at Penn
interested in learning through smells.”
state University’s africana research Center, dis-
cussed key concepts of syncretism across world Jatin Dua, Associate Professor of Anthropology
religions. lastly, darin stockdill, design at the U-M, discussed the long history of trade in
coordinator at the Center for education design, the Indian Ocean, made possible by the Monsoon
evaluation, and research (Ceder) at the UM winds. The presentation broached issues of owner-
school of educa-tion, concluded the workshop ship, control, colonialism, trade, migration, and
with strategies and resources for teaching about cultural exchange. Professor Dua also presented
syncretism through global representations of his research on maritime piracy along the East
Mary. African coast. An energetic Q&A followed during
which Professor Dua was asked to recount his
This teacher workshop was co-organized by: the
experiences in researching modern day pirates.
Center for Middle Eastern & North African
One teacher reflected this was a “reminder that
Studies, the Center for South Asian Studies, the
Swahili represents the cultural exchanges of trad-
Center for Southeast Asian Studies, and the
ing networks in the Indian Ocean.”
Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies.
La Virgen del Cerro, depicting the Virgin Mary as
Finally, Darin Stockdill, design coordinator at U-M’s
Rite Smells
Pachamama, circa 18th century Center for Education Design, Evaluation, and
on June 25, 2021, educators convened to partici-
Research (CEDER), led a pedagogical discussion
to kick off the program, ruth tsoffar, Professor of pate in “rite smells: a sensory exploration of the
on using project based learning, and sensory ex-
Comparative literature and Women's studies at historic trade of the indian ocean.”
periences. Educators received a classroom-ready
the U-M, discussed possibly the first example of
trained “nose” Michelle Krell Kydd led participant lesson plan ‘The Scent of History: How the Spice
surrogate motherhood in the hebrew tradition,
educators on a “scent flight” of eight plant-based Trade Connected the World.’
the story of abram’s wife sarai (sarah) and slave
essences from southeast asia, the Middle east
hagar. Juan Cole, richard P. Mitchell Collegiate This teacher workshop was co-organized by: the
and North africa, transforming the abstract nature
Professor of history at U-M, presented different Center for Southeast Asian Studies, the Center for
of smell into an articulated, live experience and
perspectives and interpretations of the virgin Middle Eastern & North African Studies, and the
teaching about the relationship between
Mary. deirdre de la Cruz, associate Professor of Center for South Asian Studies.
spirituality and smellscape in various rites and
south-
rituals. from a collection of anonymized scents,
10 U n i v e r s i tparticipants
y o f M were
ich igan Center for South Asian Studi es • Fall 2021K-12 Teacher Fellow
Immigration in Detroit and Michigan “The CSAS Teacher Fellowship was a rewarding experience and a wel-
The Center for Education, Design, Evaluation, come opportunity to learn, despite the pandemic and social distancing. The
and Research collaborated with local educators- Center’s diverse selection of online lectures and films introduced me to new
-Fatima Abdullah, Dearborn Public Schools; dimensions of South Asia’s history and culture, and it deepened my appre-
Laura Rebollar, César Chávez Academy; and Puja ciation for the region’s complexities. Virtual discussions of Muslim identities
Mullins, Lincoln Consolidated Schools--in order in Mughal North India, South Asian immigrants’ historical integration into
Amy Perkins
to design a lesson plan that explores immigration American society, and the role of Hip Hop in India’s cosmopolitan spaces
and cultural diversity in Michigan. inspired me to find new ways to connect my World History curriculum to my students’ interests. For
example, my students at Lakeshore High School explored Hip Hop in Delhi and Kashmir, and then
connected the lyrical content and musical styles of these performers with Hip Hop artists in the Middle
East, North Africa, and the United States. Our class investigation revealed how young people through-
out the world use Hip Hop to express their individual/collective identities, promote social justice, and,
at times, inspire political protest.
Ultimately, my partnership with CSAS culminated in the creation of a curriculum module that explores
South Asia’s political borders and India’s tenuous relationship with its neighbors. The module chal-
lenges students to examine the historical context in which borders are created. The students then
connect this context with current crises, exploring how the deceptively simple lines on a political map
actually hint to incredibly complex developments and ever-evolving realities.
