THE OTHER INDIANS: A Political and Cultural History of South Asians in America
For Immediate Release December 1, 2007
Press Information: Russell Leong, rleong@ucla.edu
Review Copies/ Book Orders: Ying Tu, aaascpress@aasc.ucla.edu
UCLA Prof. Vinay Lal Publishes THE OTHER INDIANS
A Political and Cultural History of South Asians in America
UCLA-Los Angeles - UCLA's Asian American Studies Center Press announces the publication of
Prof. Vinay Lal's book, "The Other Indians: A Political and Cultural History of South
Asians in America." This is the first volume of the Press's "Asia Pacific
Ideas/Professor-in-a-Pocket" series that features the innovative thinking and research of
the renowned faculty of the UCLA Asian American Studies Center. The Center, established
in 1969, and the new UCLA Asian American Studies Department, together constitute the only
Asian American studies program in the nation which combines teaching, research, and
publishing.
This 160-page illustrated volume is based upon Prof. Lal's path-breaking scholarship and
research on Indian history, comparative colonial histories, and the contemporary politics
of knowledge and culture. The Other Indian synthesizes, in pocketbook form, his ideas
around the emergence of the Indian community in the U.S. with a focus on post-1965
communities. The thirteen chapters cover the following topics: Indians in the global
setting and their passage to America; early students and rebels; the emergence of new
South Asian communities; culture, religion, education, and affluence; and the politics
and future of Indians in the U.S and in the Indian diaspora.
In writing the book, Prof. Lal states in his introduction that:
"American Indians and South Asian Indians have sometimes been confused for each other.
Vasco da Gama was to arrive in India only a few years after Columbus, who imagined he had
reached India, set landfall in the Americas. Much as mistakenly been made of Columbus's
mistake, since in the age of European exploration, expansion and conquest there were
bound to be few survivors of the onslaught by colonizers who acted with singular
determination and self-aggrandizement in their quest for riches and domination."
According to series editors Profs. Don T. Nakanishi and Russell Leong of UCLA: "Today,
South Asian Indians constitute one of the most vibrant immigrant groups in the U.S.
Their contributions in higher education, science and technology, and entrepreneurship are
unparalleled. Yet, Prof. Lal's remarkably concise book also explores the "anxiety" of
this groups affluence and educational achievements, and their identity after 9/ll. "
The Other Indians is the first pocket-sized political and culture history of South Asian
Indians in America and designed for the general public as well as classroom usage.
Photographs and a handy resource reading guide are included
.
About the Author:
Prof. Vinay Lal is Associate Professor of History at UCLA where he teaches Indian
history, comparative colonial histories, contemporary politics and knowledge, and the
politics of culture. His research interests include the worldwide Indian diaspora,
especially in the U.S., Fiji, Trinidad, Malaysia, and South Africa, and the politics of
race, religion, and ethnicity in South Asia.
Lal was awarded the Ph.D with Distinction at the University of Chicago and is the author
of many books including: Empire of Knowledge: Culture and Plurality in the Global Economy
(2005), and Introducing Hinduism (2005).
Order Information:
Price: $14.00 plus 8.25 CA tax. International Orders add $15.
www.aasc.ucla.edu/aascpress/comersus/
Mailing Address:
UCLA Asian American Studies Center Press
3230 Campbell Hall, Box 951546
Los Angeles, CA. USA. 90095-1546
Review Copies, Classroom Discounts: contact Ying Tu
aascpress@aasc.ucla.edu or fax 310. 206. 9844 |
