What has been the long term impact of colonisation on South Asia?
In this episode of Coconut Chats, Chris Mallika Bhadra delves into the various after-effects of colonisation on South Asia – in particular on women, their voices and their literary prowess, with two eminent guests from USA – Professor Feroza Jussawalla and Dr Doaa Omraan.
About the guests
Dr. Feroza Jussawalla Ph.D., University of Utah, 1980, is Professor Emerita from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. She has taught at the University level for more than forty years, beginning with her years as a T.A. at the University of Utah, then at the University of Texas at El Paso (1980-2021) and as Full Professor of English and Postcolonial Literature at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, NM, 2001-2021. She has also won prestigious grants such as the Rockefeller Foundation residency in Bellagio, Italy and the Alumni Teaching Award at the University of New Mexico (2014). She is the author of more than three hundred articles and book chapters, primarily on Indian Writing in English, Postcolonial Literatures in English, Indian Critical Theory, D.H. Lawrence and Muslim Women’s writing, written from 1979 onward. Her book of poems is Chiffon Saris (2003) published by the Kolkata Writer’s Workshop and the Toronto South Asian Review. She has published several individual poems, most recently on-line with Silver Birch Press.
Dr. Doaa Omran’ research interests include post-colonial theory, feminism, and the Middle Ages. She did her master’s and PhD at the University of New Mexico. She wrote her dissertation titled Female Hero Mega-Archetypes in the Medieval European Romance (2019) on Quranic and Biblical female characters as mega-archetypes in Medieval literature. Her MA thesis was titled Occidental Encounters: Early Nineteenth-Century Egyptian travelers to Europe (2012). She is currently a visiting lecturer at the same university where she received her master’s and doctorate. She received her BA in English language and literature at Alexandria University, Egypt. Her awards include: a Fulbright Scholarship (2007), the Women of Color award at UNM (2012), Dean of Graduate Studies Dissertation Award (2016) and first place in the Larry Morris Memorial Scholarship (2018).
About Coconut Chats
Coconut Chats is a Melbourne and New Zealand based podcasting platform that was founded in 2020. Coconut Chats was conceived with the aim of addressing the various stigmatised and taboo topics that are prevalent in a typical South-East Asian society and the global world. This podcast aims to provide a voice to any individual who might have been subjected to a specific bias in the society and wants to be heard. Coconut Chats has Zero Tolerance toward any man-made/societal-made barrier such as race, caste, creed, and religion and believes in humanity and inclusivity. The podcast is in the middle of its fourth season and has spoken with South-Asians from UK, US, Australia, Pakistan, India, and Canada. Coconut Chats also endeavours to seek inspiration from individuals who have made a mark for themselves via their experiences and struggles in life.
Coconut Chats is founded, hosted, and conceptualised by Dr Chris Mallika Bhadra and co-hosted by Mrs Soumita Kar-Chakraborty and Mrs Harita Gandhi-Kashyap. These ladies share common interests and passion to raise their voice against the various injustices prevalent in the South-Asian society and address them to raise awareness.
- Dr Chris Mallika Bhadra is a Bengali born and raised in New Delhi, India. She has a doctoral degree in Nano-Biotechnology and graduated from a leading University in
Melbourne. Chris is a trained Indian contemporary dancer and is the founder of Ananda Dance Group. Chris is also a life blogger, amateur photographer, public speaker and hosts multiple chat shows across different platforms. Chris lives in Melbourne, Australia. - Mrs Harita Gandhi-Kashyap is third generation Gujarati, born and raised in New Zealand. An accountant by profession, Harita is a trained Bharatanatyam dancer and enjoys blogging, and podcasting. She is also the Wellington Branch Treasurer at National Council of Women of New Zealand. Harita lives in Wellington, New Zealand.
- Mrs Soumita Kar-Chakraborty is a Bengali born and raised in Kolkata, India. An IT Engineer by profession, she is also a dancer, blogger, and a photographer. A new mum, Soumita lives in Melbourne, Australia.
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