Partisans of Allah: Jihad in South Asia
Ayesha Jalal, the author of the recently published book of the same title, will be speaking about the origins and meaning of the word ‘jihad’ in Islamic literature, its historical practice in South Asia and on the roots, ideology and aims of present day jihadis such as the Taliban, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and the like.
She is one of the most prominent American academics writing on Pakistan. Her talk is bound to be informative and thought provoking and will be helpful in providing a better understanding of this term – gripping some with hope, many with horror – and of the groups and forces practicing it currently.
Dr. Jalal is professor of History at Tufts University in Boston and a member of the editorial boards of Contemporary South Asian Studies Series and Third World Quarterly. Her books include `The Muslim League and the Demand for Pakistan’; `The State of Martial Rule: the Origins of Pakistan’s Political Economy of Defence’ and `Democracy and Authoritarianism in South Asia,’ amongst others.
7 p.m., Friday, May 15
Room 2-214, 252 Bloor St West (OISE)
St. George Subway, (paid parking underground)
Admission: $10. Info: 416-536-6771, 416-284-4893
Ms. Jalal obtained her B.A. from Wellesley College majoring In History and Political Science and her Ph.D. in History from Cambridge University.
The niece of the famous Urdu writer Manto, she first came to the United States in 1970 when her father Hamid Jalal was posted to the United Nations.
Sponsors: Canadian Muslim Union, Committee of Progressive Pakistani-Canadians, Left Institute, South Asian People’s Forum.
(Submitted by Abdul Hamid Bashani Khan)