Call for Papers: Comparative Diasporic Poetics in the Literature of
Transnational Indian Writers

We propose to publish a collection of essays on the diasporic implications
and the hybrid cultural consciousness in the writings of the Indian
diaspora. The site of the diasporic cultures may be in the nation itself
or in transnational locations--in the Metropole or in various sites of
migrations, such as the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, on
the one hand, and (Myanmar) Burma, Malaysia, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania,
Uganda, or the Caribbean, on the other. Although the phenomenon of
population dispersal is ancient, it appears to have increased massively in
the twentieth century

The focus on race will not be simply the one traditionally associated with
postcolonial writings, but will, hopefully treat interactions of Africans
and Indians, as in South Africa's Cato Manor, for example.

In spite of a large presence of Indians in Africa, works by Indian authors
coming out of Africa, other than a few well known names, such as Vasanji,
rarely reflect their experiences. Additionally, seldom do we read
literature by African Indian women writers, nor do we hear voices of Indian
GL/Q (Gay, Lesbians, and Queer) community. When we do read available
literature, it focuses on ideas of cultural hybridity in separate
racialized spaces. After Indians were brought over by the British as
indentured laborers after the abolition of slavery, we know cultures and
languages intermingled to create a new landscape and a new consciousness,
and literature does reflect some of these experiences. What's lacking is
voices from the margins and those especially tackling racial and sexual
hybridity and intra-racial collaboration or conflicts. African or Indian
literature is typically read as Postcolonial or Third World literature,
with a few minority voices thrown into the mix to make the reading
interesting.

What this project hopes to accomplish is the showcasing of literature
reflecting the merging and intermingling of racialized voices locating
hybridized identities in the interstices of the Indian literarily
landscape, particularly the diaspora. How are the various spaces of
diasporas shared and co-mingled, reflecting historical and cultural roots
of each in literature of hybridity--racial as well as cultural? .

The editors are prominent writers in the area of postcolonial and immigrant
literature, and would be appreciative of reading any manuscripts which
might fulfill stated vision in the collection. All essays would be
refereed by independent academics in the field of diasporic literature.

Please send one-page abstracts, a brief bio, along with a completed 20 page
paper to the editors, Jaspal Singh (<mailto:jsingh_at_nmu.edu>jsingh_at_nmu.edu)
and/or Rajendra Chetty (Chettyr_at_cput.ac.za) (Note: There are no spaces in
the email address; somehow, the CFP comes up with extra spaces) by the end
of August, 2006. Please indicate Title, Name and Affiliation of
author. We will notify you by the end of September as to the selection of
your essay for the collection.

Jaspal K. Singh
Associate Professor, English Department
Gries Hall, Northern Michigan University
1401 Presque Isle Avenue
Marquette, MI 49855
Phone: 906-227-1832
Email: jsingh_at_nmu.edu
Fax:906-227-1096

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Received on Tue Apr 25 2006 - 10:19:36 EDT