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January 9,
2008
LIVINGSTON,
Ala.--The University of West Alabama kicks off the
2008 Fulbright Lecture Series as the College of
Liberal Arts welcomes Pakistani scholar Dr. Raj Wali
Shah Khattak, who currently serves as Fulbright
Scholar-In-Residence at the University of
Pennsylvania’s Department of Anthropology. Khattak
will present a public lecture, “Pashtuns: their
culture, language and literature,” on Tuesday, Jan.
29 at 6 p.m. at UWA’s Brock Y-Hall.
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Dr. Raj Wali Shah Khattak |
Khattak, a professor at the University of Peshawar’s
Pashto Academy in Peshawar, Pakistan, has for over
20 years studied the culture of Pashtuns, ethnic
Afghans living mostly in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The Pashtuns gained worldwide attention during the
Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, the subject
of the recently released Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts
hit movie “Charlie Wilson’s War.” The Pashtuns, who
are predominantly Muslim, are also the main ethnic
contingent in the Taliban movement.
“At UWA, we are fortunate to bring to campus
scholars from other cultures, allowing us to gain an
understanding of the diversity of cultures and
societies in our world,” said Mary Pagliero,
Fulbright Lecture Series committee chair. “It is
through interaction and the sharing of ideas with
internationals that students, faculty and local
community members have opportunities to develop a
broader perspective and become global citizens.
Hosting the Fulbright Lecture Series lets us go
beyond our own little corner of the earth but not
physically leave it.”
A former director of the Pashto Academy, Khattak has
authored numerous books and research articles on the
Pashtuns. He is one of approximately 800 foreign
scholars chosen this year to lecture, conduct
research and participate in seminars in the United
States through the Fulbright Scholars Program.
The UWA Fulbright Lecture Series continues this
spring with visiting scholars from Argentina, China
and Taiwan addressing a variety of topics. Admission
to all Fulbright Lecture Series presentations is
free. For more information, please call (205)
652-3892. |
