December 13

Prof. Bokhari’s recent publications and presentations

Publications

Prof. Bokhari has the following accomplishments to report:

  • A book chapter titled “Between Patron and Piety: Jahan Ara Begum’s Sufi Affiliations and Articulations” in Sufism and Society: Arrangements of the Mystical in the Muslim World, 1200-1800 C.E., ed. John J. Curry and Erik S. Ohlander (London and New York: Routledge, August, 2011).
  • She also published an article titled  “Imperial Transgressions and Spiritual Investitures: Female Agency in Seventeenth Century Mughal India.” Journal of Persianate Studies, Special Issue, (June 2011, Brill ). [Imperial Transgressions and Spiritual Investitures page 1]
  • “The ‘Light’ of the Timuria: Jahan Ara Begum’s Patronage, Piety and Poetry in 17th C. Mughal India.”Marg Art Journal, 60.1 (2008): 52-61. [The “Light” of the Timuria page 1]

Media appearance

Prof. Bokhari has helped to create a documentary film scheduled for broadcast on PBS in 2012. “Islamic Art: Mirror of the Invisible World”  a documentary film exploring themes such as the Word, Space, Ornament, Color, and Water, the film takes audiences on a global journey through Islamic regions to hear the stories behind the masterworks of Islamic art and architecture. (GardnerFilms.com)

Conference Presentation

  • “Chasing Legacy: Jahan Ara Begum’s( 1614-1681) Loci of Memory at Begum Dalani, Ajmer (1638), Chahar Burj, Lahore (1646) and the Mullah Shah Khanaqah, Srinagar, Kashmir (1648).” Trust for Historic Arts and Architecture Pakistan. Lahore, Pakistan, November 11-13, 2011.
  • “Sexual Desire as Mystical Confessions in Jahan Ara Begam’s (1614-1681) Autobiographical Sufi Writings.” Women’s Autobiography in Islamic Societies: Representation and Identity. The American University Sharjah, Dubai, 29-31 October, 2011
  • “Ars Erotica: ‘Visualizing’ the Sensual Sūfi in 16th-18th C. Ottoman, Safavid and Mughal Miniature Paintings, Poetry and Sūfi narratives” Harvard University: Aga Khan Program Fellowship Lecture Series, April 22, 2011.
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December 13

Ron’s trip to Harbin

In the paring of 2011 I visited the city of Harbin 哈爾濱. It is located in China’s far northeast, a region we used to refer to as north Manchuria.

At the bank of Songhua River

The wide and swiftly flowing Songhua River 松花江flows along the city center’s northern boundary. Great crowds enjoy strolling through the park along its banks. A number of snack stands and benches invite one to rest. Children are filled with energy as they run and play. But it is the adults who are flying the irascible Chinese kites, shaped like dragons in blue, or winged birds in red. Every so often a group of middle-aged people gather around a portable CD player to practice ballroom dancing. It’s a time for those wishing public attention to show off, and for all the others to just have some healthy and measured exercise.

Group dancing by the river

Harbin was formed in the late 1800s and by the early 1900s had many Russians living there. The Russian influence is seen in the magnificent Greek Orthodox churches that still stand. They were stripped of inside ornamentation during the Cultural Revolution 文革in the 1960s had have not yet been restored. The grand St. Sophia is used as a gallery of historical photos of old Harbin and had many visitors when I was there.

Ron in front of St. Sophia Church

Other influences of the former Russian presence are also easy to see. The Russian Jewish community used to operate soup kitchens for the destitute, and some of those buildings and also synagogues still stand. The ornate architecture of apartments and hotels built between 1910 and 1930 grace the Central Street 中央街that today is a haven for tourists, both domestic and international. There are many Russian restaurants and bakeries. Most interesting to me were the wheeled carts that fanned out each evening selling Russian breads. Harbin is the only Chinese city I’ve been in where many people on their way home from work in the evening stopped to buy a bag of European breads and rolls.

Since it is so far north, the local Chinese like meals with big chunks of pork or beef. Dripping fat, the better restaurants will supply customers with a set of disposable plastic gloves, since about the only way to tackle the joint of meat is by picking it up and gnawing away like one of the Jurchen tribal peoples 女真族 (forerunners of the Manchus滿族) of old who used to rule the area. Also I saw a lot of restaurants selling “well-stuffed dumplings” 大餡餃子 which are not advertised that way farther south in China.

A shop that specializes in "well-stuffed dumplings"

Harbin is freezing cold from November through the end of March when even the river freezes over, so the huge ice sculptures are a big tourist draw in the winter. The fire department simply sprays the trees in some parks, and the water stays frozen there until the springtime. Because the winter is so bitter, I asked a taxi driver what he would say to me about visiting Harbin in the cold months. “Oh, it’s wonderful,” he said, “The snow falls and everything is white. The snow sparkles like crystals.”

Ronald Suleski
Rosenberg Institute, Suffolk University
July 2011

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December 9

Allan Tow on restaurant and political activism in Chinatown

Our colleague Allan Tow (Education) contributed an article in the Chronicle of the Chinese Historical Society of New England (CHSNE Chronicle), Fall 2011, Vol.17, No.1, pp8-11. It is titled “From Take-Out Counter to Podium: Journey’s into Public Life.” The article describes several activists in New England who were owners of Chinese restaurants (including the well-known China Pearl in Boston’s Chinatown).

These businessmen forged links to the political establishment of the area, from the late Senator Ted Kennedy to current Boston Mayor Menino. These owners were not only operating their businesses, but at the same time they were working to improve the Chinese-American community.

Please check back for an excerpt.