I look forward to traveling to India and Nepal in 2022, and I remain grateful to CSAS for the opportunity
to learn during a particularly unusual school year. ”
Immigrants celebrate after being sworn in as new U.S.
citizens in a ceremony at Comerica Park in Detroit.
The lesson focused on immigrant communities in
Southeast Michigan, using background readings,
data analysis, and maps. Learning objectives
Film Series
CSAS continued its collaboration with the
included identifying ‘push and pull’ factors of im- South Asia Film Festival (Kathmandu, Nepal)
migration, identifying trends by analyzing 20th c. making their award-winning documentaries
data, and using maps. available for our audience to view through the
U-M streaming platform.
Driving questions were:
• Why do people leave their homes and immigrate During the Fall Term, the focus was on the
(move from one country to another) to new places? 2020 winners, while during the Winter Term,
• How has immigration shaped different communi- there was a retrospective on the best South
–
Asian documentaries of the past 10 years with
ties in Michigan? Janani’s Juliet – India
regards to music. Memoirs of Saira and Salim – India
The goal of the lesson is for students to be able to
answer the above questions and express personal CSAS also organized two talks, one on Friday, And What is the Summer Saying – India
experiences about the topic in a safe space. They October 9th with Mauktik Kulkarni, actor and Muktir Gaan (Song of Freedom) – Bangladesh
will learn why immigration is essential to American producer of Riding on a Sunbeam, and with Bheda Ko Oon Jasto...In Search of a Song – Nepal
history and way of life. Munmun Dhalaria, director of Covid Response – Miss Nikki and the Tiger Girls – Myanmar
A Himalayan Story. The Journey Within – Pakistan
We Have Not Come Here to Die – India On and Off Records – India
Scratches on Stone – India Chalo Hamara Desh – India
The Winter Tap – Nepal Rasan Piya – India
Badshah Lear – India Khayal Darpan – India
In Fact – India, 51 mins Nusrat Has Left the Building...But When? –
Chai Darbari – India Pakistan
Facing the Dragon – Afghanistan Kaalam – India
11Faculty News
Pinderjeet Gill, Punjabi and Technology at an
language faculty, was International Online Work-
awarded the 31st golden shop on “The Dynamics of
apple award, as well as the Socio-Cultural Polarization:
Collegiate lecturer award, Role of Information & Com-
for her excellent teaching at munication Technologies,”
the University of Michigan. organized by the Indian
Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, India on
Csas faculty affiliate John May 8th, 2021.
Ciorciari published a new
book entitled sovereignty
Joyojeet Pal spent his
year at Microsoft research
sharing in fragile states
on leave, setting up a group
with stanford University
Press. it examines inter- to study social Media and
national interventions to society in Bangalore. his
promote the rule of law team worked on various
through mechanisms, projects examining political
including international speech, polarization, misinformation, and on gig
policing missions, hybrid work in India. On politics, they published scholarly
criminal tribunals, and work on the polarization of politicians and journal-
Bangalore, Chennai (Madras institute of develop-
mixed anti-corruption com- ists on Twitter, on hate speech, on COVID-related
ment studies; raja Muthaiah research library)
missions. in May, he gave a misinformation, and on conspiracy theories sur-
and delhi (india international Centre; ashoka
public lecture hosted by the rounding the death of actor Sushant Rajput. On the
University; JNU). since then he has published an
holocaust Memorial Center ‘future of work,’ his team wrote on labor conditions
article, “Megasthenes on the military livestock of
on "Preventing Cambodia's Genocidal Past from in app-based driving, and on the changing nature
Chandragupta” (Comparative studies in society
Becoming Afghanistan's Future." The talk exam- of beauty and care services with the onset of app-
and history. 63(2):339-365) and “the aryan ques-
ined the dangers associated with the withdrawal of based work platforms.
tion,” a chapter in a festschrift for romila thapar
US and NATO forces from the country and possible
(Questioning paradigms, constructing histories:
policy responses.
