Published: 19.05.2015
Friday, May 22nd/6:30 P.M.
Club 29, Sv. Anezky Ceske 29, Pardubice
Opening of the exhibition of Petra Gupta Valentova, artist living between continents, but of Pardubice origin. This exhibition is connected with the lecture Stereotypes about India in Europe. Both events are part of the Multicultural week in Pardubice.
Stereotypes about India in Europe:
Country of rapes, poverty and holy cows: these are the images which form the basis of the knowledge about India in Europe even in the 21st century. The persistence of these stereotypes does not reflect Indian reality but are a continuation of Western ways of looking at India that go back many centuries. Why do Europeans wholeheartedly accept and spread these images? And why do many Indians tend to do the same? This open discussion wants to reflect on these stereotypes. It is high time that we deal with this thorny issue before it irrevocably damages international relations between Europe and India. As part of this larger concern we want to discuss in more detail the current popular stereotype about India being unsafe for women because of a high incidence of rape.
Country of rapes, poverty and holy cows: these are the images which form the basis of the knowledge about India in Europe even in the 21st century. The persistence of these stereotypes does not reflect Indian reality but are a continuation of Western ways of looking at India that go back many centuries. Why do Europeans wholeheartedly accept and spread these images? And why do many Indians tend to do the same? This open discussion wants to reflect on these stereotypes. It is high time that we deal with this thorny issue before it irrevocably damages international relations between Europe and India. As part of this larger concern we want to discuss in more detail the current popular stereotype about India being unsafe for women because of a high incidence of rape.
Introduction to speakers
(1) Dr. Sufiya Pathan
• Post-doctoral fellow, Department of Religious Studies, University of Pardubice, Czech Rep.
• PhD in Cultural Studies (2009): From the Centre for the Study of Culture and Society, Bangalore; affiliated to Manipal University. PhD thesis entitled, A Historical and Theoretical investigation into ‘Communalism’.
• Currently co-teaches an MA course on Orientalism at the Department of Religious Studies.
• Member of the international research network Comparative Science of Cultures, India and Europe, since 2012.
(2) Assoc. Prof. Dr. Martin Fárek
• Head of the Department for the Study of Religions, University of Pardubice, Czech Republic, since 2010.
• Coordinator of India Platform at the University of Pardubice (India Platform is international consortium of European and Indian universities, research institutes, and companies).
• PhD in Philosophy, Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic, 2005.
• Master in Comparative History, Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic, 2000.
• Member of the international research network Comparative Science of Cultures, India and Europe, since 2012.
(1) Dr. Sufiya Pathan
• Post-doctoral fellow, Department of Religious Studies, University of Pardubice, Czech Rep.
• PhD in Cultural Studies (2009): From the Centre for the Study of Culture and Society, Bangalore; affiliated to Manipal University. PhD thesis entitled, A Historical and Theoretical investigation into ‘Communalism’.
• Currently co-teaches an MA course on Orientalism at the Department of Religious Studies.
• Member of the international research network Comparative Science of Cultures, India and Europe, since 2012.
(2) Assoc. Prof. Dr. Martin Fárek
• Head of the Department for the Study of Religions, University of Pardubice, Czech Republic, since 2010.
• Coordinator of India Platform at the University of Pardubice (India Platform is international consortium of European and Indian universities, research institutes, and companies).
• PhD in Philosophy, Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic, 2005.
• Master in Comparative History, Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic, 2000.
• Member of the international research network Comparative Science of Cultures, India and Europe, since 2012.
