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Emory Professor to Address IPN Annual Meeting

R S Shankar in Atlanta

Dr Paul Courtwright, director of the Asian Studies Program at Emory University, who recently denounced the Southern Baptist's virulently anti-Hindu prayer book, is the keynote speaker at the Indian Professionals Network's sixth annual meeting.

The event, organized by Dr Gaurav Agarwal, will be held on November 10th at 1900 hours, at The Palace Restaurant. It is being sponsored by The Palace Restaurant.

New Directions in India Studies is the theme of the talk by Dr Courtright, a professor in the Department of Religion and Director of the Asian Studies Program at Emory University.

Dr Courtright, who has a Ph D from Princeton University, is the author of Ganesha: Lord of Obstacles, Lord of Beginnings (Oxford University Press, 1989), and co-editor and contributor of From the Margins of Hindu Marriage (Oxford University Press, 1994).

His research has been supported by grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Humanities Center, and the American Council of Learned Societies.

This past year Dr Courtright served as vice-president of the American Institute of Indian Studies, the principal funding agency for advanced research on India in the humanities and social sciences. He teaches graduate and undergraduate courses religion in India, focusing especially on nineteenth century to the present.

Through the Asian Studies Program and elsewhere in the university, new initiatives are being taken to bring greater focus on the civilization of India and its contributions to the world. Courses in social sciences, arts, and humanities that feature aspects of Indian culture, in both historical and contemporary contexts, are being added to the curriculum.

Concerts, lectures, films, and informal symposia focusing on India take place on a regular basis. Recently, with the support of many members of the Indian-American community in the Atlanta area and Emory alumni, the 'Friends of Emory India Studies' was launched. The 'Friends' is a support and advisory group to assist Emory in more effectively presenting India related events and networking with the community in areas of mutual interest.

In his address, Dr Courtright will assess the current state of India-related studies in the United States and in Emory in particular.

For more details, contact Gaurav Agarwal at (678) 560-9371.

If you would like to post any information about forthcoming events or community happenings, please email the details to bettypais@aol.com

Information and photographs can also be mailed to Betty Pais at 87-52 108th Street, 2nd Floor, Richmond Hill, NY 11418-2229, USA.

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