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December 8

Simone Chun in Suffolk Journal

Our colleague in the Government Department, Simone Chun, is featured in the latest issue of The Suffolk Journal. The title of the piece, “Professor acts upon worker’s rights in South Korea,” describes the worker protest movement that has caught the attention of all of South Korea most of this year.

Feeling they were unjustly treated when their company fired 400 employees and outsourced their work to the Philippines, a long-lasting and highly visible strike action against the company started. One woman worker spent 309 days living in a tall crane at the work-site, supported by other strikers on the ground. Her protest ended in early November when some accommodation between the workers and the company was reached.

The article describes Simone’s on-going efforts to publicize the strike and rally support for the fired workers. Our congratulations to Simone.

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December 6

First Asian Studies major graduated!

Elliot Sutton will be our first Suffolk student to graduate with a major in Asian Studies in December!

Elliot is a very international person. He is from Latin America and speaks several languages. In addition to his course work at Suffolk, he spent time studying Chinese in Beijing at Tsinghua University (often dubbed China’s MIT). Elliot’s spoken and written Chinese are very good.

Members of the Asian Studies Program met with Elliot recently for a final review of his experience with our program. He said our language courses at Suffolk prepared him very well for his study experience in China.

Chris Dakin (World Languages), Chris Westphal (Education), Elliot Sutton, Da Zheng (Chair of the Asian Studies Committee), Ronald Suleski (Rosenberg Institute), Simone Chun (Government).

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October 14

Spring 2012 Course Offerings

Advising has already started.  Asian Studies majors and minors please contact Prof. Da Zheng at dzheng@suffolk.edu.
Interested in seeing a sample syllabus?  Visit Asian Studies Syllabus Sample.

ADFA 345 Art of India
Afshan Bokhari (W) 6:00-8:40 p.m. Arlington 259

AS210/SOC327/CHIN314 Traditional Chinese Society from 1800 to 1949
Janet Scott (Tu)(Th) 2:30-3:45 p.m. Room TBA

CJN 293 Hong Kong Cinema
Micky Lee (M) 5:30-8:10 p.m. Room TBA

GVT 411 Politics of North Korea
Simone Chun (Tu)(Th) 4:00-5:15 p.m. Room TBA

HST 348A Samurai: History, Literature, and Film
Yong Xue (M) 1:00-3:40 p.m. Room TBA

PSYCH 247 Asian Perspectives on Health and Work
Sukanya Ray (M)(W)(F) 12:00-12:50 p.m. Donahue 207

CHIN 102A Elementary Chinese II
S. Yang (M)(W)(F) 9:00-9:50 a.m. Room TBA

CHIN 102B Elementary Chinese II
C. Dakin (M)(W)(F) 12:00-12:50 p.m. Room TBA

CHIN 202A Intermediate Chinese II
S. Yang (M)(W)(F) 2:00-2:50 p.m. Room TBA

JPN 102A Elementary Japanese II
E. Takino (M)(W)(F) 8:00-8:50 a.m. Room TBA

JPN 102B Elementary Japanese II
S. Passaretti (M)(W)(F) 12:00-12:50 p.m. Room TBA

JPN 202A Intermediate Japanese II
S. Passaretti (M)(W)(F) 10:00-10:50 a.m. Room TBA

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October 7

Shanghai Study Abroad Summer 2012

Would you like to learn Chinese while living in China? This summer, from July 6-August 17, an intensive language and culture program will be run at the prestigious Shanghai Normal University 上海师范大学. One of the best places to learn Chinese in the P.R.C. In addition to language instruction, there will be excursions to places around Shanghai as well as a trip to the culturally rich city of Suzhou. If you would like to learn more about this wonderful opportunity, please come to one of the info sessions listed below:
Or feel free to email Dr. Chris Dakin directly:
cdakin@suffolk.edu
Fenton 516
Oct. 18, Archer 365A (meet some students who went last summer)
Nov. 8, Fenton 116 (general session about the program)

Testimonials from students who visited Shanghai in 2011.
From Laila Nashat:

Students interested in anything from China’s culture to politics and business should most definitely consider a trip to China! Not only did my experience in Shanghai improve my study of Mandarin, but I gained a better insight into the daily lives of Chinese people, a lesson that is impossible to be studied from the pages of a textbook. While in China my interests multiplied as my knowledge of all things Chinese grew. Now that I am back at Suffolk, I feel like my trip has given me better direction for my future and a more diverse perspective on both my academic and personal life. For those of you who are on the fence about whether you should go or not, go for it!

From Jennie Chung:
I’ve been to various places in China all throughout my life, but this July was my very first time in Shanghai as well as my first time studying abroad. This summer, I enrolled in the six-week Intensive Chinese Language Program at Shanghai Normal University. During this time, not only was I able to improve my Chinese significantly, but I was also able to meet many foreign student from all over the world who were also participating in this program. We would have class every day in the mornings and then the rest of the day was left for us to explore the new environment, try authentic foods, and of course, study for our very next class. Every Wednesday, the school would organize an activity which would bring all the students together and learn a traditional practice such as Chinese Painting, Calligraphy, Tai Chi, etc. I had such a blast during those six weeks! I couldn’t believe how these six weeks could end so abruptly. It all seemed like it was just a week ago when this adventure started? So, I made the decision to continue my studies here in Shanghai, to meet many more people, and to explore this amazing place to another level.

I recently started my studies at Shanghai Institute of Foreign Trade. Because of how much fun I had over the summer, I knew that staying here in Shanghai would be the right choice. This semester started about 3 weeks ago and I have already met a large group of friends ranging from local Shanghainese student to foreign students all the way from Kazakhstan. I am looking forward to what the future has in store here in Shanghai.

I am glad I made the decision to study abroad, but more specifically, I am glad I chose Shanghai, China.

Jennie Chung in SuZhou

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