ed. Kumkum roy and Naina dayal, 261–75. New
Jatin Dua, former interim
director of the Center
delhi: aleph). forthcoming are a chapter on
Csas faculty affiliate for South Asian Studies,
“democracy in ancient india”, (for The Cambridge
Stephen Rush completed History of Democracy), “forest people in the
currently director of the
a book on anti-racist Music Interdepartmental Program
Kaut.ili-ya arthaśa-stra” (festchrift for Christopher in Anthropology and History
theory, in collaboration with Minkowski), and “War elephants, forest people”
many indian musicians from (for a conference volume). and an associate professor
Mysore (india). the book of anthropology at U-M, was
pushes the scope of alC faculty Syed ekhteyar Ali, Pinderjeet awarded the 2020 Elliott P. Skinner Book Prize by
the Fundamentals of Music Theory to include all the Association for Africanist Anthropology for his
Gill, Faijul hoque, Arvind Mandair, and
people, and hopes to be as inclusive as possible book titled, Captured at Sea: Piracy and Protection
in terms of race and gender. A class will be offered
Vidya Mohan, together with Pi Christi in the Indian Ocean. Published by the University
using a prototype of the book - Experiential Music Merrill, associate Professor of south asian of California Press, Dua’s book investigates piracy
(PAT 150) in Winter of 2022. literature and Postcolonial theory, received a in the Indian Ocean. The Indian Ocean sets the
NiNi grant for their project “decolonizing the
Curriculum in south asian languages and geographical context for his work, which spans
Emeritus Professor Thomas Trautmann, Cultures Courses.” both land and sea, and connects the reader to a
at the beginning of 2019, gave the KTM Hegde vast range of actors concerning modern-day piracy.
dr. Swapnil Rai, from the department of film,
Memorial Lecture in Baroda, honoring the memory Such actors include Indian ship captains, Somali
tv and Media, delivered a keynote on Political
of a gifted archaeologist who taught at the M.S. pirates, South African mercenaries, and British
Mediations through the lens of Popular Culture
University of Baroda. Thereafter, he gave lectures in insurance agencies.
12 Un iversity of M ich igan Center for South Asian Studi es • Fall 2021New Faculty Q & A UM-UPR Report
Retika Adhikari
Incoming Assistant Profes-
sor in the Department of
American Culture
CSAS: Tell us about your research
interests and what brought you to
the University of Michigan.
Professor Adhikari: My research
interests include refugee studies,
transnational migration, critical
humanitarian studies, and the postindustrial United States. My work this year CSAS again participated in the seventh annual joint Uni-
specifically examines the U.S.-funded project of resettlement of Bhutanese versity of Puerto rico and University of Michigan symposium. as part of the
refugees, a Nepali-speaking ethnic minority from Bhutan, in upstate New effort to create sustainable links with institutions serving underrepresented
York. By focusing on how Bhutanese refugees make sense of their arrival in populations, Csas and several other National resource Centers at the
the U.S., I explore the links between South Asian encampment and Rust Belt international institute have built a partnership with the Colleges of educa-
America, the limits of the global refugee regime, and the contradictions of tion, humanities, and social sciences at the University of Puerto rico. there
American refuge. are no title vi National resource Centers on the island of Puerto rico; there
are also no hispanic serving institutions in the state of Michigan. thanks
I am here at the University of Michigan to start my job as an assistant
to deep existing ties between our institutions, we are able to extend access
professor in the Department of American Culture this Fall.
to area studies and language resources at U-M to faculty and students at
CSAS: Have you discovered any good secrets about Ann Arbor yet? UPr, to in-service teachers in the region around UPr, and to their K-12
students. each year, the international institute sends mixed delegations of
Professor Adhikari: I am beginning to discover elaborate walking/hiking
area studies experts to UPr for a K-16 professional and curriculum develop-
trails that are all located within the city limits of Ann Arbor and am super
ment symposium and workshop organized around topics that cross multiple
excited to explore them.
disciplines and allow representation from different world regions. the annual
CSAS: What will you be teaching this year and what would you like to symposium aims to create a space in which graduate students from both
accomplish in your spare time? universities can share innovative ways of studying concepts, as well as
intersections with other categories and topics.
