Susan Schomburg
Visiting Professor
Department of Religion
Swarthmore College
E/ sschomb1@swarthmore.edu
Lovely, Recalcitrant Women: Tay Tamil, Cultural
Agency, and Islamic Histories
Saturday, May 13, 2006 | 14:00 - 16:00 EST
How does Islamic Tamil literature illumine Islamic Tamil
history, and how does it relate to deep-seated controversy and energetic
reformist movements in Islamic Tamil communities today? A survey of extant
literature produced by Qadiri savants of Tamil Nadu (learned Islamic Tamil
litterateurs affiliated with the Qadiri Sufi order), indicates both creative
Islamic adaptation of traditional Tamil gendered literary themes as well as
specific reformist agendas concerning Tamil Muslim women. This paper presents
evidence from a variety of historical records and literary works to argue that
marriage patterns in the Indian Ocean Islamic littoral communities and
maraikkayar (Arab-settled) port towns, as well as more widespread Islamic norms
of gender segregation, have contributed, historically, to gender- and Tamil
culture-specific forms of Islamic practice in the Tamil region. These unique
forms of Islamic practice have, in turn, decisively influenced contemporary
local reformist discourse and activities.
Dr. Schomburg's research interests include Islamic Tamil history, culture and literature - historical, anthropological and literary study, including translation projects. Major future project will examine lives, thought, and literary works of the Tamil Muslim cittars including Kunankudi Mastan Sahib.