Literature
Sister Library: Circle Reading Apart Together
‘Rupjalal’ by Nawab Faizunessaa. A traditional folk/fairy tale!
The Goethe-Institut Bangladesh in partnership with HerStory Foundation will host a digital circle reading of ‘Rupjalal’ by Nawab Faizunessa on ZOOM.
The event is open to all upon registration in HERE. Once you have registered we will send you the English text and the zoom link to the meeting. Contact us at 01774706887 or in email for information or technical support.
ABOUT THE STORY
‘Rupjalal’ follow a traditional folk/fairy tale plot, clearly influenced by the epics of the past. The main story revolves around Prince Jalal, who falls deeply in love with Rupbanu, a merchant’s daughter and a captive of Fortas the giant. Jalal has to undertake a long and perilous journey to find and destroy Rupbanu’s captor. Along the way, he fights demons, ogres, suffers imprisonment, marries a princess to earn his freedom, risks his life to save others, and finally returns to his lover after killing the giant. He marries Rupbanu but his guilty conscience makes him admit that he is already married.
What happens next? Join the Sister Library digital circle reading to find out.
NAWAB FAIZUNNESA
Faizunnesa Choudhurani, or Chowdhury, later known as Nawab Faizunessa, was born in 1834 and went on to become an author, a philanthropist and a successful zamindar in Tripura. She lived a single and independent life, away from her polygamous husband. She received the honorary title of Nawab from Queen Victoria in 1889, the only woman to do so. However, it was not handed to her, she had to demand it, fighting the gender stereotype. ‘Her acceptance makes her complicit with colonial rule, but her demand to be acknowledged as a Nawab is what makes her a rebel’ writes translator of ‘Rupjalal’ Fayeza Hasanat.
THE SISTER LIBRARY
Powered by female excellence - it is a space to celebrate female creativity. The library holds one thousand works of women writers, artists and zine makers. It is an evolving and generative artwork that engages with an in-depth reflection on the visual and reading cultures of our times. The goal of the project is to bring together readers, to explore literary contributions, showcase artistic quality and celebrate women in the creative world as well as to foster interests and understanding of the accomplishments of female writers and artists.