Hildreth-Mirza Hall, 101/102 - Great Room

Speaker: Claire Roosien, Assistant Professor of Slavic Languages and Literatures, Yale University Speaker's Bio Claire Roosien is a cultural historian of modern Eurasia. Her forthcoming book, Socialism Mediated: the Making of Soviet Mass Culture in Central Asia, examines how Central Asians participated in making Socialist Realism in the region, redefining what it meant to be Soviet and Uzbek while also navigating the realities of Soviet empire. She has published articles in Kritika, Central Asian Survey, and Slavic Review. She is currently beginning research on a new book project about the intersection of media history and hydroaesthetics in Central Asia. Speaker's Talk Title "Babur's Grandsons: South Asia, Central Asia, and the Politics of the International Nation in the Cold War" Abstract A burgeoning body of recent scholarship has shed light on Central Asians' roles as intermediaries to the Soviet Union's foreign "East." But often missing from this conversation are the perspectives of Central Asians themselves. This paper argues that the Cold War-era "opening" of Central Asia to South Asia contributed to Soviet cultural diplomacy, but also exerted influence on internal affairs in Soviet Central Asia. It does so through examining the case study of Pirimqul Qodirov's famous novel on the founding of the Mughal dynasty, Babur (also known as Starry Nights). Bedeviled by censorship and finally approved by personal intervention of Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of Uzbekistan Sharof Rashidov, the novel both supported Soviet internationalism and bolstered emergent ideas of Uzbek nationhood that became profoundly critical of the Soviet project altogether. Programming Fellows Zukhra Kasimova, Assistant Professor of History Lenora Murphy, Assistant Teaching Professor of Russian Studies Amanda Wooden, Professor of Environmental Studies & Sciences Light snacks will be provided.

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