FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 21, 2006
Contact: Joshua Hollis
(662) 329-7119

MUW International Series explores Indian subcontinent
 

COLUMBUS, Miss. – The 2006-2007 Mississippi University for Women International Series began this week with its first lunchtime lecture series on Wednesday. This year’s area of study is the Indian subcontinent, which includes the countries of Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

Dr. Ghazala Irfan, MUW’s first Fulbright visiting specialist, will make a significant contribution to this year’s program. Dr. Irfan is from Lahore University of Management Sciences (Lehore, Pakistan) and will arrive at MUW in October, where she will be available to talk with the community.

She will be here for six weeks as part of the Fulbright program “Direct Access to the Muslim World,” which was started after Sept. 11, 2001, to bring scholars to the West to help foster relations between the West and the Muslim world. MUW prevailed over approximately 120 schools to get Dr. Irfan.

According to Dr. Thomas G. Velek, International Series director and associate professor of history for the College of Arts and Sciences, Dr. Irfan is the main reason this year’s series is focusing on the Indian subcontinent; however, he noted the series would have eventually focused on that region.

“Pakistan is one of our closet allies in the war on terrorism, and India is our biggest trade partner,” Velek said, adding that jobs are being outsourced to India constantly. “This is an area that needs to be studied.”

Velek said he is proud of MUW’s commitment to international education.

As with past sessions, this year’s series will contain a monthly lunchtime lecture, a foreign film series and several other special events. “There’s thought-provoking things there, but there are fun things too,” he said.

The lunchtime lectures, film series and special events are free and open to the general public. For more information, contact Velek at tvelek@muw.edu or 329-7386.

A detailed schedule of events is listed below:

Lunchtime Lecture Series:

The lunchtime lecture series is held the third Wednesday of each month at noon in Painter Hall, room 209 unless otherwise indicated. Those attending may bring lunch. Lectures are free and open to the public.

 

Oct. 18:

"Women and Islam: A Philosophical Approach"—Dr. Ghazala Irfan, visiting Fulbright Scholar of Lahore University of Management Sciences, Pakistan.

Oct. 26:

Special Event: “Can Islam and the West Co-Exist?”—Dr. Ghazala Irfan, visiting Fulbright Scholar of Lahore University of Management Sciences, Pakistan. This event will be presented in cooperation with the Ina E. Gordy Honors College. It will begin at 6 p.m. in the Parkinson Hall Nissan Auditorium.

Nov. 15:

"What Happened to the Lessons of Ghandi?"—Dr. Thomas G. Velek, MUW International Series director and associate professor of history for the College of Arts and Sciences.

 

Film Series:

The film series will begin Thursday, Sept. 28. All films shown are free and open to the public. Films will be shown at the Southern Women's Institute on the MUW campus unless otherwise noted. The film series is financially assisted by the Southern Women's Institute.
 

Sept. 28:

"Earth"—Introduced by Dr. Kim Whitehead, MUW instructor for the Department of Literature, Language and Philosophy.

6 p.m., Painter Hall, room 113

"Earth" is the second film in Deepa Mehta's controversial trilogy. Set in the sweeping social upheaval of 1947 India, the film begins in Lahore before India and Pakistan became independent. It is a cosmopolitan city, depicted by the coterie of working class friends who are from different religions. The movie chronicles the fate of this group and the maddening religious divides that sweep the city as the partition of the two countries is decided and Lahore is given to Pakistan. "Earth" is a devastating human drama in which desire unfolds into a stirring tale of love and betrayal. (India, 1998)

Oct. 20:

"Khamosh Pani: Silent Waters"—Introduced by Dr. Ghazala Irfan, visiting Fulbright Scholar

6 p.m., Southern Women's Institute

Set in a small Pakistani village in 1979, "Silent Waters" follows widowed family matriarch Ayesha (Kirron Kher) as she struggles under President General Zia-ul-Haq's martial law. In a few months the country will become a Muslim state. Her teenage son Saleem is encouraged by his wealthy girlfriend to get a job. However, he ends up hanging out with a bunch of Muslim fundamentalists and causing trouble for the Sikh pilgrims. Meanwhile, Ayesha remembers secrets from her past awakened by the arrival of the Sikh pilgrim Jaswant (Navtej Johar). “Silent Waters” won the Golden Leopard award at the 2003 Locarno International Film Festival. (Pakistan, 2003)

Nov. 13:

"Mississippi Masala"—Introduced by Dr. Bridget Pieschel, director of the Southern Women’s Institute.

6 p.m., Southern Women's Institute

"Mississippi Masala" is a cultural study and love story from Indian director Mira Nair. The love story comes courtesy of Denzel Washington, as a rug cleaner, and Sarita Choudhury ("Kama Sutra"), as the daughter of Indian immigrants running a small-time motel; both give fresh, charming performances. Nair is equally interested in capturing the feelings of an exile's life, and Roshan Seth, the fine actor who played Nehru in “Ghandi,” superbly catches the hope and sorrow of dislocation. Although the issues are serious, Nair maintains a breezy, naturalistic approach and the various ingredients of this “Masala” blend into a rich, flavorful stew. (USA, 1992)