Professor Adhikari: This fall, I am excited to offer a new course: AMCULT/
ASIANPAM 204 “New Immigrants and the Rust Belt.” The course is a critical one advantage of hosting the event virtually is
introduction to postindustrial cities in the Great Lakes region, which we col-
loquially call the Rust Belt. The class will explore Rust Belt cities like Detroit, that this year has the “largest and most inter-
Buffalo, and Cleveland through the lens of recently arrived immigrants and disciplinary cohort of graduate students yet.”
read a range of anthropological, historical, and urban studies texts. Through
concepts like predatory inclusion, austerity urbanism, nativism, and so on, like many events at the ii in the past year, this year’s summer 2021 Cur-
the class will examine how immigrants navigate, contest, and inherit the riculum design Program focusing on global health has shifted to a virtual
Rust Belt’s uneven development, structural violence, and systemic racism. sphere. one advantage of hosting the event virtually is that this year has the
“largest and most interdisciplinary cohort of graduate students yet” accord-
In my spare time, I am looking forward to getting to know refugee communi- ing to laCs Program Manager alana rodriguez. this year’s theme on global
ties and/or organizations in and around Ann Arbor as well as health is particularly salient to recent events and as a result, students from
Metro Detroit. all across disciplinary boundaries are participating. representing Csas,
Janaki Phillips, a Phd candidate in sociocultural anthropology, collaborated
with other participants to put together a lesson plan for a high school history
teacher interested in teaching about alternative healing practices rooted in
different spiritual systems from around the globe. she will also give a pre-
“The class will explore Rust Belt cities like sentation on some initial findings on her new research project on how tarot
readers in Mumbai are negotiating the uncertainty of the pandemic through
Detroit, Buffalo, and Cleveland through the lense of maintaining spiritual health.
the lens of recently arrived immigrants.”
13CSAS In and Out
of South Asia:
Race, Capitalism,
and Mobility
Illustration by Shivalika Kohli
What does mobility mean in immobile as far afield as Malacca and New England, has out of South Asia. In particular, we are interested in
times? global pandemics, surveillance regimes, emerged from this transregional turn, providing new asking how a focus on things/people/ideas/ that
and border fences seemingly engender old and vocabularies for understanding polity, economy, and move “in and out” might help conceptualize new
new forms of captivity and incarceration throughout sociality in South Asia and beyond. ways of imagining and engaging South Asia and
south asia. at the same time, analytical and con- the methodologies and concepts through which
In December 2021, CSAS will be hosting an interna-
ceptual frames for studying the region have sought to study the region. We are especially interested in
tional conference on mobility, race, and capitalism in
to break out of the gilded cage of methodological participants that explore the histories and futures of
and out of South Asia. This conference aims to bring
nationalism and embrace regional and transregional race and capitalism. This event aims at building on
together a set of scholars and practitioners who are
spatial units such as the recent turn towards inter and setting new research and intellectual agendas
thinking across scale and time to explore the par-
asia, africa-asia, and the indian ocean. a rich and that befuddle the boundaries of land/sea as well as
ticular tension of mobility and immobility in shaping
productive scholarship, emphasizing the deep and divisions between academic and public scholarship.
conceptual and methodological itineraries in and
enduring connections that link south asia to places
library news
due to the pandemic, this last year has been These sources are regularly updated with the most 3) if you have any questions or concerns please
a very challenging one for the library, including the recent information. feel free to contact me, Jeff Martin (jeffmart@
south asia collection. in spite of many difficulties we umich.edu). i am always happy to assist people
2) The HathiTrust Emergency Temporary Access
were able to continue providing services for the with inquiries but also will gladly resolve (or
Service (ETAS) ended on August 23, 2021. After
university community. since things are still in flux at least try to) any problems you might have in
that, you'll be able to borrow all of the books in our
i’d like to highlight a few salient points: accessing and/or obtaining materials. also, i am
circulating collection, and you will no longer be
available for research consultations, bibliographic
1) the library homepage (http://lib.umich.edu) able to access the full text of copyright protected
instruction, and any other library-related concerns.
gives regular updates about services. two perti- books in HathiTrust. Interlibrary Loan services (ILL)
nent sections on the homepage are labelled “Mov- are also in full swing for additional materials that
ing toward fall semester” and “onsite services.” you might need.
14 Un iversity of M ich igan Center for South Asian Studi es • Fall 2021You can also read
