The Literary Club of the Asiatic Society of Mumbai
invites you to an Online talk: “At Night All Blood is Black” (Winner of the 2021 International Booker Prize) by Prof. Vidya Vencatesan Wednesday 22nd September at 6 pm on Zoom
The Literary Club of the Asiatic Society of Mumbai is pleased to invite you to a talk by Prof. Vidya Vencatesan on David Diop’s “At Night All Blood is Black”, originally published in French as “Frère d’âme.” The lecture will be held on Wednesday 22nd September at 6 pm on a Zoom platform.
The novel, first published in August 2018, won the Prix Goncourt des Lycéens the same year, the English translation by Anna Moscovakhis won the 2021 International Booker prize, making Diop the first French author to win this award.
David Diop, a West African writer, who lives and teaches at a University in France, speaks for the countless black soldiers who died in the First World War. They fought a war that was not theirs, they lie unsung in a foreign land and Diop expresses “The voice of the people without voice”. The short intense novel, inspired by the story of the Black African soldiers who fought for France in the trenches between 1914-1918, is a fictional construct with epic overtones. The stream of consciousness technique captures the tragedy of a young man’s mind hurtling towards madness, depicting the trauma suffered by the young pushed into a situation of extreme distress.
This lecture, which examines Diop’s dense prose, looks at the savagery of war and friendship beyond race in the bleak environs of No Man’s land. This unrelenting take on conflict, race, masculinity and colonialism is a gripping read.
Dr. Vidya Vencatesan is Professor and Head, Department of French, Director, at the University of Mumbai and Editor, Synergies Inde, Revue du Gerflint, France.
Please join us for this captivating talk, do participate with questions, comments and memories of other books you have read, drawing parallels with war literature you may be familiar with.
Join Zoom for the programme:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87284421411?pwd=MnpzRk9vWHFjdVhqa3dmZTdjMEV3QT09
Meeting ID: 872 8442 1411
Passcode: 119606
- Dr Usha R Vijailakshmi, Officiating Hon. Secretary, The Asiatic Society of Mumbai
- Meenal Kshirsagar, Vice President of the Society & Chairperson - ASM LitClub
ASM LitClub Online programme on
“The Heritage of the Kakatiyas of Warangal in light of the UNESCO Heritage tag to the Ramappa Temple” by Dr.Varsha Shirgaonkar
Monday 23rd August 6.30 pm on Zoom
The LitClub of the Asiatic Society of Mumbai takes pleasure in inviting you to a talk on the heritage of the great Kakatiya dynasty of Warangal which ruled for about 180 years in medieval times. The programme will be held on Monday 23rd August 2021 at 6.30 pm on Zoom.
The Ramappa Temple of Warangal has recently been given the honour of being designated a UNESCO Heritage monument. Dr. Shirgaonkar will give a talk on the architectural techniques used for the construction of the temple and will also discuss some of the other historical sites of the Kakatiyas like Warangal Fort and the Thousand Pillared Temple, using photographs and slides. She will tell us about a rare manuscript titled “Prataprudra Yashobhushanam” written by the court poet of Pratapudra Deva, the last Kakatiya ruler who fought against Ala-ud-din’s army several times before succumbing to them. This manuscript is in the possession of the Asiatic Society, her article on this subject was published in the Kakatiya Journal of Historical Studies in May 2017.
Dr. Varsha Shirgaonkar retired as Professor and Head, Department of History, SNDT Women’s University in Mumbai.
We look forward to seeing you on this informative evening about an important but perhaps a lesser known aspect of our history.
Join Zoom for the programme:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82308817561?pwd=bXlMQlF5MjhFdDhaRU1MZndPZlpiUT09
Meeting ID: 823 0881 7561
Passcode: 055733
- Meenal Kshirsagar, Vice President of the Society & Chairperson - ASM LitClub
- Dr Usha R Vijailakshmi, Officiating Hon. Secretary, The Asiatic Society of Mumbai
My Sindh, A Journey to the Beloved Homeland..
The Asiatic Society of Mumbai Literary Club ASM LitClub Online programme on “My Sindh, A Journey to the Beloved Homeland” by Shakuntala Bharvani Thursday 12th August at 6 pm on Zoom.
The Literary Club of the Asiatic Society of Mumbai is delighted to invite you to attend an Online conversation between Shakuntala Bharvani on her book “My Sindh, A Journey to the Beloved Homeland,” published in April 2021, with her editor and publisher Saaz Agarwal. The programme will be held on Thursday 12th August 2021 at 6 pm on Zoom.
My Sindh is a book that weaves together vivid memories with historical snippets, remarkable people, and family stories – some poignant, some wise, some outright funny. A "go-to book if you want a Sindhi history as complex and palatable as sai bhaji," as Bachi Karkaria wrote.
Join Shakuntala Bharvani on a journey to the beloved homeland she has never been to! You will meet interesting characters, view archival images, and hear the author read passages from her book, as she shares her insights into this remarkable community.
Dr.Shakuntala Bharvani taught English literature at Elphinstone and Government Law Colleges. She has published a novel and a monograph on the poet Nissim Ezekiel.
Saaz Aggarwal, is recognized for her work in the field of Sindh studies. She is an independent researcher, writer and artist, her body of writing includes biographies, translations, critical reviews and humour columns.
Do join us for this evening that promises to be both enjoyable and instructive.
Join Zoom for the programme:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83652512734?pwd=ZnBESldHdVRuVVJYWmZkK0FnNHFxZz09
Meeting ID: 836 5251 2734
Passcode: 338154
- Meenal Kshirsagar , Vice President of the Society & Chairperson - ASM LitClub
- Dr Usha R Vijailakshmi , Officiating Hon. Secretary, The Asiatic Society of MumbaI