Fawzia Afzal-Khan
Encyclopedia
Originally from Pakistan
, Dr. Fawzia Afzal-Khan (Urdu
: فوزیہ افضل خان) is a professor of English and director of Women and Gender Studies Program at Montclair State University
. Dr. Afzal-Khan received her BA from Kinnaird College for Women, Lahore, Pakistan, and her MA and PhD. in English Literature from Tufts University
. A University Distinguished Professor, Dr. Afzal-Khan was awarded The "Excellence in Public Life Award" by the American Muslim Alliance in 2008. Dr. Afzal-Khan also serves on the editorial board of Pakistaniaat: A Journal of Pakistan Studies
.
, feminism
, and political Islam. A complete list of her scholarly and creative works is available on her website.
. The memoir was immediately received as a fine contribution to the women's rights issues in Pakistan. The first edition contained commending blurbs from prominent authors and scholars: Nawal El Saadawi
called it a "beautiful memoir which challenges stereotypes, universal fanatic fundamentalism and religious, political, and sexual taboos" and Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
found it to be a memoir that "weaves together memory and desire to create a tale that is marvelously compelling and endlessly entertaining, at once poignantly personal and richly political."
However, despite its positive reception, the book was soon dropped by Syracuse University Press due to fear of a law suit by a prominent Pakistani woman.
The cancellation of the book by an academic press for fear of a lawsuit became an important issue in the academic circles. Since the cancellation of the book, various academics, writers, and editors have supported Dr. Afzal-Khan in her right to free speech. In an editorial, Richard Schechner
and Katherine Lieder of The Drama Review
castigated the Syracuse University Press for not standing up for the rights of free speech of one of their own authors.
Dr. Afzal-Khan has now published the memoir independently through the Amazon publishing platform. Just recently, Pakistaniaat: A Journal of Pakistan Studies
has also published a special cluster of articles about the book along with an interview with Dr. Afzal-Khan about the controversy.
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, Dr. Fawzia Afzal-Khan (Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
: فوزیہ افضل خان) is a professor of English and director of Women and Gender Studies Program at Montclair State University
Montclair State University
Montclair State University is a public research university located in the Upper Montclair section of Montclair, the Great Notch area of Little Falls, and Clifton, New Jersey. As of October 2009, there were 18,171 total enrolled students: 14,139 undergraduate students and 4,032 graduate students...
. Dr. Afzal-Khan received her BA from Kinnaird College for Women, Lahore, Pakistan, and her MA and PhD. in English Literature from Tufts University
Tufts University
Tufts University is a private research university located in Medford/Somerville, near Boston, Massachusetts. It is organized into ten schools, including two undergraduate programs and eight graduate divisions, on four campuses in Massachusetts and on the eastern border of France...
. A University Distinguished Professor, Dr. Afzal-Khan was awarded The "Excellence in Public Life Award" by the American Muslim Alliance in 2008. Dr. Afzal-Khan also serves on the editorial board of Pakistaniaat: A Journal of Pakistan Studies
Pakistaniaat: A Journal of Pakistan Studies
Pakistaniaat: A Journal of Pakistan Studies is a peer-reviewed open access academic journal established in 2009, which covers research on Pakistan-related topics. It is published triannually by the English Department of the University of North Texas and is also sponsored by the American Institute...
.
Scholarly Work
Author of three monographs and two edited volumes, Dr. Afzal-Khan has published extensively in academic journals as well as in newspapers and on public blogs on issues related to postcolonal studiesPostcolonialism
Post-colonialism is a specifically post-modern intellectual discourse that consists of reactions to, and analysis of, the cultural legacy of colonialism...
, feminism
Feminism
Feminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women. Its concepts overlap with those of women's rights...
, and political Islam. A complete list of her scholarly and creative works is available on her website.
Memoir: Lahore with Love
Dr. Afzal-Khan's memoir, Lahore with Love: Growing up with Girlfriends Pakistani Style, was published in 2010 by Syracuse University PressSyracuse University Press
Syracuse University Press, founded in 1943, is a university press that is part of Syracuse University. The areas of focus for the Press include Middle East Studies, Native American Studies, Peace and Conflict Resolution, Irish Studies and Jewish Studies, among others. The Press has an international...
. The memoir was immediately received as a fine contribution to the women's rights issues in Pakistan. The first edition contained commending blurbs from prominent authors and scholars: Nawal El Saadawi
Nawal El Saadawi
Nawal El Saadawi , born October 27, 1931, is an Egyptian feminist writer, activist, physician and psychiatrist. She has written many books on the subject of women in Islam, paying particular attention to the practice of female genital mutilation in her society....
called it a "beautiful memoir which challenges stereotypes, universal fanatic fundamentalism and religious, political, and sexual taboos" and Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
Henry Louis “Skip” Gates, Jr., is an American literary critic, educator, scholar, writer, editor, and public intellectual. He was the first African American to receive the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Fellowship. He has received numerous honorary degrees and awards for his teaching, research, and...
found it to be a memoir that "weaves together memory and desire to create a tale that is marvelously compelling and endlessly entertaining, at once poignantly personal and richly political."
However, despite its positive reception, the book was soon dropped by Syracuse University Press due to fear of a law suit by a prominent Pakistani woman.
The cancellation of the book by an academic press for fear of a lawsuit became an important issue in the academic circles. Since the cancellation of the book, various academics, writers, and editors have supported Dr. Afzal-Khan in her right to free speech. In an editorial, Richard Schechner
Richard Schechner
Richard Schechner is Professor of Performance Studies at the Tisch School of the Arts, New York University , editor of TDR: The Drama Review, and artistic director of East Coast Artists. His BA is from Cornell University , MA from the University of Iowa , and PhD from Tulane University...
and Katherine Lieder of The Drama Review
TDR (journal)
TDR: The Drama Review is a peer-reviewed academic journal focusing on performances in their social, economic, aesthetic, and political contexts. The journal covers dance, theatre, music, performance art, visual art, popular entertainment, media, sports, rituals, and performance in politics and...
castigated the Syracuse University Press for not standing up for the rights of free speech of one of their own authors.
Dr. Afzal-Khan has now published the memoir independently through the Amazon publishing platform. Just recently, Pakistaniaat: A Journal of Pakistan Studies
Pakistaniaat: A Journal of Pakistan Studies
Pakistaniaat: A Journal of Pakistan Studies is a peer-reviewed open access academic journal established in 2009, which covers research on Pakistan-related topics. It is published triannually by the English Department of the University of North Texas and is also sponsored by the American Institute...
has also published a special cluster of articles about the book along with an interview with Dr. Afzal-Khan about the controversy.