Set in rural Bengal, this is one of the first Indian novels published in English, written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee. It draws on the conventions of the popular genre of sensation fiction, including violence, secrets, betrayal and emotional excess. Sourav will provide some historical context for the development of the Indian novel in the nineteenth century and the ways in which Rajmohan’s Wife addresses questions of gender, domesticity and race.

This event will be hosted by Dr Emma Liggins from the School of English. The presentation will be followed by a Q and A.

Sourav’s research interests are South Asian literary and visual cultures, postcolonial theory, graphic narratives, cultural studies, multimodal theory, and history of print and empire. Before joining Rice, at Columbia, Sourav taught Modern South Asian literature, Asian Humanities: Colloquium on Major Texts, Introduction to Indian Civilization, Global Critical Theory, Gandhi and his Interlocutors, and Global History of Laughter. In 2024, Sourav received Columbia’s Presidential Award for Outstanding Teaching, which honors teaching excellence at the University. At Rice, Sourav teaches “Film and Society in South Asia” and “The World and South Asia.” 

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