India Diary Accounts of Howard Students Researching in Kolkata, India Three students were selected in 2005 to go to India as part of the Howard-Jadavpur--US-India Research Intiative . Three more students will be selected in 2006. Starting with this first installment by Fatima Fansuie, the India Diary will allow us to learn about the students' research and personal experiences in India. This program is coordinated by Dr. Anita Nahal. Students interested in applying for this Study Abroad in India experience can contact Dr. Nahal at 202-806-7887 or anahal@howard.edu . The Call for Applications for the 2006 Howard-Jadavpur--US-India Research Intiative deadline is January 20, 2006. by Fatima Fanusie Department of History Arrival I experienced Kolkata as researcher, student, mother, and tourist- a delightful, if somewhat stressful combination. Arriving for the first time in Kolkata (and India ) on 6 th August, 2005 --with a 3 year old son in tow--was no easy feat, as you can imagine. The 19.5 hr. plane journey had left us exhausted and disoriented. The long queues for Customs and the bombardment by professional alms-seekers were a bit overwhelming as well. While attempting to pay the porter, I noticed the friendly face and warm smile of Duke Gosh, (Ph.D. student, Economics and SYLFF Fellow) before I had even glimpsed the large cardboard sign he carried. Thus my welcome into Kolkata was what every traveler to a foreign land seeks: the comfort of a friendly face and the mature expertise of the knowledgeable citizen. Duke certainly helped to make my first memory in India a warm one and it was this pattern of care and assistance from all of the JU SYLFF fellows that allowed me to navigate through the myriad of resources found in Kolkata. Making the Connections My dissertation, “Fard Muhammad in Historical Context: An Islamic Thread in the American Religious and Cultural Quilt” draws upon transnational and trans-historic reference points in order to develop an appropriate paradigm for the systematic study of the growth of Islam in North America . The people within the institutions I encountered in Kolkata were central in advancing the Indian subcontinent portion of my dissertation. For example, the librarians and archivists at the Asiatic Society of Bengal and the National Library aided me in understanding my topic and pointing out relevant, yet hard-to-find research material. In the university and public libraries of Kolkata, I held countless enlightening conversations with graduate students and research scholars pertaining to the phenomenon of Islamization and other relevant social and political issues, both historic and contemporary. At the University Guest House, which accommodates distinguished guests from all over the world (and was my home while staying on Jadavpur's campus), I had ample opportunities to continue such stimulating dialogue throughout the night. I know that the relationships I formed in these settings will continue to benefit me throughout my career in academia. Impressions Beneath the din and dilapidated buildings, I managed to glimpse snatches of the flavorful city while sailing along the Howrah river, dining in the conglomerate of Indian and Chinese inspired restaurants, traveling the old brick-paved sections of various market places, bartering for beautiful silks and aromatic teas, or simply enjoying a cup of coffee and puri while watching the sun set from my bedroom balcony. Although it's known as one of the world's most crowded destinations, the rush of sights, sounds and smells that assaulted my senses during the brief month I spent in this easternmost Indian city were more than enough to cultivate the desire for a return trip. My experience at Jadavpur University not only enhanced my dissertation research, but certainly provided intangible benefits that come with research abroad. I hope that the HU-JU, U.S.-India Research Initiative will eventually bring Jadavpur students to Howard, as this beneficial exchange holds rewards for all involved. In the final analysis, and more important that academic research alone, emersion into a different culture is always a humbling and rewarding experience, which emphasizes the beauty of our distinctions, as well as the congruent harmony of our commonality as human societies throughout the globe. Howard University students should seize this opportunity to travel abroad, especially in a region where so few African-Americans are found. Similarly, I look forward to hosting the students of JU in Washington DC and hope that we will continue to find new ways to utilize the burgeoning relationship between our university communities. Ms. Fanusie can be reached at: fatimahfanusie@yahoo.com |
||||||||
|
||||||||
| © 2005 Howard University, all rights reserved. WWW Disclaimer |
