States of Disconnect: China-India Literary Relation in the Twentieth Century (Columbia UP, 2023) studies the breakdown of transnationalism in Chinese and Hindi texts that express an aversion to pairing ideas of China and India together. Such texts may seem to spell the ends of comparison, but States of Disconnect shows how literary practice can offer alternate possibilities for relating with national others in the face of insular nationalisms and against globalized habits of thought. The book offers “disconnect” as a critical lens for making sense of severed, interrupted, or absent transnational connection, and for finding in such moments an ethics of relation.
This event will feature the author, Dr Adhira Mangalagiri (QMUL), in conversation with Professor Margaret Hillenbrand (Oxford), Professor Leigh Jenco (LSE), and Professor Francesca Orsini (SOAS).
A reception will follow.
This event will be held in person and is free for all to attend. Please register in advance, by clicking Book Now at the top of the page.
Co-convened with LINKS (London Intercollegiate Network for Comparative Studies)