Department of Middle Eastern & South Asian Languages & Cultures

by Philip McEldowney, Liaison at the University of Virginia Library

Professor Huekstedt's Session at Jaipur Literature Festival

Writer and independent filmmaker Uday Prakash has been described as ‘one of India’s most original and audacious writers’. A major voice in contemporary Hindi literature, his themes focus on the human and political contradictions of modern India. Academic Robert Hueckstedt has translated Prakash's short stories into English as 'Rage Revelry and Romance' and 'Short Shorts Long Shots'. Writer and translator Jason Grunebaum has translated much of Prakash’s work into English, including 'The Girl with the Golden Parasol' and 'The Walls of Delhi'.

Professor Al-Samman's interview with Jadaliyya regarding the publication of Anxiety of Erasure

https://www.jadaliyya.com/Details/41781/Hanadi-Al-Samman,-Anxiety-of-Erasure-Trauma,-Authorship,-and-the-Diaspora-in-Arab-Women%E2%80%99s-Writings-New-Texts-Out-Now

Coming Out/Coming In

Across three volumes, the Global Encyclopedia of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer History tackles wide-ranging topics, including masculinity in Iranian cinema and crossdressing in the Middle East. Hanadi Al-Samman coordinated the 56 entries in the encyclopedia connected to the Middle East.

“BEHIND THE ‘MANDALORIAN’ MASK: MEET UVA GRAD EMILY SWALLOW,”

“My [MESALC]major really expanded my worldview, and the fact that it was an interdisciplinary major gave me the facility to look at any particular topic in multiple ways, which I think is incredibly helpful for actors. There are parts of acting where you have to learn about the history of something, the culture you’re in, and how people communicate. I think it has influenced how I approach my acting work.”

MESALC Statement on Anti-Racism

MESALC joins President Ryan, Dean Baucom and other UVA departments and programs in most strongly condemning and unequivocally denouncing systematic racism that has been manifested most recently in the heartless and brutal killings of innocent black people. MESALC most vocally rejects all forms of marginalization, biases, harassments, exploitations, and targeted violence nationally and internationally. Our department stands united with our students, staff, colleagues, and community against all forms of racism, inequities, injustices, and brutalities.

Translating Wisdom

During the height of Muslim power in Mughal South Asia, Hindu and Muslim scholars worked collaboratively to translate a large body of Hindu Sanskrit texts into the Persian language. Translating Wisdom reconstructs the intellectual processes and exchanges that underlay these translations.

Professor Geeta Patel's “Unforeseen Poet: How I Found Myself in Lyric"

https://www.thebeacon.in/2020/05/18/unforeseen-poet-how-i-found-myself-i...

MESALC Class of 2020 Congratulatory Video

The Department of Middle Eastern & South Asian Languages & Cultures would like to congratulate the graduating class of 2020! To mark this special (and unusual) occasion, we have put together this celebratory video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNUq0fO6Q1s

Department of Middle Eastern & South Asian Languages & Cultures

Undergraduate

Graduate

Courses

We focus on the deep historical ties between the many and varied cultures, religions, literatures, and languages of the Middle East and South Asia

'Farewell Father': Shamsur Rahman Faruqi's Daughter Remembers the Legendary Urdu Critic

MESALC's Photo Gallery of Events 2019-20