Imaginary Maps: Three StoriesImaginary Maps presents three stories from noted Bengali writer Mahasweta Devi in conjunction with readings of these tales by famed cultural and literary critic, Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak. Weaving history, myth and current political realities, these stories explore troubling motifs in contemporary Indian life through the figures and narratives of indigenous tribes in India. At once delicate and violent, Devi's stories map the experiences of the "tribals" and tribal life under decolonization. In "The Hunt," "Douloti the Bountiful" and the deftly wrought allegory of tribal agony "Pterodactyl, Pirtha, and Puran Sahay," Ms. Devi links the specific fate of tribals in India to that of marginalized peoples everywhere. Gayatri Spivak's readings of these stories connect the necessary "power lines" within them, not only between local and international structures of power (patriarchy, nationalisms, late capitalism), but also to the university. |
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ancestors Baijnath become Bhalpura Bhuneswar Bihar Bikhia Block Office body bonded labor bondslavery Bono Bono Nagesia boss brahman Chandela clients cloth contractor Crook Nagesia Dhano district Douloti drink everything eyes famine forest Gabahi Ganori gave girl give hand harijan Harisharan says head hills hospital India Jalim Jhalo journalist kamiya Kausalji keep Khajra kodo Kuruda land Latia Latiaji leave live look Madhopura Madhya Pradesh Mahasweta Mahasweta Devi marry Mary Mohan mother Munabar Nagesia never Oraon Palamu Palamu district Paramananda Pirtha police Prasad Prasadji pterodactyl Puran Puran says rain Rajaura Rampiyari rice rupees Saraswati Sarpanch Seora village Shankar says Singh Somni stay stone talk Tehsildar tell There's thing three hundred rupees Tohri trees tribal tribes truck Uncle Bono walk West Bengal wife women write