Asian Studies Presents Cultural ‘Tour’: India, Nepal, Bhutan

           The Asian Studies Concentration will continue its yearlong “Tour of Asia” through a series of events that celebrate the cultures of India, Nepal and Bhutan on March 30 and 31. All events are free and open to the public.

           
           With a focus on Indian culture, Abhijit Roy, DBA, associate professor of management and marketing, will present a lecture about the “Festival of Color,” a traditional springtime celebration, on Wednesday, March 30, in the McIlhenny Ballroom, DeNaples Center, at 4:30 p.m. In addition to Dr. Roy’s discussion on the festival and traditions, attendees will also have the opportunity to enjoy the flavors of India with an Indian food tasting. After the lecture, Sujata Nair-Mulloth of the Kala School of Indian Classical Dance, Clarks Summit, will demonstrate traditional Indian dance routines. A screening of the film “Gandhi” will follow at 6:30 p.m.

            The local Nepali and Bhutanese community, the newest immigration group to the area, will share their cultures with the University community through presentations and dance performances on Thursday, March 31. The event will begin at 5:30 p.m. in room 405 of the DeNaples Center.  

            Following the event and in culmination of the two-day tour, the Univeristy’s Education for Justice Office will sponsor a keynote address by Rajmohan Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, entitled “Building Bridges to Peace” in the McIlhenny Ballroom on the fourth floor of the DeNaples Center at 7 p.m. Gandhi is the past president of Initiatives of Change International, and a noted author and biographer. For half a century, he has been engaged in international efforts for trust building, reconciliation and democracy and in battles against corruption and inequalities. Currently a research professor at the Center for South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, he has worked consistently for India-Pakistan and Hindu-Muslim reconciliation. Since 9/11, he has also tried to address the divide between the West and the world of Islam.

           The Asian Studies Concentration at The University of Scranton, an interdisciplinary, 24-credit concentration launched last spring, provides students with an understanding of the culturally diverse Asian region and is open to students of all majors. The “Tour of Asia” is a yearlong series of events to raise awareness of Asian cultures in the greater Scranton community.

           For more information on March’s “Tour of Asia” events, call 941-7715 or 941-6312.