Leisure in Indian literature

Ever since India’s independence in 1947, leisure has played an important role in modern Indian literature. In many cases, the contrast between the modern world and the Western understanding of work and leisure are illustrated. The project “Leisure in the Indian contemporary novel” from the Collaborative Research Centre “Otium. Boundaries. Chronotopes, Practices” is dedicated to the topic.

In this context, the Indian writer Amit Chaudhuri will give a lecture entitled “Forms of Uselessness”, then read from his current novel Friend of my Youth. Characteristic of his texts are the often associative descriptions of the narrators, the focus on everyday and banal details as well as a leisure-oriented style of writing, which does not have a clear structure of action, but rather roams through the experiences of the protagonists in Indian cities. Chaudhuri is a professor of contemporary literature at the UK University of East Anglia.

• Lecture “Forms of Uselessness”
  July 16, 2018, 6:15pm
  
  Collegiate Building I
  Lecture hall 1199
  Platz der Universität 3
  79098 Freiburg
  
  
• Reading Friend of my Youth
  July 17, 2018, 6:15pm
  
  Collegiate Building I
  Lecture hall 1015
  Platz der Universität 3
  79098 Freiburg
  
  
• The event is open to the general public.
  
  
• Host: Project  “Leisure in the Indian contemporary novel” from the Collaborative Research Centre “Otium. Boundaries. Chronotopes, Practices”
  
  
• Contact information: Melina Munz,Tel.: 0761 203-67698
  
  
• No registration is required.
  
  
• The event is free of admission.
  
  
• The lecture will be held in English.