Orient Blackswan

In the Club

Launch

16 Jun 2016

Venue

Vidyaranya High School, Hyderabad

The author, Dr Benjamin B Cohen, Associate Professor, University of Utah, USA

The book was released by author and historian Mr Narendra Luther, Former Chief Secretary, Government of AP. The panel consisted of Professor Aloka Parasher-Sen, Dean, School of Social Sciences, University of Hyderabad; Dr Benjamin B Cohen; Mr Narendra Luther; Professor Padmini Swaminathan, Professor and Chairperson, School of Livelihoods, TISS, Hyderabad; and Dr Nilanjana Ray, Assistant Professor, School of Gender Studies, TISS, Hyderabad.

Dr Benjamin B Cohen and Mr Narendra Luther.

As an economist, Professor Padmini Swaminathan found the chapter on ‘The Business of Clubbing’ of particular interest.

Dr Nilanjana Ray referred to the chapter titled ‘Women and the Club’ when talking about how clubs were a place of respite for women in a patriarchal society. Women could, at least for a while, set aside societal norms and establish their own identities.

Professor Aloka Parasher-Sen: “…This is a history of a complex set of intrinsic relationships between the rulers and the ruled and highlights issues around power, race, class and gender --- all essential ingredients to understand the social history of a ‘public sphere’…

Audience at the book display.

Mr Narendra Luther shared some anecdotes from personal experience.